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View From Sherwood

By Frank Nims
August 2003

Oregon now has an unemployment rate of 8%, the highest of any state in the nation.  Some of the causes are state and local land use regulations that prevent or limit the ability of landowners to use their land in ways that would create jobs.

Of the 16 million acres of land now zoned for farming, less than 2 million are prime farm land.  Most of the rest is producing little or no profit to the owner, and does not create wealth necessary to create jobs.

This land often can be put to better uses.  It might be used for small rural home sites for those who want to bring up their families in the country.  Most of these homeowners would then buy a tractor and all  the accessories needed to take care of their small parcel of land, creating more jobs for local retailers.  Substantial tax increases would go to counties and school districts, well above any new service costs that would be incurred.

Other land could be used for recreational use such as dude ranches, golf facilities, destination resorts, private parks and campgrounds, each providing more jobs.

Many small family-owned commercial facilities are suitable and needed in rural areas.  These could provide jobs, repairs, services and supplies for the area, but are not now allowed by land use regulations.

Land near urban areas would often be suitable for needed schools, churches, playgrounds, soccer fields and public parks and facilities which now are not available   or   affordable    within  urban growth boundaries because of scarcity of land.

In order to employ people, we must be able to create wealth.  Almost every feature of the Oregon land use system blocks or reduces the creation of wealth.

It is common knowledge that one company after another has moved out of Oregon or decided not to set up operations in the state because of the unavailability of land and/or time and cost of obtaining land use approvals.

It makes one wonder just how bad the economy of Oregon needs to get before we decide to take action to solve these problems.