Feb
15
2012
Cook's Butte Park
In the February 9, 2012 Lake Oswego Review, Marilyn and Wally Helm wrote:
“Did you know that the city of Lake Oswego owns 566.46 acres of parks and natural areas? You may say “great, I love our parks.” But (we) bet you didn’t know that by the city’s own 2011 assessment, 48 percent of these properties are considered in “poor” or “fair” condition because of invasive species?
Just drive around and it is easy to see the steady destruction of our city’s beautiful trees due to lack of care and maintenance. What is our city doing instead of maintaining the parks we have paid so dearly for with our taxes?”
Click here to read the rest of the Citizen’s View.
Feb
14
2012
City Council approved a goal for 2012 to move towards resolution of the “sensitive lands” issue.
The language of the goal is as follows:
“Obtain recommendations to modify the Sensitive Lands program which may include reducing regulations on private property. Consider recommendations if they meet state and regional legal requirements, maintain existing level of environmental protection, have measurable environmental benefits, are aligned with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, and can be implemented within agreed upon resources.
By May 1, receive independent review recommendations on proposed changes to the Natural Resource Protection Program.
By July 1, initiate a work program to implement the approved recommendations on changes to the Sensitive Lands Program.”
While there are several qualifiers in the goal, we believe there are options to relieve private residential property owners of this onerous regulation while meeting the criteria of the goal. Stay tuned!
Dec
29
2011
“Sensitive lands” remains an issue for over 1000 Lake Oswego private residential property owners. Despite Metro indicating that private property owners could be relieved from the burden of this arbitrary land use restriction program, despite Council’s own 2011 goal to resolve the issue, and despite the City’s PR claims, nothing of any significance has changed. Private residential property owners are still burdened with this arbitrary land use restriction that devalues property and limits the use of backyards. As Bob Thompson writes, sensitive lands still loom over our city. Click here to read Bob’s Citizen’s View in the 12/29/11 LO Review. And, please donate to the LO Stewards PAC to help with our 2012 efforts.
Nov
18
2011
In a recent letter in the Lake Oswego Review, a local resident writes about her parents finding a home that they loved and wanted to buy, but didn’t, when they learned it was “sensitive lands”. We hear this all too often. The economy and real estate market are tough enough. The last thing we need are unnecessary land use restrictions placed on private residential property! Metro says the City can change this program on our private properties, but the City Council won’t make the change. Click here to read the letter. And, be sure to see the August 10th post below.
Oct
29
2011
In the October 22, 2011 Oregonian, LO resident Mona Ellison wrote about a code enforcement she recently experienced regarding her property, which has a “sensitive lands” designation. Ms. Ellison describes the enforcement investigation (no violations were found) and her concerns: the involvement of a board member of the Oswego Lake Watershed Council, neighbors turning on neighbors, the waste and misuse of city staff time, and city staff not having the courtesy to contact her directly. Click here to read more.
Oct
23
2011
During the September 20, 2011 Lake Oswego City Council meeting, a resolution formally recognizing the Oswego Lake Watershed Council (OLWC) and authorizing approximately 300 hours of staff time to support this non-profit organization, was approved despite Councilors Olson and Kehoe requesting more time to understand the intent and purpose of the OLWC.
Although LO Stewards agrees with the concept of a watershed approach and we support voluntary stewardship and education as part of an overall strategy for natural resource policy, we do not support the recognition of the OLWC.
Click here to read more about our concerns.
Oct
23
2011
Last year, the City Parks and Rec Department re-landscaped the entry of the municipal golf course on Stafford Rd. They used several rose bushes and annuals and other non-native plants which were planted near three madrone trees. These trees are now dying or have been removed by the City. Some claim that this was a direct result of poor landscaping planning and watering of the nearby roses, annuals and other plants.
The City writes and enforces strict ordinances to prevent private residential property owners from planting roses, annuals and other non-natives in backyards, yet the City landscapes as they choose and in a poor manner given the killing of the madrone trees. Why are “sensitive lands” property owners micro-managed about the plants in our private backyards while the City’s practices are just the opposite of what they preach!? We think private property owners are much better stewards of their properties than the City is of our public lands.
Oct
20
2011
In the October 21, 2011 Lake Oswego Review, LO Stewards Board Member, Lauren Hughes, wrote that “sensitive lands” designations should be removed from all private residential property. She mentioned the almost 20 natural resource ordinances and programs that are more than adequate to protect natural resources. You can find a summary of these on our website under “Get the Facts” / “Other Protections”.
Currently, about 10% of private residential property owners have considerably more regulation than others via the “sensitive lands” land use restriction program which is a “trade” program that applies permanent land use restrictions to private backyards as mitigation for development in areas of high economic interest. Using private residential property for mitigation for other development, micro-managing backyards, and taking from others should not be a Lake Oswego “community value.”. Click Here to Read the Article
Oct
18
2011
At the September 6, 2011 Lake Oswego City Council meeting, Metro Councilor Carlotta Collette discussed the recent purchase of property at Riverview Cemetery and the “connectivity” it would provide from Portland down to Tryon Creek Park in Lake Oswego. Watch the video clip below where Councilor Collette describes public trails through this area and laughs as she mentions that they would go through just a few private yards. We don’t find public trails through private backyards anything to laugh about.
Is it a coincidence that City Council is considering revising the code definition of “Public Transportation Facilities” to INCLUDE regional community connector trails and local access trails and is revising “sensitive lands” policy to allow these public trails through “sensitive lands”? Citizens with “sensitive lands” properties are very limited on the use of their backyards but paved public trails could be placed in “sensitive lands”? This is just further proof that the “sensitive lands” trade program is not an environmental program. If public trails through private backyards concerns you, please donate time or money to LO Stewards’ efforts.
Oct
6
2011
In January, Council agreed to a goal to reconsider “sensitive lands” policy. A Council Work Group was established to begin working towards solutions and has met with Metro. At the September 6, 2011 City Council meeting, Councilor Mary Olson discussed this meeting that she, Councilor Kehoe, Mayor Hoffman and City Attorney Powell had with Metro. Councilor Olson referenced an e-mail she sent to Council and we made a public records request for a copy.
The great news is that Metro advised that changes could be made that will provide relief to private residential property owners:
There is no requirement/need to add more private residential properties to the “sensitive lands” program.
Within the UGB, tree groves are not required to have the sort of permanent land use restrictions that “sensitive lands” applies.
The “no rollback provision” is not a barrier to changing the City’s “sensitive lands” program.
But will Council act to revise this onerous policy and restore the rights of all private residential property owners?
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