League of Women Voters of Rogue Valley and Ashland Advocate Citizen Input in Land-Use Planning

Growth in Jackson County is occurring at an accelerated rate.  Municipalities and Jackson County are currently making land-use decisions based upon estimated population growth. The decisions reached will dictate growth patterns in our valley for many years to come. 

In Oregon, governing bodies regulating land-use are required to have a citizen involvement program.  “The citizen involvement program shall involve a cross-section of affected citizens in all phases of the planning process.” (Goal One Oregon’s Statewide Planning Goals and Guidelines).  Goal One does not envision simple perfunctory compliance by governing bodies.  It advocates genuine invited input in the process.  All public meetings should be open and well publicized.  Vacancies on advisory boards and commissions should be well publicized.  Diversity must be encouraged.  Governing bodies should welcome input.  Citizens should be treated with respect. Citizen involvement must be an integral part of the planning process.

The League of Women Voters is taking action to ensure citizens are invited to the land-use planning table in an open and user-friendly way.  We will be taking a look at governing bodies in Jackson County that are engaged in land-use decision-making.   We will ask whether formal Citizen Involvement Plans are in place?  Is there a genuine effort on the part of government to encourage citizen involvement?    Are formal plans actually being followed?  What are the rights of the citizens and the obligations of governing bodies?  What can we all do to increase citizen participation in a positive manner? 

The League of Women Voters of the Rogue Valley and the League of Women Voters Ashland are sponsoring a presentation at noon on September 15^th at JJ North’s in Medford.   Patricia J. Zimmerman, Ph.D., Chair of the Oregon’s Citizen Involvement Advisory Committee (CIAC) for the seven-member Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) will give a presentation on Oregon’s unique citizen involvement requirements in land-use planning.  Input from the everyday citizen is a critical component to continued livability in the Rogue Valley.  And it is required under the law.   We encourage all interested citizens to find out more about this event and the League's work on citizen involvement in land-use planning.

Trish Bowcock is President of the League of Women Voters of the Rogue Valley.

Vanya Sloan is President of the League of Women Voters of Ashland 

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Oregon Land Use Planning...

LWVOR Study on Oregon’s unique Land Use Planning System, 2002 The League of Women Voters of Oregon first studied land use over forty years ago; its 1959 report examined the state’s role in managing urban growth. In 1973, based on that study and other League work, the League supported Senate Bill 100, which created the statewide land use planning program.  This 2002 report looks at the history of Oregon’s land use program, documents its accomplishments, and recognizes the challenges it continues to face. Read more on Oregon's Land Use Planning System (PDF file)