Corvallis City Council Sides With Industry, Not People

On June 4th, the Corvallis City Council voted unanimously to approve the conversion of 40 acres of native oak savanna to sprawling suburbs. Legend Homes - a known creator of sprawl in Oregon - has received permission build approximately 220 houses on the land, obliterating a remnant of one of the most threatened habitats in North America. This would be a bad thing for the environment all around; increased sprawl will also mean longer commutes by more drivers, adding to the city's greenhouse gas emissions.

The city council showed itself to be definitely on the side of industry in its decision. Councilors York and Daniels stated that the city council would be respecting the will of the voters by approving the development, since Corvallis voters originally approved annexation of the Witham Oaks parcel into the city. However, the idea that the peoples' will was the council's primary concern is hard to take seriously; a public city council meeting that discussed the fate of the Witham Oaks parcel was held last month, and the room was packed with citizens opposed to the development. Exactly one person (from the Chamber of Commerce) testified in favor of granting Legend Homes permissions to go through with the project. The final decision of the city council seems to have had more to do with a commitment to pleasing industry, and promoting growth at any cost, than it had to do with the voters' interests. Councilor Mike Beilstein summed up his own position, and apparently that of the whole council, with the statement, "I'm in favor of growth." Beilstein and Councilor George Grosch - both members of Oregon's Pacific Green Party - shocked members of their political party by supporting this project so at odds with environmental health.

It is to be hoped that the Witham Oaks struggle is not yet over. The city council's decision can still be appealed to the Land Use Board of Appeals. Despite a disheartening setback, there is still an opportunity to save this remarkable parcel of land.

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