Re: “Law enacted to speed legal process for development disputes” (April 13):
Zoning is the law that determines what can be built where. It protects everyone’s property rights equally. It’s a contract between the city and its residents. It ensures that incompatible uses are not beside each other to avoid conflict.
For example, potentially smelly, toxic and noisy industrial uses are not allowed beside residential uses because each has a different need, desire and goals, and the needs of one user would conflict with the other’s use of their greatest investment: their property.
Zoning makes sense and needs to be respected. It provides long-term certainty and predictability for all.
Most developers do due diligence and respect the existing zoning and are rewarded with a pain-free, opposition-free process. Others do not. Some act like bulls in a china shop, wreaking havoc by disrespecting their neighbors, the zoning and community values.
Developers’ actions are facilitated and encouraged by those we appoint, elect and pay to follow the zoning laws and protect this community against inappropriate placement of incompatible development and by those who developers hire to trump the zoning.
NIMBYs aren’t the problem. Inappropriately sized and placed development projects and their advocates are the problem. The conflicts will continue until developers and their advocates start following the laws.
I welcome a speedier legal process, with specialized, focused attention on what have become politically motivated violations of zoning laws. It may take the court to make our elected and appointed leaders and paid staff finally follow the law and “serve the people” once again.
Deb Keenan
Portland
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