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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2001)
Livability Forum presents land-use conference ■The future of the Willamette Valley depends upon proper control of urban growth in the next 50 years Diane Huber for the Emerald Imagine the stretch of land be tween Portland and Eugene with an additional 1.7 million people. Picture wider roads, thicker congestion, a sea of houses and a lot of cement. Picture fewer wetlands, forests and farms. This doesn’t have to be the future of the Willamette Valley, according to participants in the day-long land use conference held Friday in Cor vallis. If the 1-5 corridor prepares for the influx of people in the next 50 years, overcrowding and the less than-livable conditions that accom pany it can be avoided. The conference was sponsored by the Willamette Valley Livability Fo rum, which Gov. John Kitzhaber or ganized in 1996 to coordinate local, state, and federal governments in Oregon in order to plan for growth expected for the Willamette Valley. The audience will influence Gov. Kitzhaber's next move in planning for Oregon’s future. Throughout the day, presenta tions, displays and workshops pro vided participants an opportunity to discuss them priorities and con cerns for the Willamette Valley. The day began with a presentation of two sketches of the valley's future 50 years from now. In the future, Oregon will likely continue with current planning trends, public policy and market forces. More than 105,000 acres will be added to Oregon's urban growth boundaries, which restrict population densities to protect and preserve farm and forest land outside cities. Urban and rural development will swallow 50.000 acres of forest land and 300.000 acres of farmland. If Oregon continues conserving land, it is pre dicted that only 63,000 acres will be added to urban growth boundaries. While the land conservation al ternative seems ideal, Gov. Kitzhaber said in his presentation that such a goal will be a challenge. “All of us are far too complacent,” he said. “We think we can ignore those nagging signs that things are changing, while our riparian envi ronment is sacrificed to industrial and urban development.” Planning can’t rely on state and local governments alone, he said; instead, the state needs to encour age community-based problem solving and locally driven projects that involve many perspectives in the planning process. “We need to integrate our eco nomic, social and environmental needs in every decision we make so that we can make the smallest foot print possible,” he said. Several new incentives could be in place to encourage individuals and businesses to reduce their impact on natural systems, said Peter Watt, exec utive director of the Livability Forum. Smoking ban’s fate rests with Legislature ■ House Bill 3953 would prohibit local bans if they are more stringent than state laws Bv Sue Ryan Oregon Daily Emerald Whether a planned smoking ban for Eugene becomes a reality or not is in the hands of the Oregon State Legislature. The contentious issue of smok ing bans, which faced the city of Eugene last year, is back on the table at the state level. Representa tives passed House Bill 3953 Thursday with a vote of 35-24. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Alan Turn to Smoking, page 6 On campus at the UO Bookstore! One Day ONLY! Tuesday, May 1st Prizes & Free Stuff! \ Creator of Tribes 2 in the UO Bookstore! * 48 Copies of TRIBES 2 will be given away * Shirts, CD’s, and a bunch of other free stuff Sign up to compete online against: Florida State U., U of Florida, U of Oklahoma, Miami, Nebraska, U of Tex, U of Alabama, Auburn, UW, WSU, UCLA, USC, Notre Dame, U of Mich, Ohio State, U of Tenn, Virginia Tech, OSU, U of Oregon, Georgia Tech I UNIVERSITY*^ OREGON BOOKSTORE UO Bookstore 13th & Kincaid www.uobookstore.com For example, farmers could re ceive a tax rebate for cutting back on pesticide use. “The government can be creative,” he said. “It's a matter of them putting their money where their mouth is.” Marilyn Slizeski, representative of the city of Philomath, doesn't think financial incentives are enough to change current land-use practices. Individuals need to change their core values and the way they live their lives, she said. “People should be embarrassed to drive a Suburban and have five kids,” she said. “It's not practical anymore.” Landowners should practice more responsible stewardship of their land, she added. For example, Oregon law requires landowners to replant trees if they've been logged. “Sure, the money comes out of landowners’ pockets, but it’s the right thing to do,” she said. Bill Fuji, a natural resources spe cialist, compared the attitudes of Americans with those of people in Japan and Europe. “It can cost people S40 to go 30 miles in Europe. It should be a privi lege to drive on the roads,” he said. Changing something as fundamen tal as peoples’ values and attitudes re garding the environment requires schools to adapt an entire curriculum devoted to teaching kids about the importance of planning, said Milt Markewitz of The Learning Center. Watt said he agrees that there needs to be an increase of awareness at all ages. “The people involved in plan ning aren’t going to be alive in 50 years, but younger generations will be. It's really their future,” he said. UMi/Ui^yL SUMMER 2001 Summer Session is the perfect time to learn with us, catch-up or get a jump start for Fall term. Take a full year's sequence or explore new ideas. And guess what...at OSU Summer Session, everybody pays instate fees! SUSui*U... Broaden’your experience, meet our faculty and keep your program moving forward with OSU this summer. Jfwi, hzjv&fkA., Make the best of your summer. Experience OSU. Over 1200 courses, relaxed atmosphere, special events and opportunities. OSU Summer Session....yours for the taking! OREGON STATE Uni vers ity oregonsfate.edu/summer ■ (541) 737-1470 e-mail: summer.session@orst.edu Sigma Kappa Sorority Bringing Sisterhood To Life Experience Sigma Kappa Sigma Kappa Sorority will be hosting special recruitment activities during the week of May 7. Interested in joining a sorority, making new friends, and lifelong friendships? Find us at the events below. Questions? Call Julie at 485-6694. Schedule of Events Monday, May 7 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, May 9 9a.m.-5p.m. 7-9 pm. Thursday, May 10 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 7-9 pm. Information Meeting Personal Visits Informal Recruitment Event Personal Visits Preference Event Bid Distribution Bid Day/Formal Pledging EMU, Fir Room EMU, Umpqua Room ZK House, 851 E. 15th Ave. EMU, Umpqua Room ZK House, 851 E. 15th Ave. EMU, Owyhee Room ZK House, 851 E. 15th Ave.
