Oregon's Measure 37, the law allowing free-for-all development of property, faces major opposition. But it's too soon to gloat over the demise of the law or a resurgence of something similar elsewhere in the region.
A court ruled that the voter-approved measure doesn't apply to the scenic Columbia Gorge because that area is protected by federal law. Gov. Ted Kulongoski has proposed changes to the law, and a new survey says most Oregonians wouldn't vote for the measure if they had the choice today. Sightline Institute published a report on the law's impact.
Similar measures to roll-back land-use planning were defeated at the polls around the region last November. But there's evidence that people still aren't satisfied with property rules, which seem arbitrary to many yet still can't focus growth and coordinate services. The debate is far from over.