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Contested bill would limit 'sensitive lands' designations in county growth policies; local governments push back
Summary
House Bill 889 would restrict categories counties may use to designate 'sensitive lands' in growth policies. Proponents said the bill protects private property from vague designations; a broad coalition of counties, planners and conservation groups said the measure would undermine local planning, habitat protections and wildfire/flood resilience.
Representative Jedidiah Hinkle presented House Bill 889 to restrict the use of subjective or aesthetic criteria in county growth policies’ “sensitive lands” designations. The sponsor said the measure protects private-property rights from vaguely defined categories that could freeze land uses and impede owners who want to subdivide or change use.
Proponents — including county commissioners and landowners — described cases where they feared subjective standards could hinder development and that greater clarity and quantifiable standards would protect property…
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