Build Out Oct 14, 2009 at 2:35 pm

Comments

1
Fred Netter is an idiot. There... I said it.

Urban planners are not omniscient deities imbued with all the powers of the supernatural. They just said, "hey, we got enough land. We don't need anymore."
2
Yawn. Someone invested in property and they didn't make as much money as they hoped to, and now they are complaining and asking for a bailout. What do you want to bet he would have asked for a bailout many years ago if instead of owning the land, he was renting it from someone else and couldn't make a profit because the rent was too high?
3
You can't "make new land" and I think there are many farmers who recognize this and are firmly on the side of preservation of agricultural lands:

http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty…

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/argus/index…
4
I have lived in 10 different states in my life, and in every place the people who live there think they live in a unique place. They think their geography is unique, and superior to all others. They think their attitudes are unique, and superior to all others. They think their future is unique, superior to all others.

It never changes, anywhere.

Can't we just accept that this is a nice place, like most places are nice places, and try to make it better without having to think we're the best. Because we're not. The chances are far, far more likely that we're average, like all other places -- and, frankly, that is good enough.
5
I have lived in 10 different states in my life, and in every place the people who live there think they live in a unique place. They think their geography is unique, and superior to all others. They think their attitudes are unique, and superior to all others. They think their future is unique, superior to all others.

It never changes, anywhere.

Can't we just accept that this is a nice place, like most places are nice places, and try to make it better without having to think we're the best. Because we're not. The chances are far, far more likely that we're average, like all other places -- and, frankly, that is good enough.
6
@phonon- Just because alot of people 'think' they live in nice places doesn't mean they live in the nicest. its all perspective. I know I live in a nice place, maybe the nicest, and I want it to stay that way.
7
Prime farmland, worldwide, as farmland, is a valued investment, in our future and financially. The oil countries, China and investors are buying it up, and not for houses. They are buying it to farm.

That farmland near Portland will be increasingly valuable as farmland as the locavore movement gains speed and energy costs rise.

Good farmland near here is worth 2-3 times 6000/acre today without buildings. Where are the home builders who are chompin' their bit to buy land at 100,000 an acre?

Mr farmer has been paying much reduced property taxes in his county for over 35 years, thanks to our land use planning (aka thinking) laws, while everyone else has been paying the full price. He wants his carrots and wants to eat them too!
8
I wouldn't say the film is smug. Only a cynic would say that. It's not about whether or not the Portland region is the "best" place or anything like that. It's just how the people living here have collectively decided they wish to live. Yes, there are some - a distinct minority, it should be noted - that aren't in favor of urban planning, growth boundaries, transit, bicycles, etc. But that's the downside of democracy. Some people don't get their way.
9
Your lede sentence is misleading. Metro's Michael Jordan has made a recommendation not to increase the UGB. It is not his call. Ultimately it is up to the Metro councilors to decide. They will be almost certainly be pressured during the public process.
10
Stop reproducing. Now.
11
Big surprise that people want to eat their cake twice. True, a farmer's land outside the UGB is only worth $7,000 per acre. But that farmer bought the land at farm prices (or it was given to his family through the homestead act) and now he can sell it at farm prices, which have risen at the same rate or faster as other kinds of real estate.

Plus, Farmers in Oregon have benefited from big tax subsidies, which means Fred pays way less in taxes than his neighbor.

And, without the UGB, there would be a LOT more land to develop and land would be a lot cheaper than it is now--so he wouldn't get the kind of $$ he thinks he would get, anyway.

What exactly is he losing, other than the chance to cash out at the expense of the public as a whole? Actually, I suppose that sounds pretty all-American to me...
12
I think when we add land to the UGB, we should first make the owner sell it to Metro at going farm rate, (and if they don't want to sell it, Metro won't force them, but their land won't be added to the UGB,) and then, only after Metro owns the land can it be added to the UGB. And then Metro can sell it back to the public at the going urban land rate. (Just think of how many MAX lines we could build if we did that...)

It would only be fair. I mean, if people want to be compensated when government actions reduce the value of their property, they should have to compensate the government when government actions increase the value of their property too.
13
Interestingly enough, those gods want to hear our mere mortal thoughts! Even better, we don't even have to leave our homes and go to some oracle (or planning meeting) so that they can read our minds!

http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by…
14
"Yes, there are some - a distinct minority, it should be noted - that aren't in favor of urban planning, growth boundaries, transit, bicycles, etc."

You sure about that? How exactly? Have you made great progress in stifling all opposition from moving here by establishing growth restrictions?

People will still be born and occupy lands somewhere in the US since in most places, immigrants are still welcome and welcome to the same . Of course, that won't fly here in "tolerant" Oregon. This is just liberal elitism at its finest. I have a great house in a great city but THAT"S IT. NO MORE GROWTH.

What a bunch of sanctimonious dicks, trying to justify your bigotry with economic statistics.
15
Oh wow, I missed this gem:

"But that's the downside of democracy. Some people don't get their way."

Funny, that's what I said when Prop 8 passed.
16
@logan5: 2/10 troll. Try harder next time.

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