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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 3, 2005 House committee approves building-rights bill By DON JEPSEN for the Mail Tribune SALEM — A bill that gives property owners the right to build a single-family home if they held that right at the time of purchase cleared a major hurdle Wednesday. The House Land Use Committee voted 5-2 to send House Bill 2549, introduced by Central Point Republican Dennis Richardson, to the floor. If approved as expected by the Republican-dominated House, it faces an uncertain future in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Richardson said the bill’s goal is simple. "If a land owner at the time of purchase had approval to build, but then was denied because of subsequent land-use regulations, that right must be restored," Richardson said. The legislation addresses one of the most crucial provisions of Ballot Measure 37, approved overwhelmingly by voters in November. It is narrow in scope, limited to single-family homes — not subdivisions or commercial property. "People may have acquired property with plans to build retirement homes. They paid taxes. Yet that right may have been taken away from them by land-use laws or local zoning ordinances," Richardson said. "That is wrong." Advertisement Only one home is allowed regardless of the size of the parcel. Two Democrats on the committee voted against the bill. Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, said he met Saturday with a group of residents in the rural Helvetia area west of Portland. "Two things came out clearly," he said. "People agree that they should be allowed to build, but they are worried about a possible impact on agricultural land." He added that Richardson’s idea should be part of a larger bill that addresses a number of issues raised by Measure 37. "We need to keep the chips all in one pot," he said. "I think this bill muddies the waters," said Rep. Mary Nolan, D-Portland. Contrary to what many believe, Richardson said his legislation applies to very few people. "These are people who qualified by law at the time they purchased the property," he said. "This doesn’t apply to thousands of land owners." Richardson also said if the parcel is sold, the building permit does not continue with the property. "The new owner would have to comply with the restrictions in place at the time of purchase," he said. The Senate is expected to take the lead in drafting legislation implementing the provisions of Measure 37. Sen. Charlie Ringo, D-Portland, chairman of Environment and Land Use, has been holding regular meetings to discuss how to proceed. "We will address all the issues in one bill," he said. Richardson said he wasn’t averse to having his proposal folded into an omnibus bill. If it passes the House, it will send a strong message to the Senate to accept the Central Point legislator’s approach. "It’s not a bad idea to put them all together to prevent a veto by the governor, which would circumvent the rights of the people," he said of his proposal. Richardson is not a member of the land committee but he will carry the measure when it comes to the floor for a vote. Don Jepsen is a freelance writer living in Salem. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Sports Equipment Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s