.
Right now, options are supporting House Bill 2465, a piece of remedy
legislation with apparently weak legislative legs. HB 2465 would
essentially grant Hood River an exemption from the UGB regulations,
and allow the school district to build on property west of city
limits.(As things are now, the district
can’t even build on land it owns at Wy’east Middle School and has
occupied solely as school property for the past half-century: the
property is designated for agricultural use even though there has been
no farming within its borders since the 1950s.)
The district is correct in wanting to avoid
property condemnation — which basically forces property owners to sell
their land to a public entity. It’s a disruptive and alienating form
of property acquisition. This is especially true of school districts,
for they rely on public goodwill for passage of construction bond
levies.
So HB 2465 remains the best course to follow
at this time. An exemption brings things back to that word: “unique.”
It falls to the district, and the community at large, to make the case
for the uniqueness of local school land needs.
The fact that Lane Shetterly, director of the
Department of Land Conservation and Development, came to Hood River
last week to hear the school district’s side of the story is
encouraging; he took the time to listen. The schools and supporters
should continue to press Shetterly on this issue. Meanwhile, Rep.
Patti Smith and Sen. Rick Metsger, who sponsored HR 2465, need to hear
from their constituents on this matter.
Smith has said, “This is another example of
how we need more flexibility in the state land use system.”
She is right, but flexibility in land use laws
is a tough sell in the current political climate.
One factor is certain, and it is the one that
drives the entire debate: the schools will keep growing, and this
school district needs to build in order to meet the projected
enrollment increase, over the next eight years, of up to 2,200 more
students.
Ideas Invited
‘Improving Your Community’
As 2007 unfolds, the Hood River News seeks
your ideas on how to make our communities even better places to live.
In 150 words or fewer, send them to “Improving My Community,” at
hrnews@eaglenewspapers.com.
Positive suggestions, either specific or
conceptual, are welcome; please include your name and daytime phone
number.
We’ll collect and publish the ideas in later
editions. Thanks for your ideas.
