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Washington’s I-933 will pave the way for irresponsible development, huge costs to taxpayers, and an end to many commonsense protections. If you have an extra second, go to the YouTube version and rate it! For more information, see Two Years of Measure 37: Oregon’s Property Wrongs. Credits: Producer: Kurt Guenther Camerawoman: Megan Griffith Actors: Isobel Davis, Kate Guenther, Jack Guenther, Rick Martinez, John Roberts, Clark Williams-Derry

What voters in 6 western states should know about property initiatives on the 2006 ballot.

Guest contributor Dan Staley is Planning Director for the City of Buckley, a small town in rural Pierce County, Washington. He writes this post as a private citizen. [Note: this is part of a series.] I get all kinds of phone calls in my office from folks with questions about some parcel of land for sale: What’s the zoning? How can it be developed? When will sewer be available? These...

Note: This is part of a series. Supporters of Initiative 933 in Washington recently submitted signatures—easily enough to qualify for the ballot in November. Coverage here, here, and just about everywhere. Both Seattle dailies had decent coverage and both pointed out something unusual about I-933. It’s financed (and orchestrated) by a shadowy out-of-state group that’s pushing its agenda in a dozen states. Here’s the Times: Americans for Limited Government, a...

Note: This is part of a series, highlighting Initiative933 in Washington. I-933 requires taxpayers to compensate propertyowners for “losses” resulting from planning. Simply complying with I-933 would be extremely expensive. That’s because I-933 demands massive paperwork burdens and bureaucratic shuffling for even the smallest zoning change. The best estimates show that administration alone would likely cost somwhere in the $1 to $2 billion range each year. (And this figure does not include the cost of paying...

Note: This is part of a series. Plenty of folks on Washington’s Kitsap Peninsula are worried about a NSACAR track that’s being pushed by a Florida corporation. At least two county commissioners think the deal is a rip-off for taxpayers, who would be responsible for financing $166 million of the project. Under the proposal, the corporation would also be exempted from certain taxes, be given land-use waivers, and be allowed keep taxes...