Oregon's Land-use Laws Threatened

"Oregon practically invented what it means to be green, leading the nation in restoring salmon habitat, reining in urban sprawl and protecting farms and forests from becoming housing tracts. But in November, voters shocked property rights advocates and environmentalistsalike by approving a constitutional amendment known as Measure 7 that couldbring all those regulations - and even local zoning - tumbling down... Measure 7 is the most sweeping property compensation law in the nation. It says that if the state or a local government passes or enforces a regulation that restricts the use of private property, the owner shall be paid for any loss in value."