From laura.buhl at state.or.us Fri Jan 6 19:06:06 2017 From: laura.buhl at state.or.us (Buhl, Laura) Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2017 03:06:06 +0000 Subject: [LandUse-News] Land Use News for January 6, 2017 Message-ID: Welcome to this week's roundup of the Land Use News! Post-holiday 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. Draining Oregon: Lawmaker Wants Groundwater Tracking and Fees to Speed Up Research Oregonian (Portland) In a legislative session expected to be dominated by a fierce revenue debate and work to craft a statewide transportation bill, one lawmaker says it's also time to have a serious talk about water next year. Drinking Water Grants Available for 2017 Capital Press (Salem) The Drinking Water Providers Partnership is offering grants to restore and protect the watersheds that provide drinking water. Union Pacific Agrees to Changes after Mosier Derailment Statesman Journal (Salem) The nation's largest freight railroad has agreed to more thorough inspections and maintenance improvements after a fiery oil train derailment in Oregon and the discovery of more than 800 potential safety violations across its sprawling network. Denial of Rail Proposal Heads to Columbia River Gorge Commission The Bulletin (Bend) -Parties challenge, defend expansion plan- The Columbia River Gorge Commission will consider a railroad company's proposal to expand its rail line in a national scenic area, after the railroad company and conservation groups appealed a recent county decision on the issue for different reasons. In Eastern Oregon, a Quieter Battle Over Federal Land is Unfolding Oregon Public Broadcasting While the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge grabbed the world's attention, a quieter struggle over federal lands is being waged by those trying to use elections and the levers of government. Their grandparents and great-grandparents wrested a living from the West's rugged landscape. But now, the forest commissioners say, the government is tightening access to the same natural resources by closing roads and curtailing logging and other industries that allowed previous generations to be self-sufficient. A Federal Lawsuit Shows New Trouble Looming for Oregon's Greater Sage Grouse Willamette Week (Portland) -One of the states iconic species is at the center of the latest battle over who should control federal lands.- No story dominated Oregon news in 2016 quite like the occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by Ammon Bundy and his anti-government militants. A new lawsuit shows that another battle over federal control of land and animals in Eastern Oregon is heating up. Oregon State Wins Federal Grant for Wave Energy Test Facility Oregon Public Broadcasting Oregon State University has landed a federal grant for the design, permitting and construction of an advanced wave energy test facility. Oregon Forest, Conservation Efforts Get Financial Boost The Bulletin (Bend) Forest and conservation projects in Oregon received nearly $10 million in recent funding from federal programs. Portland City Council Unanimously Approves Inclusionary Zoning Program The Oregonian (Portland) The Portland City Council unanimously approved a citywide inclusionary zoning policy, requiring apartment and condo developers to set aside some units for low-income residents. The policy is intended to mitigate the effects of rising housing costs, which have pushed renters and low-income homebuyers toward the city's outskirts. It's supposed to piggyback on market demand to create affordable housing in some of the city's most desirable neighborhoods. Housing Crisis Took Center Stage in 2016, Will Keep it in 2017 The Oregonian (Portland) Renters felt the effects of the housing crisis years ago, when their leases started climbing at a much faster rate than their paychecks. County Targets Affordable Housing with Construction Tax Hood River News Hood River County Board of Commissioners last week asked staff to write up an ordinance creating a new construction tax devoted to funding affordable housing programs. The excise tax, created by Senate Bill 1533, allows local governments to impose taxes on residential and commercial development via building permits, with revenue destined for housing initiatives. Short Commutes Still the Norm in Bend The Bulletin (Bend) -Traffic patterns suggest that won't last- Traffic in Bend is heavier than during the last economic boom a decade ago, but according to recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the average residents commute is still around 15 minutes. That probably feels like a relief to people who recently moved from Portland or San Francisco, but traffic counts suggest the good times won't last. CC Rider Gets New Director, Seeks Input on Transit Plan Portland Tribune -Michael Ray, former transit coordinator, tapped to head bus agency- As CC Rider looks to implement a new coordinated transportation plan, the agency will move forward under the leadership of its former transit coordinator, Michael Ray. Sunriver Area Destination Resort Expansion Plan Remanded The Bulletin (Bend) Caldera Springs can't count some bedrooms as tourists lodging after all, under a recent state board decision. The State Land Use Board of Appeals has remanded approval of the destination resorts planned expansion back to Deschutes County for reconsideration. New Future Planned for Industrial Paper Site The News-Review (Roseburg) The old International Paper site has a new name, and may soon find new purpose now that it's under new ownership. Barramundi, a whitefish popular in Asian cuisine, will likely soon be raised in a sterile aquaculture plant at what's now being called the Reedsport Commerce Park. That's just one of the unique ideas that the new owner, Industrial Harbor USA, has for the future of this 427-acre property. The developers want to fill the site with an array of businesses that make use of the available resources there, like marine access, water rights and a rail line. They hope businesses on the site will ultimately employ at least 200 to 250 people. Oregon's Updated Streamside Logging Rules Get a Chilly Response Oregon Public Broadcasting The Oregon Board of Forestry is proposing a new streamside logging or "riparian zone" rule that would increase the protected areas around waters that are home to salmon, steelhead and bull trout. It also would require that more trees be left behind in these buffer zones to provide shade and keep the water cold. Salmon need cold water to thrive. After Pushback, Oregon Scraps Report Linking Private Forests to Water Quality Risks Oregon Public Broadcasting Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality drafted a report that identified logging as a contributor to known risks for drinking water quality in communities up and down the Oregon coast. But the report has never been published. It was scrapped by the agency after intense pushback and charges of anti-logging bias from the timber industry and the state's Department of Forestry, according to interviews and public records. Can the Cannabis Industry Deliver an Organic, Environmentally Sensitive High? Oregon Public Broadcasting Marijuana growers use a lot of pesticides, especially when these mildew- and mite-sensitive plants are grown indoors. But a growing number of farmers and shops are trying to give their customers a satisfying cannabis high without the downer of pesticide-related environmental or health risks. Sudden Oak Death Battle Continues Curry Coastal Pilot (Brookings) At its current rate, the spread of the tanoak disease could reach Coos Bay in 12 years and shut down all international port activity there, Smith told county commissioners Wednesday at a regular meeting. It couldn't come at a worse time, as money is being invested in that port to develop economic opportunities. Commission Says State Needs $574 Million for Transportation Projects Portland Tribune The Oregon Transportation Commission has recommended state legislators boost transportation spending by $574 million a year to upgrade roads and bridges and relieve traffic congestion in metro areas. The figure is the first concrete proposal in play for a transportation package, which is expected to be one of the major issues in front of the Legislature in 2017. The legislation will likely send hundreds of millions of dollars to the Department of Transportation, which the commission oversees. 10 Cent-a-Gallon Portland Gas Tax Takes Effect Jan. 1 Portland Tribune -Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick celebrates first 20 projects, announces schedule for future repair work and safety improvements.- The temporary 10 cent-a-gallon gas tax approved by Portlanders voters in May takes effect on Jan. 1. In one of his last official acts in office, former Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick held a press conference Thursday to review the first 20 street projects funded with bond proceeds supported by the projected revenue, and to announce a schedule for future projects. State Audit Critiques Oregon Business Incentives, Data Center Tax Breaks The Oregonian (Portland) A new state audit says Oregon's economic development agency needs to do a better job evaluating tax incentives it uses to attract businesses to the state, and should be more transparent on the results of those incentives. Naturalist Touts the Oregon Beach Bill The Daily Astorian -Local naturalist explores history and future of public beaches- The public has enjoyed access to state beaches since the Oregon Beach Bill passed almost 50 years ago. Although beaches are now celebrated, public access was once challenged by a Cannon Beach hotel owner, and the bill almost died before citizens brought it back to life. Congress to Help Tribes Rebuild The Dalles Chronicle Several U.S. Senators from the Northwest Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced last week that provisions to help fulfill long-unmet housing obligations to tribes along the Columbia River have passed both the House and Senate. The legislation moved forward as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016. The bill will now be sent to President Obamas desk to be signed into law. Congress Awards $30m in Grants The Dalles Chronicle The Federal Lands Access Program has awarded the Oregon Department of Transportation more than $30 million to improve access to federal lands in the Columbia River Gorge. The funding includes $29 million to complete a new portion of the Historic Columbia River Highway Trail and connect it at Mitchell Point Crossing; $2.6 million for the Columbia Gorge Express to improve access to Multnomah Falls; and $300,000 for the Historic Columbia River Highway Congestion Mitigation Plan Salem Sued Over Third Bridge Petition Handling Statesman Journal (Salem) A local man is suing the city of Salem for refusing to certify a petition that would allow residents to vote on an ordinance adopted by city council regarding a prospective third bridge in Salem. Irrigators Win Water Decision Herald and News (Klamath Falls) Northern California and Oregon irrigation districts have won a key round in a long-running legal battle as they seek compensation for their loss of water in the Klamath River Basin. In a 53-page opinion, U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Marilyn Blank Horn concluded the federal government's 2001 diversion of Klamath River Basin water amounted to a physical taking of the irrigation districts property. Horns ruling Wednesday rejected the government's argument that the diversion instead amounted to a regulatory taking. Washington to Reject Coal Export Terminal near Longview The Oregonian (Portland) The state of Washington may have killed a controversial plan to build a coal export terminal on the Columbia River west of Longview. Outgoing Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark said Tuesday he will reject a request by Millennium Bulk Terminals to sublease state-owned land that once housed an aluminum smelter. State, Public Update Smith Rock State Park's Master Plan The Bulletin (Bend) -Mecca for wildlife, people plan its future- When the towering rocks at Smith Rock State Park glow with the red-orange light of sunrise, nearby resident Marcia Volk often runs out to take yet another picture of them. There's so much beauty here, said Volk, who runs a website with information on the park. It takes me five minutes to get out of any negative state of mind by just walking into that park. Michigan the Latest to Preempt Municipalities from Banning Plastic Bags Planetizen Michigan has joined a small but growing list of states that have passed laws prohibiting municipalities from banning single-use plastic bags or charging for bags, as is done in California. Critics assail it as an 'attack on local control.' Rain as a resource: St. Paul innovates shared, sustainable stormwater management MinnPost (Minnesota) The new systems use rain as a resource instead of letting rainfall and stormwater enter into area lakes and the Mississippi River, along with all of the pollutants that water collects. This new method of managing stormwater is called "shared, stacked green infrastructure." That means the system does more than one thing on a site (say, irrigating plants and/or trees), to provide additional community services or amenities beyond just managing rain runoff. The Illegal City of Somerville City Observatory Somerville is the kind of in-between density that you'll often hear people praise: compact enough to walk to stores and friends' houses, but with virtually no buildings over four floors, lots of trees and yards, and a mix of small apartment buildings and single-family homes. But recently, the Somerville planning office released a report in which they confided that, in a city of nearly 80,000 people, there are exactly 22 residential buildings that meet the city's zoning code. Why are Federal Programs Restricting Mixed-use Development? Smart Growth America A growing number of Americans wanting to live in walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods-but arcane federal rules make it unnecessarily difficult to build this type of development. A recent study by the Regional Plan Association, released in partnership with LOCUS: Responsible Real Estate Developers and Investors, highlights how-and what lawmakers can do to change it. Street trees are Essential for Walk Appeal Public Square: A CNU Journal Street trees are essential for strong Walk Appeal almost anywhere in the US, which makes them a fundamental part of the public frontage, which extends from the property line to the edge of the street . . . There are many reasons to plant street trees (most of which will be in a later post), but the two most obvious ones are closely intertwined: Walk Appeal and sustainability. In most of the US, a street without trees is a street where people rarely walk, and therefore almost always drive. This is bad for our towns, our wallets, and our waistlines. 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: