From: kempfer@osl.or.gov (Wes Kempfer)
Newsgroups: or.general,pdx.general
Subject: Land Use in Washington County
Date: 10 Jan 93 01:55:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: osl.1993Jan10.015547.25136
Distribution: or
Organization: Oregon ED-Net


If you are not a registered voter of Washington County, Oregon, the
following may not be of interest you.  Otherwise, please read on.

The memo below is from the Washington County Citizens Empowerment
Committee.  It describes the purpose of their organization and
three Washington County land use ordinances which they would like
to see placed on the ballot for voter approval:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
         WASHINGTON COUNTY CITIZENS EMPOWERMENT COMMITTEE
                      10907 NW Copeland St.
                       Portland, OR  97229
                            643-4008

We are a coalition of neighborhood groups seeking to have three
newly passed land use and transportation ordinances placed on the
ballot so Washington County citizens can vote on them in spring 1993.

The ordinances were adopted at midnight on October 27, 1992 after being
introduced in final form on October 13, 1992. The ordinances go into effect
on November 27, 1992.

A brief summary of the ordinances:

Ordinance 419
	- Within the urban growth boundary, allow siting of roads
anywhere within 800 feet of centerline - a total of 1600 feet
(1/3 of a mile)!!!
	- In rural areas allow siting of roads anywhere within a 1/2 mile of
centerline - a total of one mile!!!
	- What this means is that Washington County government can
site a road virtually anywhere within the county.

Ordinance 420
	- Ties all language about now protected natural areas
identified on eleven separate community plans to the development
code.
	- This allows Washington County government to change
local community plans across the board by simply changing the
development code - without consulting with individual communities.
	- The development code language weakens protection for
designated natural areas, wetlands, floodplains, scenic areas,
etc.

Ordinance 421
	- Removes citizen input from most road and related land use
actions.
	- Sets vague performance standards for much road
construction, making poor decisions very difficult to challenge.

Ordinance 419 and 421 do have a number of good points. However,
they are seriously flawed and should not be implemented as now
written.  When they passed these ordinances, the County
Commissioners agreed these ordinances had serious shortcomings.

To put these measures on the ballot, we need to collect 4809
signatures by January 27, 1993.   We need volunteers to help
collect signatures, donations of money to cover expenses,
opportunities to get the word out - in local newsletters,
meetings, etc.   Call us, we'll come!!!

----------------------------  End of memo --------------------------

As of this date (1/7/93), they are still a thousand signatures short.
If you would like to sign a petition, you will find a booth at which
to do so at any of these three locations on Saturdays and Sundays until
January 27, 1993:

	Bales Thriftway
	Cascade Plaza
	Washington Square


Volunteers are needed for two hour shifts at petition booths.  Contact:

	Sue Carlson (Bales Thriftway)  		644-2867
	Nancy Tracy (Cascade Plaza)		246-6190
	Teresa DeLorenzo (Washington Square) 	643-4008

Petition packets are available if you are interested in circulating
a petition in your neighborhood.  Contact Teresa DeLorenzo at 643-4008.

Like any citizen effort, the only source of funding for this one is
from citizens.  Donations are needed to pay for printing costs and legal
fees.  They should be sent to:


	WASHINGTON COUNTY CITIZENS EMPOWERMENT COMMITTEE
	10907 NW Copeland St.
	Portland, OR  97229
	643-4008

Further inquiries about the ordinances and petition drive may be
directed to the numbers listed above.  

Sincerely,


-- 
Wes Kempfer: ` - ' : ` * ' : ` - ' : ` * ' : 503-624-8692 | 503-229-2669
System and Network Administration Consultant ' kempfer@ednet1.osl.or.gov
Oregon Ed-Net (Ed-Net is not responsible for the views expressed above.)
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