McLoughlin neighbors protest city's plans

Residents in the neighborhood are upset with plans to expand public works facility

By Matthew Graham

The Oregon City News, Nov 10, 2009, Updated Nov 10, 2009 (2 Reader comments)

<< Prev. Page 1 | 2

“We wanted to make sure we met both current and future needs of the consolidated public works department,” she said. “We want to celebrate the historic and uniqueness of the site. This is a special site and it needs to be respected. We want to design a showcase for innovative and sustainable storm water management and we also want to promote smart growth and compact development, these are things we’ve been talking about in our comp plan for years and these are things that we really want to be really exemplary.”

Still, residents weren’t sold on the plan. Many offered testimony in person and others sent in letters of protest.

Jim Paul, one such resident, said the city shouldn’t disregard concerns simply because they don’t specifically address city code.

“In a letter to the commission … (Kraushaar) referred to several key points made by the MNA as ‘generalized objections’ and having no direct relation to an ‘Oregon City code standard.’ While this is the opinion of the public works director, the points are nonetheless important facts voiced by the neighborhood association and should be carefully considered as relevant to not only the neighbors at large, but the city as a whole.”

Specifically referring to the city’s lack of obligation to consider other sites, he said, “I believe the point was being made not that the public works concept plan wasn’t following code by reviewing other sites; however, the city being responsible keepers of millions of taxpayer dollars owe it to those residents to review other locations.”

The city will consider the issue again at its Nov. 18 meeting.

<< Prev. Page 1 | 2

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit