ORS 197.173 Findings regarding coordination between state agencies and local governments

The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that:

Improving coordination and consistency between the duties and actions of state agencies that affect land use and the duties and actions of local governments under comprehensive plans and land use regulations is required to ensure that the actions of state agencies complement both state and local land use planning objectives.

Improved coordination is necessary to streamline state and local permitting procedures.

The Department of Land Conservation and Development has not engaged in a formal and concerted effort to update state agency land use coordination programs since 1989, and that state agency rules, plans and programs affecting land use and local government comprehensive plans and land use regulations have changed substantially since that time.

Rules of the Land Conservation and Development Commission regarding state agency land use coordination and state permit compliance and compatibility should be:

Reviewed to eliminate unclear or conflicting provisions and to ensure that local land use decisions authorizing a use generally precede state agency decisions on permits for the use or for aspects of the use; and

Updated regularly to maintain a high level of coordination between state agencies and local governments in reviewing authorizations for a use of property.