A setback for proponents of Measure 37

The Oregonian reports in "Judge razes Measure 37 land law " that:

A judge obliterated Oregon's voter-approved property rights law Friday, uprooting the way the state plans its communities for the second time in a year. Marion County Circuit Judge Mary James ruled that Measure 37 violates the Oregon Constitution by favoring longtime property owners over those who have purchased land more recently. She also said the measure prohibits the Oregon Legislature from exercising its authority. The ruling was so sweeping, it will not only halt thousands of acres of rural development, but also may force property rights advocates to try a different approach if they want to weaken Oregon's land-use laws.

Click here for the pro position on Measure 37 and here for the anti-position, favored by smart growth and anti-sprawl interests, as well as here.