Before the 1960s, there was little statewide coordination of land use provisions in place. The State was growing in population quickly as families continued to move west. Additionally, Oregon and Washington became homes to families beginning to move out of Southern Californian neighborhoods that were quickly becoming densely populated. As a result, during the 1960s and 1970s, lawmakers began to enact more land-use regulations to organize and control growth areas while preserving our natural environment. In 1973, Senate Bill 100 was passed, marking the official introduction of statewide land use planning programs with city and county localized planning departments.
Today, Oregon’s statewide land use planning program is based on 19 goals. These goals provide guidelines for local municipalities and counties to develop their individualized sets of zoning codes and land use regulations. The statewide program does not mandate laws but guides coordinated land use planning initiatives with a strong foundation in citizen participation.
In fact, the first of the 19 goals is titled “Citizen Involvement.” This goal stresses the importance of public involvement in land use planning work. According to this goal, each city and county must have a citizen involvement program that addresses:
- Opportunities for widespread public involvement,
- Effective two-way communication with the public,
- The ability for the public to be involved in all phases of the planning process,
- Making technical information easy to understand,
- Feedback mechanisms for policy-makers to respond to public input, and
- Adequate financial support for public involvement efforts.
If you’re interested in participating in land use planning activities, contact your local government’s Development or Land Use Planning Department. For example, the City of Medford created an extensive plan for citizen involvement related to land use planning. Their plan outlines the roles and responsibilities for elected officials, city employees, committee staff members, neighborhood associations, and the general public.
If you have questions about using your land, contact the professionals at Richard Stevens & Associates. We’re a land-use consulting firm located in Medford, Oregon. Our team can guide you through obtaining rural and urban land use planning permits throughout all Southern Oregon counties and beyond. With expertise at your side, you’ll be able to navigate the complex systems to obtain the land use permits you need for your next project. Give us a call at 541-773-2646 to get started!
Leave a Reply