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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels November 29, 2004 Land-use appeals to city could be costly By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings Property owners who want compensation or the waiver of land use regulations under Measure 37 will be taking a financial gamble in Ashland. The measure, which was approved by voters Nov. 2 and takes effect on Thursday, requires governments to waive land-use regulations or compensate landowners if regulations devalue their property. The Ashland City Council will hold an emergency meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Ashland Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main St., to consider adoption of an ordinance that will guide the handling of Measure 37 claims. According to the ordinance, a property owner whose claim is judged invalid will be required to pay the costs of city staff time spent processing the claim. Even if a claim is deemed valid, the property owner must pay a $250 application fee to the city. Adding to the financial risk, neighbors who feel their land was devalued by previously banned development can sue the landowner who won waiver of a land-use regulation. The proposed Ashland ordinance is similar to those being considered by many cities and counties as local governments grapple with how to handle claims without overburdening staff and budgets. Claimants will have to submit information including the date they or a family member acquired the property, the disputed regulation that was enacted after the property was bought, regulations at the time of purchase and how lost property value was calculated. The city administrator will determine whether submitted claims are valid. When a claim is judged to be valid, the city council will hold a public hearing and decide whether to waive a land use regulation or compensate the property owner. The council also could buy the property through negotiations or employ eminent domain. The city has yet to determine how it will pay for compensation to a land owner. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams