Subdivision Tests Limits of Measure 49

"Abrams filed Yamhill County's first Measure 37 development claim. He says his planned subdivision -- 49 houses and a commercial strip on 50 of his family's 345 acres -- is the highest economic use of the property."

"Drawing on what he's learned of the state's land-use development system -- he's on the county planning commission -- Abrams has spent about $2.6 million walking his idea through the county subdivision approval process. He's divided it into lots, put in a road, arranged water and septic service and brought in underground gas, electric, telephone and TV cable utilities."

"The conservation group 1000 Friends of Oregon and its local affiliate, Friends of Yamhill County, are highly critical of Abrams' work. They say that he's benefited from a cozy relationship with county officials and that the county has ignored zoning and court decisions that should have prevented him from building the subdivision."