ALBANY (AP) — A state task force on land use is proposing more local control on deciding which rural lands are suited for farming and forestry as they prepare for the last meeting before recommendations are due.

So far, the recommendations from the so-called “Big Look” task force appear unlikely to settle Oregon’s long-running dispute about how to protect farms, forests and natural areas from houses and other development.

“We’re trying to make something that would fit more of the diversity of this state, and we have received criticism from all sides,” said Gretchen Palmer, a task force member and a Bend home builder. “One side said we cannot do this and the other side said it was too generalized.”

She referred to criticism by 1000 Friends of Oregon, a watchdog group that supports state planning requirements, and Oregonians in Action, a group that supports private-property rights.

Jill Gelineau, a Portland land-use lawyer and another task force member, said she has heard a lot of criticism of the system in the past three years.

Richard Whitman, director of the state land-use agency, said legislative leaders have been made aware of the controversy.

Lawmakers and Gov. Ted Kulongoski created the task force in 2005 to take a “big look” at the land use planning system, which was created 35 years ago to protect most rural lands for farming and forestry and confine most development within urban growth boundaries.

Although Oregon voters rejected three attempts to weaken or repeal those planning requirements, they also approved two ballot measures in recent years to require governments to compensate landowners for losses in property values resulting from regulations.

But a year ago, voters approved Measure 49 to cut back on development rights that some landowners received from government.

A federal judge recently ruled that such development rights constitute contracts, but appeals courts are likely to settle the issue.

The League of Women Voters of Oregon is among the groups that have raised concerns about opening rural lands to development.

Oregon cannot support “development scattered around the landscape,” said Peggy Lynch, the league’s natural resources coordinator. “Our successful agricultural industry needs continued support. Our forest industry must have large blocks of land protected for forest practices that allow for the health of our trees without the intrusion of residential development.”

The task force will present its recommendations to the 2009 Legislature, which opens its session Jan. 12.

The task force is recommending regional planning and “regional problem-solving,” carried out by counties or groups of counties, to determine what rural lands are not suited for farming and forestry under state guidelines.

Among the other recommendations are to refine the state role in planning and improve public participation early in the process.