| Environmental Principles and Priorities: Land Conservation and Development |
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| Why is this important? What are the key issues? |
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Oregon's quality of life, the strength of its economy and the livability of its communities, both urban and rural, are inextricably bound to its land and natural resources. How we use, develop and conserve the land and those resources will determine not only our present, but our future as well. If we choose wisely, we can assure a future of sustainable growth and prosperity compatible with the beauty of our natural environment. If we choose poorly, we may enjoy short term prosperity, but at the cost of sustainable growth and the degradation of our precious natural resources.
Our land use policy must be focused and well-balanced, protecting our productive farm and forest lands and other natural resources while providing land for employment and economic opportunity for all Oregonians; fostering livable, sustainable development in urban and rural communities; conserving coastal and ocean resources; and improving the well-being and prosperity of people, businesses and communities across Oregon.
Our land use system has served us well for more than 30 years. But as times change, the system must change also in order to meet the needs of Oregon communities in the 21st century. We must make the system outcome driven instead of process-driven. We must recapture the collective vision that drove the development of our statewide land use planning program, and use that vision to guide our progress forward so that the program remains relevant for our state's needs today and into the future. The successful evolution of our land use system can only happen if there is participation from Oregon’s citizens.
Oregon voters passed Ballot Measure 37 in November, 2004, which presents an unprecedented challenge to the sustainability of our land use system. Clearly, it reflects a frustration and disconnect with the land use program The challenge today is to accommodate the will of the voters – who both passed Measure 37 and overwhelmingly still support land use planning – while preserving fundamental aspects of the land use system. Oregonians want fairness in land use planning, but they do not want unbridled development that threatens our Oregon way of life, our economy and our environment.
The land and our natural resources are a legacy we have inherited from generations that have come before us. They are also our legacy to leave for generations that follow. They are ours to use and enjoy, but not only for ourselves, in our time. Wise choices will allow us to prosper and grow today, and leave a sound and sustainable environment that will assure prosperity and a high quality of life for generations to come.
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