OROHO: COAH RULES ADD MORE BURDENS TO UNCOMPENSATED HIGHLANDS LAND OWNERS

Senator Steve Oroho, R-District 24, issued the following statement in response to the Council on Affordable Housing's decision to ban 72 communities in the Highlands region from planning any development that doesn't include construction of more "affordable" housing:

"Landowners in the Highlands region were promised compensation for the land value lost because of the strict limits on development imposed in 2004. The state hasn't kept its promise, even as the losses incurred by landowners continue to grow unchecked.

"The new COAH rules put yet another expensive burden on property owners. They add to the growing costs of complying with state regulations and further depress land values. More land owners who bought property for business development will now find that projects that were years in the making are canceled or can not be completed. The result will be millions of dollars in losses for landowners who invested money and effort in their properties.

"The Highlands legislation is supposed to benefit every citizen in the state by providing cleaner water and protecting open space. When everyone benefits, it's not fair that the region's landowners are bearing a burden far heavier than anyone else in the state.

"The government should not enact laws that drastically reduce the value of a home or farm or family business without compensating the owners. I will continue to push for justice for Highlands land owners, and to oppose any new laws or regulations that further erode their rights."