May 11, 2022
Proposed Land Use and Planning Rules Will Have Serious Impacts for Oregon’s Small Businesses
The state of Oregon is dramatically re-making housing and transportation planning rules that will change how we live, work, and travel in our communities. In 2020, Gov. Kate Brown issued an executive order directing the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to do everything within its authority to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While the new rules aim to reduce Oregon’s carbon footprint, we know the new rules are also likely to:
- Disrupt small business operations
- Reduce visitor and employee parking in key economic centers
- Limit the types of businesses available in communities
- Increase the cost of housing
- Eliminate single-family homes in some neighborhoods.
The proposed Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) rules will apply in metropolitan areas like Portland Metro, Salem-Keizer, Albany, Corvallis, Central Lane, Springfield, Bend, Grants Pass, Medford, and cities and counties near these areas will be impacted as well. With more than 130 pages of changes to Oregon land-use and transportation laws, the proposed rules are confusing, complicated and the most extensive since the passage of Senate Bill 100 in 1973.
Business groups have been requesting important changes to the rules for months and remain hopeful that concerns will be addressed. However, with the May 19, 2022, meeting of the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) rapidly approaching, the vast majority of Oregonians remain unaware of how they will be impacted where they live, work, and visit.
To bring awareness to this important issue, NFIB has joined a new coalition – People for an Affordable Oregon, and we now ask you to do the same! Take Action by clicking here today!
NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.
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