Salem--The Oregon House today asked voters to approve a bill to protect Oregon's forests, farms, and groundwater from large-scale development. House Bill 3540 is a reform of Measure 37, a 2004 ballot measure that has spurred a development rush threatening 750,000 acres of lost open space.
"Oregonians strongly support a land-use planning system that protects our forests and farmlands," said Jeremiah Baumann, advocate for Environment Oregon. "This fall they'll have the opporutnty to vote to protect our open space."
The measure limits commercial and industrial development and restricts large-scale residential development on high-value forest and farm lands and in groundwater-restricted areas.
