Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon’s three-year examination of the state’s land-use planning system formally ends Thursday.

The ten-member Big Look Task Force plans to finalize a draft legislative proposal to re-direct the system from a centralized, regulation-heavy approach toward a more local, incentive-based system.

But as Rob Manning reports, the controversy and rancor that gave birth to the Big Look three years ago was very much alive and well, when interest groups from all sides tore into the latest draft Wednesday.

Whatever side of land-use planning that activists were on, they saw two big problems with the Big Look bill: what was in it, and what was not.

The unanimity of concern about one of the bill’s recommendations struck  former state labor commissioner, Jack Roberts, who moderated.

Jack Roberts: “We’re hearing very similar comments from people with a lot of different perspectives otherwise.”

Jon Chandler: “Did I agree with 1000 Friends? If so, then....”

Jack Roberts: “I think you actually did....”

Jon Chandler of the Homebuilders Association - who was speaking with Roberts there - basically never agrees with conservation group, 1000 Friends of Oregon.

Even the bill’s attempt at finding four basic priorities - the environment, economy, fairness, and quality of life - met hostility.

Peggy Lynch is with the League of Women Voters.

Peggy Lynch: “These overarching principles, although they’re very good sounding, frankly were not vetted with the general public, like the goals were in the 1970’s. We don’t know if these are the right goals for Oregon.”

But the strongest language was saved for what the bill doesn’t address. Number one on that list was climate change.

Criticism here was less than unanimous. Jon Chandler, with the homebuilders, attempted to excuse the task force.

Jon Chandler: “When pursuing what is clearly going to be an important topic for the next several years, not to mention this session, we ought not focus on any particular aspect of it here, because it’s going to be much bigger than this document.”

Bill Bradbury: “I think it is critical that the land-use planning program address climate change.”

That was Oregon Secretary of State, Bill Bradbury. He spent time with the Big Look, less than a week before an election he has to supervise.

Nikki Whitty: “Are you suggesting that we put more in here, just acknowledging the link, or do you have language that we should review?”

And that’s Nikki Whitty, a task force member and commissioner from Coos County questioning Bradbury. His response.

Bill Bradbury: “I really believe, we need to have a standard, a land-use, or call it what you will, a standard, that says if your project is adding significantly to our carbon contribution to the atmosphere, then you have a problem.”

But climate change wasn’t the only piece missing. Advocates accused the  Big Look of sidestepping the enormous cost of Oregon’s anticipated growth.

Metro chief operating officer Mike Jordan says task force members - and even the critics around the table - know the problem: the solutions aren’t popular.

Mike Jordan: “Looking at the interests around this table, I could mention a number of specific tools, and we could all go out in the street and fight about them, because it’d be a street fight, no matter which one I mentioned.”

Advocates suggested changing Oregon's tax system to pay for infrastructure. But Big Look members again seemed reluctant to stray far from their focus on the land-use process.

The final bill is expected to be in the governor’s hands by mid-November at the latest, so it can be introduced early in next year’s legislative session.