From laura.buhl at state.or.us Fri Mar 20 19:05:48 2015 From: laura.buhl at state.or.us (Buhl, Laura) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2015 02:05:48 +0000 Subject: [LandUse-News] Land Use News for March 20, 2015 Message-ID: Welcome to this week's roundup of the Land Use News - Double Issue The Land Use News is an electronic news clipping service provided by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD). Land Use News emphasizes local reporting and commentary on land use in Oregon and other states. The links to copyrighted news stories in Land Use News are not archived by DLCD, and the archiving policies of these sources vary. The stories, if available, reside on the site of the original news source. Please direct requests for archived stories, or permission to reprint them, to the original news source. Past Land Use News weekly e-mails may be found here: http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/pipermail/landuse-news Anyone may subscribe, unsubscribe, or change their subscription to the free service by visiting this site: http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/landuse-news. ________________________________ Wendell Berry's Thoughts On 'Our Only World' PlanetSave.com For Berry, as for emerging land managers, "the issue of land use, and of good land use, is not on the agenda of most conservation organizations, ... Seattle sets public transit fares based on income KBZK Bozeman News Seattle launched a new public transit fare program on Sunday based not on distance traveled but on household income. On March 1, as King County ... What do driverless cars mean for suburban planning? The Greater Marin Self-driving cars are coming, and boosters of drivable suburbia are hoping they will be a potent weapon against mass transit and cities. But what they mean for towns and suburbs isn't quite so clear. Cowlitz Tribe gets reservation near La Center Vancouver Columbian -Tribe says documents signed; plans for casino still face legal hurdles- After a legal battle stretching more than a decade, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe has secured the reservation it needs to build a casino near La Center. Monday, the regional director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Stanley Speaks, signed the final documents to immediately establish the tribes first-ever reservation. New report shows urban 'donut' shifting Salem Statesman Journal The long-standing urban-suburban divide in education, income, race and other characteristics is being turned on its head as college-educated Millennials crowd into U.S. cities, new research shows. City, county raising the bar on climate change strategy Portland Tribune Portlanders, you're driving too much and eating too much red meat. And office tower landlords, you need to take major steps to cut energy usage. Those are some of the takeaways from a draft update of the Portland/Multnomah County Climate Action Plan that goes out for public review this week. Senate oks bill that would give tax break to rural data centers Portland Tribune Data centers in rural areas would get a tax break, and telecommunications companies would have their property taxes clarified, under a bill that has cleared the Oregon Senate. The 27-3 vote Monday sent Senate Bill 611 to the Oregon House. The bill has several aims. Oregon will focus on current state parks, not new ones Salem Statesman Journal After more than a decade of expansion, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is planning to scale back its creation of new state parks and instead focus on improving the current system. Crooked River road may become scenic bikeway Bend Bulletin -Designation could make Highway 27 a regional draw- One of the prettiest stretches of highway in the state may be soon getting a little more attention. Leaders in Prineville have submitted applications for portions of state Highway 27, which runs through the Crooked River Canyon, to be listed as an Oregon scenic bikeway and scenic driving route. Bill to spur economic development in Oregon's historic downtowns moves forward to committee hearing Tillamook Headlight Herald -Public invited to testify on SB 565: the Revitalize Main Street Act- Key legislation designed to spur much-needed economic development in Oregons historic downtowns and restore their iconic storefronts, hotels, theaters, apartments, and warehouses is now scheduled for a public hearing before the Senate Finance Committee next Wednesday, March 4th at the State Capitol. City staff, objectors cite progress on UGB Hillsboro Tribune Once approved by both the city and county the amendment went to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD). Another Kind Of Green Willamette Week When the 2011 Oregon Legislature opened, Campbell sought a controversial bill that benefited just one party: his Silvies Valley Ranch. In most cases, ranch land is zoned so it's limited largely to agricultural use. But state Rep. Brian Clem (D-Salem) pushed House Bill 3465 to allow Campbell to develop his massive resort despite land-use rules that would have stopped him. Opponents saw the bill as an end-run around Oregon's land-use laws. "This was a one-off deal that benefits one party," says Stephen Kafoury, a lobbyist for the American Planning Association. Lloyd District tower might be first to use 'peer reviewed' design for earthquake resilience Portland Oregonian State building codes outline exactly how skyscraper should be built to ensure it will keep standing in an earthquake. A 32-story tower proposed in Portland's Lloyd District won't be be built according to the method outlined in the building code. And that's OK, the City of Portland says -- provided the design goes through a rigorous peer-review process. Truth in site appeals OSU Bend siting Bend Bulletin -OSU-Cascades opponents file brief with state board- Opponents of OSU-Cascades proposed west-side campus have filed their argument before the Land Use Board of Appeals, a state tribunal that hears challenges to local land use decisions. Northwest lawmakers mull higher speed limits NW News Network Some Northwest lawmakers want you to be able to drive faster. Bills in both Oregon and Washington would increase the speed limit on some sections of highway. Oregon Republican Representative Greg Barreto is a habitual speeder who isn't afraid to admit it. State senator: 'Main Street doesn't function as a highway anymore' KMTR "Actually Main Street doesn't function as a highway anymore," Beyer said. "It should be, I believe, a city street." The lawmakers said they hope a bill called Oregon Highways will help appropriate state funds to assist with highways that run through urban areas, such as Main Street. Kids deaths spur safety proposals Eugene Register-Guard -Springfield city leaders and residents will offer ideas to better safeguard pedestrians where 3 children died- City officials are proposing a list of projects to improve safety on Main Street in the aftermath of last months crash that killed three children and critically injured their mother. In Boise, development turns to filling in gaps Boise Idaho Statesman Roughly defined, infill is putting new buildings - or retrofitting old ones - on undeveloped or underdeveloped lots in an established neighborhood. Often, the new construction allows for greater density or a mixture of commercial and residential space. Infill is popular at City Hall in large part because it fits the broader mission of reducing people's reliance on cars. Boise's comprehensive plan identifies dozens of intersections throughout the city that planners deemed "activity center nodes," or places where a variety of housing types and commercial uses are easy to get to. Sweet Home volunteers tackle livability assessment goals, planning Albany Democrat Herald They serve communities in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and ... She pointed to the Oregon Jamboree, the All Lands Collaborative and the ... Thirty years on, activists say it's time to undo Oregon's prohibition of rent control Portland Oregonian Portland is a city that seems to be building apartment complexes all over town, yet the vacancy rate remains one of the lowest in the country and rents are rising faster than most other cities. Umatilla River navigability still undetermined Pendleton East Oregonian -Despite booming fish returns and interest in boat ramps, the status of navigability on the Umatilla River remains undetermined.- Steelhead returns on the Umatilla River are at a near-record pace this year. As of Wednesday, more than 5,000 of the fish have passed Three Mile Falls Dam near Hermiston, compared to just 1,939 at this time a year ago. Clackamas County Commission approves zoning change to save Oregon Lavender Farm Portland Oregonian The 90-acre farm in Oregon City is praised by neighbors and local politicians, but is caught in a land-use quandry that could compromise Dierking's ... New state and fed efforts to protect sage grouse High Country News The greater sage grouse has been lingering in the endangered species ... Sagebrush and rangeland habitat in Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah and ... Oregon Ranchers' Cooperation to Save Sage-Grouse Pays Off Public News Service Oregon has managed to clear an estimated 68 percent of the invasive conifers, which crowd out native sagebrush and threaten sage-grouse habitat. Home builders assail compact growth plan Eugene Register-Guard The urban growth boundary is the line around Eugene within which ... Valley Advocate for the anti-sprawl watchdog group 1000 Friends of Oregon. Oregon primed for a drone revolution? Some think so Portland Lorton is working with farming and technology leaders to land that kind of innovation in Oregon. Precision agriculture is the movement to take ... Of Oregon's 31 water bottlers, none as controversial as Nestle Portland Oregonian Oregon is home to 31 bottled water companies, and only Nestl is controversial enough to flood state officials' inboxes with protest emails. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Curt Melcher received so many in the wake of the Cascade Locks City Council's vote to fast-track the approval process for a proposed Nestl bottling plant in the town, he filtered them into a special folder. Feds must create conservation plans for lower Klamath, Tule Lake Wildlife Refuges Portland Oregonian Federal fish and wildlife managers must complete a plan to ensure commercial activities at two Northwest federal wildlife refuges do not harm wildlife, a U.S. District Court judge has ruled. Deadline extended to comment on Jordan Cove LNG proposal Salem Statesman Journal The public has until April 3 to comment on a proposed air pollution permit for the controversial Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas terminal. Oregon legislature considering bills to mandate insurance for Uber and Lyft Willamette Week -Cab companies backing the legislation; Uber wants lawmakers to wait- The Portland cab industrys fight with ride app Uber is driving to Salem. An alliance of taxi companies is backing a bill in the Oregon Legislature that would require transportation companies like Uber and Lyft to carry commercial insurance at all times of operation. Lakeview biofuels plant could be running by end of 2016 Bend Bulletin -Red Rock Biofuels hopes to start construction this summer or fall- A long-discussed biofuels plant where woodland scraps would be turned into jet fuel is closer to being built in Lakeview. Hines company finds market for juniper Bend Bulletin -Josephs Juniper mills the High Desert trees into fence posts- On a 12-acre parcel just west of Burns, Gerard LaBrecque mills wood from perhaps the least popular tree in Oregon. Everybody hated the junipers; everybody thought they were worthless, LaBrecque said. But one man's trash is another man's treasure. Lack of snowpack creates concerns for streams, fish Portland Tribune So far, authorities say it is too early in the year for the low amount of snow to be a concern to most people skiers excluded. But the low snowpack hasn't just had an impact on businesses and snow sports enthusiasts who haven't gotten much use out of their equipment. The lack of snow on the mountain also has affected the flow of local rivers, which in turn affects their residents: the fish. Dire situation for growers in E. Oregon KTVB Boise As we told you last week, the snow survey shows that most of the Treasure Valley should have an acceptable water year. But, in Eastern Oregon and Owyhee County, where agriculture is such an important part of their economy, it's a much different and a more dire situation. Republicans suspend participation in transportation plan Daily Astorian Republicans have pulled out of talks in the Oregon Legislature to craft a transportation funding package. But Democrats will need at least one ... Wyoming legislature approves bill to support coal port bonds Salem Statesman Journal Wyoming is prepared to up the stakes in its high-dollar push to override local opposition in the Northwest and get access to ocean ports to allow coal exports to Asia. Are financial burdens hindering future farmers? Oregon Public Broadcasting Recently on the show we discussed efforts to engage young people in farming as the average age of farmers approaches 60. Neighbors worry about proposed strip club on River Road N Salem Statesman Journal It's an ordinary piece of paperwork, filed with a state agency, but it has residents of a North Salem neighborhood anxious. DEQ seeks comment on Silverton foundry permit Salem Statesman Journal The public can comment on Silverton Foundry's air pollution permit renewal. The foundry, at 600 Pine St. in Silverton, produces gray iron parts for machinery, models and public works. It has been in operation since 1978. A primer on native plants Portland Tribune As open space and wildlife habitat resources diminish in urbanized environments across the country, bee and pollinator populations are down as well. What can we do to raise the carrying capacity of our parks, neighborhoods and backyards so they can be healthier, better functioning ecosystems? You call this a farm? Willamette Week -Urban farmers and foresters are benefiting from a gaping property tax loophole.- Joe Angel is a real-estate developer and investor best known for once owning 28 Portland-area Burger Kings. Angel also helped develop three downtown hotels: the Westin, the deLuxe and the Lucia. Small snowpack in Oregon means big water worries Capital Press -Only an "immense" spring snowstorm would make a difference in what is shaping up to be a dry year for streamflows and irrigators who rely on them.- How scant is the snow in Oregon's mountain ranges? Forty-five percent of the states long-term monitoring sites, including automated stations and places hydrologists visit on foot, are at or near the lowest snowpack level on record. Doubts linger over $750000 water grant proposal Capital press A proposal to spend $750,000 to help Oregon communities plan for water projects met with ... We're not requiring anybody to use this," he said. ... needs, the reality of Oregon's land use system does not conform to that vision, he said. Port signs significant water agreement Hermiston Herald -The Port of Umatilla took a significant step toward providing more water for the area with an agreement to lease unused water rights to the Umatilla Basin water users group.- A significant agreement was reached Tuesday that could provide more water to the area and millions of dollars to the local economy. Declining oxygen in ocean could drive fish away: Oregon environment news Portland Oregonian A new report from scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Oregon State University sheds new light on how ocean "dead zones" impact Northwest fisheries. Bills aim to regulate GMO crop growing Portland Tribune Critics claim proposed restrictions on growing biotech crops in Oregon would undermine voluntary coexistence efforts and spark new conflicts between farmers. Legislation that would give state regulators more authority over the production of genetically modified organisms is touted by supporters as protecting organic and non-GMO growers. Oregon proposes a roundabout way to increase traffic safety Portland Tribune The tragic deaths of Pacific University freshmen Kiden Dilla and Ayan Osman helped prompt a strange parade of giant trucks for a truck rodeo at Portland Meadows racehorse track last Thursday. The Portland teenagers and best friends were killed last April when their car was struck by a truck while they were turning left onto Highway 47 from Southwest Verboort Road near Forest Grove. LEED for Weed Oregon Business What is the impact of the legal pot industry on carbon emissions? . . . Moving indoor grow operations outdoors would eliminate much of the burden on the electrical grid - and the atmosphere. But as Morris pointed out, there's a certain snob factor associated with indoor operations, considered by purveyors to produce a higher quality and more "boutique" product than outdoor facilities. Medford councilors worry stance on marijuana could encourage black market Medford Mail Tribune -Some councilors worry taxes, moratorium could encourage black market- Medford's tough stance on marijuana appears to be withering as city officials worry their actions could lead to a proliferation of legal pot gardens this summer and unwittingly help create a black market for weed. Oregon marijuana law could face legal challenge, city and county associations say Portland Oregonian Oregon's new marijuana legalization law is on shaky legal ground when it tries to limit the ability of local governments to tax and regulate retail sales of the drug, lawyers for cities and counties argued Wednesday. County mulls marijuana farm zone exclusion Capital Press -Legalized marijuana in Oregon has raised questions about how the psychoactive crop will fit into the state's land use system.- An Oregon county is thinking about excluding marijuana from farm zones, raising questions about how the psychoactive crop will be regulated under the state's land use system. In a first, senators plan to introduce federal medical marijuana bill Washington Post In what advocates describe as an historic first, a trio of senators plan to unveil a federal medical marijuana bill Tuesday. Laura Buhl, AICP, CNU-A | Land Use & Transportation Planner Planning Services Division | Transportation & Growth Management Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development 635 Capitol Street NE, Suite 150 | Salem, OR 97301-2540 Direct: (503) 934-0073 | Main: (503) 373-0050 laura.buhl at state.or.us | www.oregon.gov/LCD/TGM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: