The facts about Prop. 1

I see fear mongering and the-sky-is-falling attitudes are alive and well in the Mat-Su Borough.

I am highly disappointed with Darin Markwardt’s Spectrum opinion trashing of Prop. 1, the Private Property Protection Act. Here are some of the facts about the Private Property Protection Act.

This is not a retroactive ballot measure and will only affect new regulations passed by the Borough Assembly after October 2007, assuming this proposition passes on Oct. 2.

Therefore, a racetrack cannot be built in Snowgoose Pond Subdivision unless the Mat-Su Borough Planning Commission allows it. The Mat-Su Borough already has regulations on the books to regulate racetracks.

Also, a gas station or pawn shop cannot be built in Equestrian Acres or even Snowgoose Pond Subdivision, as they have residential covenants that do not allow racetracks, gas stations or pawn shops.

Yes, Oregon has had $19 billion in claims since passing Measure 37, but Oregon has not paid a dime of these claims. It just reversed the application of the land use regulations that created the loss of property value to the claimants. The regulations are still on Oregon’s books, but not applied to the individuals who have lost $19 billion of property value. Oregon did not pay out those claims.

Passing Prop. 1 will make the Mat-Su Borough pass future land use regulations that respect the private property rights of owners and not reduce their property values. Some examples of future Mat-Su Borough regulations that are still in the works, which we have already seen glimpses of are:

• No construction within a (certain distance) of the Matanuska River.

• No clearing of vegetation within 75 feet of water bodies (lakes, creeks, rivers).

• Future zoning regulations that could zone a commercial property as residential (which would be a big loss of value to the property owner) or not allow a home business in a residential zone.

Why did Mr. Markwardt not disclose that the Mat-Su Prop. 1 opposition group has received a $12,000 donation from a Washington state donor — Outside money again trying to influence our local elections.

I will be voting “yes” on Prop. 1 and you can help by voting “yes” too.

Pio Cottini

Palmer