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50 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, November 25, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 18, 2004 Ashland reacts to Measure 37 By VICKIE ALDOUS for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Landowners who want to file claims against the city under Measure 37 likely will have to pay for the city to process those claims. Oregon voters approved the so-called "takings" measure earlier this month, sending cities, counties and other jurisdictions scrambling to set up claims-processing steps by Dec. 2, when the measure takes effect. In a Wednesday study session, the City Council directed city staff to draft an ordinance that will include a number of requirements for Measure 37 claimants. The council will hold a special meeting on Nov. 30 to adopt the emergency ordinance. Measure 37, which passed Nov. 2 with 60.6 percent of the vote, requires state and local governments to compensate landowners if land-use restrictions enacted after the property was purchased degrade the value of the property. Councilman John Morrison, who becomes mayor in January, acknowledged Measure 37 reflects the will of voters. But he said the city has an obligation to defray some of the cost of processing claims to avoid burdening taxpayers. "We’re not being obstructionist," he said. "But we do have a responsibility to the citizens of Ashland." Advertisement Claims fees will help cover staff time for processing. No funding has been identified to pay successful claims. Community Development Director John McLaughlin said recent land-use rules that could affect the most property — and therefore be most vulnerable to the new law — include the "big box" ordinance that governs the size of commercial buildings in the city, the size limit on homes in the city’s historic districts, the tree ordinance and downtown design standards. A landowner must have owned property before the enactment of a new regulation in order to claim any loss of value. Claimants will be responsible for researching the regulations in effect when they purchased their property, although the city is compiling a timeline of when ordinances were adopted. The council has the option of waiving the land-use rule or paying the landowner for the lost value. In each case deemed valid by city staff, the council will hold a public hearing to discuss what option to take. Vickie Aldous is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach her at 482-3456. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities