Taking Another 'Big Look' at Oregon's Planning System

14 March 2008 - 12:00pm

A state task force looking at improving the Oregon state land use and planning system is going back to work.

"Oregon's 'Big Look' task force, idle and out of money for eight months, will dust off its preliminary review of the state's land-use planning system and get back to work Friday."

"Members are optimistic that they'll be able to agree on recommendations for improving a land-use system once considered a national model. In recent years, that system has been the subject of dueling property rights and development ballot measures, Measure 37 and Measure 49."

"Critics say the Oregon system of statewide planning has become heavy-handed and unnecessarily complicated. Supporters are leery of relaxing standards that have limited urban sprawl and preserved farmland."

Source: The Oregonian, March 14, 2008
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I argue that the vocabulary of planning and the concepts necessary to participate in local government and planning issues need to be taught to students in K-12.