Abstract:
For many Oregonians, there is a sharp dichotomy between personal freedom and
government-imposed land use regulations. Proponents of Measure 37, which acts to
relieve landowners from the burden of regulation, would contend that the initiative allows landowners to regain rights lost decades ago. Opponents would contend that regulation is
needed to preserve Oregon’s natural resources from being completely developed. In
reality, the line separating the two sides is not so clear. It is Measure 37, a radical and
poorly written privately-sponsored initiative, which has exacerbated the separation of these two interconnected schools-of-thought. After all, personal freedom is hindered by regulation because it limits choices, but a lack of regulation can lead down the same path. This thesis empirically estimates the effect many social and environmental attributes, modifiable through Measure 37, have on sales prices in the Portland Metropolitan area. It finds that zoning changes can significantly decrease the sale price of neighboring properties. This suggests that this initiative is not a healthy direction for Oregon land use because it corrects perceived past unfairness with potentially greater unfairness.