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• 1. [Article] What is Driving Measure 37 Claims in Oregon?

  With over 7,500 claims covering 750,000 acres of farm and forestland, Measure 37 claims harbor the potential to change the landscape in Oregon. The majority of these claims are located in the Willamette ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: What is Driving Measure 37 Claims in Oregon? Author: Martin, Sheila A., Merrick, Meg, Rundell, Erik, Shriver, Katie Year: 2007 With over 7,500 claims covering 750,000 acres of farm and forestland, Measure 37 claims harbor the potential to change the landscape in Oregon. The majority of these claims are located in the Willamette Valley, where growth pressures and the value gradient between land for farms and land for residential development is great. This paper explores those relationships by describing and mapping the claims in terms of location, size, and current and proposed use, and then analyzes factors that appear to be driving the claims. At a county level, variables such as population growth, farm income, farm tenure and average age of farmer are considered as explanations of claim density. Using maps, we also examine the impact of distance from urban growth boundary and proximity to public lands. We conclude with comments about the unforeseen consequences of the “time zone” zoning on agriculture and public services, and consider the fairness of the Measure 37 regime. Title: What is Driving Measure 37 Claims in Oregon? Author: Martin, Sheila A., Merrick, Meg, Rundell, Erik, Shriver, Katie Year: 2007 With over 7,500 claims covering 750,000 acres of farm and forestland, Measure 37 claims harbor the potential to change the landscape in Oregon. The majority of these claims are located in the Willamette Valley, where growth pressures and the value gradient between land for farms and land for residential development is great. This paper explores those relationships by describing and mapping the claims in terms of location, size, and current and proposed use, and then analyzes factors that appear to be driving the claims. At a county level, variables such as population growth, farm income, farm tenure and average age of farmer are considered as explanations of claim density. Using maps, we also examine the impact of distance from urban growth boundary and proximity to public lands. We conclude with comments about the unforeseen consequences of the “time zone” zoning on agriculture and public services, and consider the fairness of the Measure 37 regime. Close

• 2. [Article] Documenting the Impact of Measure 37: Selected Case Studies

  Oregon has long been known for progressive planning policies and visionary government. The passage of Senate Bill 100 in 1973 ushered in Oregon’s modern era of land use planning and reflected a commitment ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Documenting the Impact of Measure 37: Selected Case Studies Author: Martin, Sheila A., Shriver, Katie Year: 2006 Oregon has long been known for progressive planning policies and visionary government. The passage of Senate Bill 100 in 1973 ushered in Oregon’s modern era of land use planning and reflected a commitment by Oregonians to the protection of farm land and other natural resources while planning for substantial urban growth. Many other states have envied Oregon’s framework as they struggle with the pressures of urban sprawl. While other states were quickly converting farmland to residential uses, Oregon converted just over one percent of its farmland to other uses between 1982 and 1997. On November 2, voters in Oregon chose to approve Measure 37 by a fairly wide margin. Although the message implied by that vote is widely debated, one thing is clear: Measure 37 has disabled the tools used over the past four decades to prevent sprawl and preserve agricultural and forest land in Oregon. We suspect that, based on experience in Florida with a similar measure, Measure 37 will also have a chilling effect on innovation in land use planning within local government. Although the legal status of the Measure is currently unclear (see below), we expect opponents of the land use system to continue to press for weakening these tools in Oregon. Efforts are underway to pass similar measures in other states. For example, property rights advocates are working in the state of Washington to make another attempt similar to failed Referendum 48, which was rejected by Washington voters in 1995. Before such an initiative is approved by voters, it is important that they understand how Measure 37 will affect land use planning in Oregon. However, the full impact of Measure 37 will be slow to unfold, as the courts make decisions about issues such as the transferability of waivers, the applicability of exceptions, and the rights of local governments to create a cause of action for neighbors affected by Measure 37 waivers. Title: Documenting the Impact of Measure 37: Selected Case Studies Author: Martin, Sheila A., Shriver, Katie Year: 2006 Oregon has long been known for progressive planning policies and visionary government. The passage of Senate Bill 100 in 1973 ushered in Oregon’s modern era of land use planning and reflected a commitment by Oregonians to the protection of farm land and other natural resources while planning for substantial urban growth. Many other states have envied Oregon’s framework as they struggle with the pressures of urban sprawl. While other states were quickly converting farmland to residential uses, Oregon converted just over one percent of its farmland to other uses between 1982 and 1997. On November 2, voters in Oregon chose to approve Measure 37 by a fairly wide margin. Although the message implied by that vote is widely debated, one thing is clear: Measure 37 has disabled the tools used over the past four decades to prevent sprawl and preserve agricultural and forest land in Oregon. We suspect that, based on experience in Florida with a similar measure, Measure 37 will also have a chilling effect on innovation in land use planning within local government. Although the legal status of the Measure is currently unclear (see below), we expect opponents of the land use system to continue to press for weakening these tools in Oregon. Efforts are underway to pass similar measures in other states. For example, property rights advocates are working in the state of Washington to make another attempt similar to failed Referendum 48, which was rejected by Washington voters in 1995. Before such an initiative is approved by voters, it is important that they understand how Measure 37 will affect land use planning in Oregon. However, the full impact of Measure 37 will be slow to unfold, as the courts make decisions about issues such as the transferability of waivers, the applicability of exceptions, and the rights of local governments to create a cause of action for neighbors affected by Measure 37 waivers. Close

• 3. [Article] Measuring Dynamic Patterns in the Structure of Substate Economies

  The objective of this study was to explore a new method of analyzing the performance of substate economies. A major limitation of conventional analyses of economic diversity and growth is the reliance ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Measuring Dynamic Patterns in the Structure of Substate Economies Author: McHugh, Richard, Cooper, Ronald, Martin, Sheila A., Otto, Daniel, Johnson, Stanley R. Year: 1990 The objective of this study was to explore a new method of analyzing the performance of substate economies. A major limitation of conventional analyses of economic diversity and growth is the reliance on static measures of economic structure. Such measures do not capture the patterns of growth dynamics or structural change the region may be experiencing. This paper discusses a new measure of dynamic economic diversity and explores its relationship to economic performance. The measure is a statistical index that reflects the degree to which employment in a county's industries move together over time. The more the industries' employment levels move together, the higher the value of the index. A high index indicates a high degree of regional economic integration. The analysis was applied to county-level data from three states: Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The findings: • Metro areas showed the highest values of the dynamic coherence index, and farm counties had the lowest values. Nonfarm/nor~etro counties were in the middle range. • High-coherence counties tend to have higher levels of per capita income. • Dynamic coherence appears to be positively related to the rate of economic growth as measured by employment growth rates. These findings may indicate that conventional static measures do not capture the economic linkages between industry sectors that make them move together. The positive correlations between the index of dynamic coherence and both income and employment growth may be reflecting the importance of interindustry linkages to the growth process. Title: Measuring Dynamic Patterns in the Structure of Substate Economies Author: McHugh, Richard, Cooper, Ronald, Martin, Sheila A., Otto, Daniel, Johnson, Stanley R. Year: 1990 The objective of this study was to explore a new method of analyzing the performance of substate economies. A major limitation of conventional analyses of economic diversity and growth is the reliance on static measures of economic structure. Such measures do not capture the patterns of growth dynamics or structural change the region may be experiencing. This paper discusses a new measure of dynamic economic diversity and explores its relationship to economic performance. The measure is a statistical index that reflects the degree to which employment in a county's industries move together over time. The more the industries' employment levels move together, the higher the value of the index. A high index indicates a high degree of regional economic integration. The analysis was applied to county-level data from three states: Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The findings: • Metro areas showed the highest values of the dynamic coherence index, and farm counties had the lowest values. Nonfarm/nor~etro counties were in the middle range. • High-coherence counties tend to have higher levels of per capita income. • Dynamic coherence appears to be positively related to the rate of economic growth as measured by employment growth rates. These findings may indicate that conventional static measures do not capture the economic linkages between industry sectors that make them move together. The positive correlations between the index of dynamic coherence and both income and employment growth may be reflecting the importance of interindustry linkages to the growth process. Close