This bill is designed specifically for Aurora Airport. It is an attempt by airport developers, and certain airport users, to by-pass the prescribed Oregon land use process and avoid transparency and public involvement, in order to covertly acquire additional property on Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) land. The precise location and amount of land is unspecified but it lies across Keil Road south and east of the current Airport fence. This is being done prior to any possible future FAA approval of a runway extension at Aurora, “to save time and money”.
House Bill 4092 has been referred to the House Transportation and Development Committee. For those who oppose, please help us by emailing the Senate & House leadership and Committee members shown below, plus Senator Beyer, and ask them not to hear this bill because of one or two of the following points, in your own words if possible:
It involves special interests making an end run around our land use laws, by seeking legislative approval to avoid the usual public process. Stated purpose is to ‘save time and money’.
Avoids input from adjacent local communities already suffering noise pollution from over-flights and traffic congestion.
It denies local stakeholders, including local farmers, an opportunity to express their concerns.
The language of the Bill is deliberately vague about the specific uses and locations of the facilities to be constructed. It avoids stating exactly where, and how much, EFU land will be taken if the Bill passes.
Though we are all concerned about a future potential runway extension at Aurora Airport, please concentrate your comments on the current issue—a stealth bill that by-passes Oregon land use laws and deliberately avoids a transparent public process in order to develop prime farmland.
Here at the email addresses (please note the ‘dots’ after Sen and Rep):
Senate President
Peter Courtney
sen.petercourtney@oregonlegislature.gov
House Speaker
Tina Kotek
Rep.TinaKotek@oregonlegislature.gov
House Transportation Committee – Chair
Representative Susan McLain
Rep.SusanMclain@oregonlegislature.gov
House Transportation Committee – Vice-Chair
Representative Rich Vial
Rep.RichVial@oregonlegislature.gov
House Transportation Committee – Vice-Chair
Representative Mark Meek
Rep.MarkMeek@oregonlegislature.gov
House Transportation Committee – Member
Representative Daniel Bonham
Rep.DanielBonham@oregonlegislature.gov
House Transportation Committee – Member
Representative Paul Evans
rep.paulevans@oregonlegislature.gov
House Transportation Committee – Member
Representative Ronald H. Noble
Rep.RonNoble@oregonlegislature.gov
House Transportation Committee – Member
Representative Andrea Salinas
Rep.AndreaSalinas@oregonlegislature.gov
House Transportation Committee – Member
Representative Carl Wilson
rep.carlwilson@oregonlegislature.gov
House Transportation Committee – Member
Representative Brad Witt
Rep.BradWitt@oregonlegislature.gov
Also send to: Senate Committee On Business and Transportation – Chair, Senator Lee Beyer Sen.LeeBeyer@oregonlegislature.gov