City of Aurora Wins Airport Ruling

The Oregon Court of Appeals has granted the City of Aurora a sweeping victory in its case against approval of the Aurora Airport’s Master Plan, previously endorsed and granted without substantial review by Marion County, the Oregon Department of Aviation and the Land Use Appeals Board (LUBA).

In a decision dated June 16, the Court agreed with the City that the LUBA action was wrong on matters of both the law and procedure. The decision sends the case back to LUBA, now forced to contend with a judicial ruling that restores the role of the public.

“The City was right on the issues and right to act to preserve citizens’ role on land use in Oregon,” said City of Aurora Mayor Brian Asher. “The decision agrees with everything we have long been saying without being heard. We have now been heard.”

The City of Aurora did not win this alone. The City of Wilsonville, 1000 Friends of Oregon, Friends of French Prairie, and Joseph Schaefer deserve as much credit for their persistent involvement.