Clackamas County v. Portland City Temple

On October 31, 1969, Clackamas County adopted a zoning ordinance which classified defendants’ property as RA-1 (agricultural) single family residential district. Thereafter, the county sought an injunction restraining the defendants from using a portion of their property as an airport landing strip in violation of the ordinance.

Defendants contended that the property had been used as a landing strip prior to the adoption of the zoning ordinance; therefore, defendants had the right to continue that use as a nonconforming use.

The trial judge granted the injunction on the grounds that the prior…