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Medford joins statewide lawsuit challenging climate regulations

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A photo of downtown Medford.

The Medford City Council voted to join other Oregon cities in a lawsuit against the state last week. The suit challenges state climate regulations.

Oregon鈥檚 Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) rulemaking, adopted earlier this summer, was designed to encourage affordable, climate-friendly development in the state鈥檚 most populated areas. But more than ten cities, including Springfield, Keizer, Happy Valley and now Medford, have joined a lawsuit challenging those rules.

According to Medford City Attorney Eric Mitton, Medford supports efforts to combat climate change. But, he says, the state鈥檚 rules are counterproductive and burdensome.

Mitton says one concern is that the new rules will introduce red tape for developers planning to build homes in bigger cities. He argues the rules could push development to bedroom communities in small towns around Medford, and lead to longer commutes for residents to where they work.

鈥淲hat it may result in is more people driving 30 minutes from the bedroom community instead of nine minutes from the edge of Medford down into the center of Medford,鈥 Mitton said.

Kevin Young, a Senior Urban Planner who helped design the state plan, says the rules encourage dense development in city centers, and he doesn鈥檛 think the rules will put a significant burden on developers.

鈥淭he process by which cities plan for their residential needs will continue to allow for low-density residential development, middle housing and the full range of housing we typically see now,鈥 Young said.

Young added that any emission increases inadvertently caused by these state鈥檚 rules will be monitored closely, and they will be changed accordingly.

Medford will continue to implement CFEC rules as written until the lawsuit is filed and a court makes a final decision about the suit.

Noah is a broadcast journalist and podcast producer who was born and raised in Salem, Oregon. He came to 老夫子传媒 through the Charles Snowden Program of Excellence after graduating with a BS in journalism from the University of Oregon. In his spare time, Noah enjoys backpacking, scuba diving and writing music.