|
Many times community members hear or read about issues in the City and want more information. This website was designed to help answer some of your questions.
If you would like information on another topic or to fact-check something you heard, please let us know.
Current Topics:
Previous Topics:
___________________________________________________________________________
Lake Oswego's Suspension of Streetcar Planning
In January 2012, the Lake Oswego City Council took steps to:
- suspend further work on the Lake Oswego to Portland Transit (streetcar) project
- preserve the public ownership of the Willamette Shore Line right-of-way
- move Foothills redevelopment forward without the streetcar
In April, 2011, when the Lake Oswego City Council tentatively approved the streetcar as the preferred transit alternative, they required that additional step of inquiry be taken before moving on to next steps in the formal federal process. The requested refinement work yielded a project that is of lower cost, faster, and more direct with fewer impacts and better integration into the neighborhoods and communities along the alignment. The Refinement Report provides the basis for the jurisdictions and community to understand what this project really is and costs. The previous Draft Environmental Impact Statement didn't bring that level of detail or understanding. While the streetcar will not be pursued for Lake Oswego, Portland, a partner in the project, may continue to pursue the streetcar as defined in the Refinement Report in the John's Landing area.
The City Council had unanimous interest in maintaining and repairing the Willamette Shore Line right-of-way and keeping it within public ownership. The Willamette Shore Line Consortium has been working on ways to reopen the line for Trolley service, to the extent possible, based on funding and safety of the line. With the suspension of planning for a streetcar which would have traveled largely on the line, the members of the Consortium will need to address issues associated with ensuring that the right-of-way is being planned for and used in the long term. The City Council is awaiting a proposal for the costs and options to improve the line for Trolley service.
Below are key documents related to the suspension of efforts to bring a streetcar to Lake Oswego.
If there are any particular questions that you have about the suspension please feel free to contact Public Affairs and indicate the topic is the streetcar http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/tools/common/feedback/.
Documents:
January 24 Action Taken - Motion to suspend the streetcar, maintain Willamette Shore Line and pursue Foothills redevelopment planning without the streetcar(Passed 7-0)
January 24 Council Packet (Item 7.2) including information on impacts and next steps that come from suspending the pursuit of a streetcar. It also includes the original resolution that directed further inquiry into the cost, alignment and funding of the streetcar and the Refinement Report that is also linked to below.
Refinement Report
Council Tierney's Comments to "Shelf" Streetcar proposal at this time
Media Reports Streetcar:
http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2012/01/lake_oswego_officially_suspend.html
http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2012/01/lake_oswego_councilors_bill_ti.html
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=132625834831701500
Planning for the Foothills District - Plan B
Media Reports Foothills:
http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=132692403174086800
http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2012/01/suspension_of_streetcar_plans.html
___________________________________________________________________________
Walmart in Lake Oswego?
The City has learned of a proposed use by Walmart at 17711 Jean Way. This site was last updated on November 3, 2011. This site contains what is known to the City and will be updated as information becomes available.
A utility account for Farm Fresh to Market LLC, C/O Walmart has been opened for that location. An architect for Walmart submitted an application to the City and it is currently under review by the City Planning and Building officials. The application is for a grocery/pharmacy store/office space and is for internal improvements to the existing structure on the site. Staff are currently reviewing the application and are not able to provide further information until completion of the review.
Walmart Public Affairs provided a link to images of their Neighborhood Markets as this is the business model under consideration: http://walmartstores.com/pressroom/Photos/Gallery.aspx?id=442
The City of Lake Oswego is not an active participant in any real estate negotiations regarding the ownership or lease of this property. Until plans or an application is submitted, the City will not be able to review the use nor determine the applicable process for a business to open at the currently vacant 17711 Jean Way.
Question and Answers - Overview of Zoning and Process for 17711 Jean Way
Q. What are permitted uses at 17711 Jean Way?
A. The site is zoned General Commercial (GC). The uses allowed are the permitted and conditional uses of the Neighborhood Commercial (NC) zone plus additional uses identified in LOC 50.11.020(13). Examples of permitted uses at this site are general retail, office space and grocery. Review the Development Code
Q. Are there size limits or is a “big box” type store a permitted use at 17711 Jean Way?
A. The Development Code does not use the term “big box.” There are standards that constrain the overall size of the use at this site. Here are examples:
- A single retail use, such as a grocery, is limited to 26,500 square feet.
- Total retail uses are limited to 31,000 square feet.
- Lot coverage (footprint) is limited to 50% of the site, and the maximum height of a structure is limited to 45 feet.
- Parking and buildings must be set back at least 25 feet from Boones Ferry Road and 15 feet from Jean Way.
- Twenty percent of the net buildable area must be devoted to landscaping.
- Off-street parking must be provided based on the parking generation rates in the Community Development Code.
Q. What is the process to open a business for a “permitted” use at this site?
A. Detailed plans would need to be submitted before any determination can be made on the necessary process for review and approval. But the first step for any business is to obtain a Business License from the City. As part of that process, Planning Staff reviews the Business License application to make sure it meets applicable zoning and parking requirements. Additional review might result from exterior building alterations, tenant improvements (interior), changes to landscaping or access, and an increase in the size of the building. Signs require a review by Planning.
Q. What are the opportunities for public input for a business that is a “permitted” use in the zone?
A. When a site is first developed, there is extensive public process to review the proposed development against code standards for design, use, setbacks, parking, landscaping, etc. (Such was the case with the original land use application for a grocery store at this site.) If a new business occupies an existing building and the use is permitted in the zone, the City (and by extension, the public) has limited ability to review the proposal. If exterior alterations are proposed, review of the alterations would be analyzed against the original design approval. Depending on the extent of the alterations, the review could be completed by staff or be heard by the Development Review Commission (DRC) at a public hearing. An appeal of a staff decision is heard by the DRC; an appeal of a DRC decision is heard by City Council.
Q. What is the process to approve a use that is “conditional” or prohibited?
A. Conditional uses require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). These are heard by the Development Review Commission (DRC) at a public hearing. Conditional uses must meet the zone standards as well as additional criteria based on the specific use. A prohibited use cannot occur unless the zoning or the Community Development Code is amended to allow the use – these require an extensive process, including notice and public hearings.
Q. What is the history of the property at 17711 Jean Way and the existing building on the site?
A. The site has been used as a grocery store. Nature’s received development review approval in 1997 and occupied the building until approximately 2003. Wild Oats occupied the building between 2003 and 2006. It has been vacant since that time.
The existing building is approximately 41,000 square feet. When the site was Nature’s or Wild Oats, the grocery component was limited to 26,500 square feet, other retail uses were limited to 4,500 square feet, and office and other non-retail uses made up the remaining 10,000 square feet.
Media Reports:
http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=131975611898269200
http://blog.oregonlive.com/lake_oswego/print.html?entry=/2011/10/wal-mart_aims_to_open_lake_osw.html
http://www.oregonlive.com/west-linn/index.ssf/2011/07/wal-mart_rolls_on_with_plans_for_west_linn_and_lake_oswego_locations.html
http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/shows/big-box-stores-city/ and related story wal-mart-from-big-box-to-small-store
http://www.lakeoswegoreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=131049020048617600
http://www.kgw.com/home/Walmart-to-open-grocery-stores-in-Lake-Oswego-and-West-Linn-125532243.html
http://urbanland.uli.org/Articles/2011/May/NewbergGrocery
Providing Comment:
Until a plan is submitted and the type of use proposed for the site in relation to the pertinant land use zoning is assessed, the City will not be able to determine, based on applicable land use processes, the process for review and public input.
Citizens are welcome to provide opinions at: http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/tools/common/feedback/. Please put Walmart in the subject line so that we can keep track of the correspondence on this topic.
___________________________________________________________________________
City Assistance to LO Public Schools
In early 2011, the City Council voted to support Lake Oswego School District (LOSD) due to the funding shortfall. After considering options that were legal, reasonable and doable, a one-time $2 million contribution for the next school year was developed. Funds come from the City’s savings and from reducing costs and temporarily increasing the franchise fees.
Many residents advocated for and showed support for assistance to Lake Oswego's public schools, as healthy, high quality schools is important to the value and vibrancy of all residents. There have been two primary areas of concerns raised in how the City is providing financial assistance:
- the temporary increase of Franchise Fees, and
- use of funds that had been set aside for the Lake Oswego Library capital construction. UPDATE: At the January 24, 2012 Council Meeting, the Council unanimously approved replenishing funds that had previously been set aside for Library Capital construction. This return of funds was made possible due to underspending by the City of Lake Oswego in the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year. The reserve for Library Capital construction is now back to its original amount (with interest accruing) of $914,000.
Below is information on the one-time, $2 million assistance provided to the LOSD including response to the two areas of concern.
Use of Franchise Fees:
The increase in the franchise fees (through PGE, NW Natural and Allied Waste), will go into effect this summer and last for one year. The franchise fee increase is approximately $4-5 dollars per month for the average residence.
Recently, residents received a notice from PGE. Certain information was missing from the letter: the funding was for the Lake Oswego School District and that it is in increase to an already existing fee. The temporary increase in the franchise fee was enacted through Resolution 11-26.
The City collects a total of $2.4 million per year in franchise fees. These include $1 million from PGE (rate of 3.5%), $442,000 from Northwest Natural Gas (rate of 3%), $500,000 from Comcast (5%), and $300,000 from Allied Waste (5%). In addition, the City collects $200,000 from six smaller franchise agreements including Quest and Frontier (Verizon).
By state law, there are limits set on how much cities can charge for franchise agreements from electric and gas utilities. The City of Lake Oswego charges less than the amounts allowed by state law. In Oregon, there are currently over 70 cities charging at least 5% franchise fees on their electric utility including the neighboring cities of Portland and West Linn. The same is true for natural gas with the majority of cities now at 5% including Portland, Tigard, Oregon City, and Milwaukie. In Lake Oswego, franchise fees for PGE, Northwest Natural, and Allied are all embedded in current rates. Any increases would be shown on bills as “Lake Oswego franchise fee” or “privilege tax.”
Use of funds previously set aside for the Library:
Clackamas County voters supported a countywide Library Services District in the 2008 election. As federal funds to the County were going away (referred to as “timber revenue”), voters supported permanent, dedicated library funding. Also, the District assured that each municipality in Clackamas County would receive an additional one-time allocation of $1,000,000 for capital construction. The money that the District provides for Library Services and capital in Lake Oswego are given to our Library. The Library has yet not received the funding for capital construction through the District.
All Clackamas County Library District funds sent to Lake Oswego are used for Library Services. In addition, the Library continues to be supported by other funds. In FY 2010/2011 the City received $2.1 million from the District; the total Library Budget is $3 million.
The Library’s total budget is made up of District funds, general fund (property tax) monies, donations, fines and other funds. As increased District funds became available there was a decrease in general fund to the Library. The City Council at first allocated a portion of the general fund going to the Library into future capital for a new Library and has since used the general fund for other property tax dependant services. While the City continues to provide general fund dollars in addition to Library District monies for direct operations of the Library, it is this move of general fund dollars that is the source of discussion.
The City Council carefully vetted revenues and funds to determine what legally could be provided to the School District. As part of the process to support the schools, the City Council allocated less than half, $414,000, of the general fund previously set aside for Library capital. The allocation was done after the Lake Oswego Redevelopment Agency, made up of City Council, moved to support exploring a new library within the urban renewal area that would be eligible for urban renewal dollars. Upon the adoption of next year’s budget, the City Council discussed possible ways to return the $414,000 for future Library capital as there was interest by many of the Councilors in responding to the concerns raised in this area. The Council indicated interest in reviewing this next year. Update: Council returned the funds on January 24, 2012.
For more information:
- Franchise Fees:
Council materials providing an overview on the Franchise Fees and the Resolution for adoption a temporary increase. Please note, the final adoption was for one year as the City is providing a onetime contribution to LOSD, not three as initially noted in documents.
Providing Comment:
Through the process to consider how to help the Lake Oswego School District (LOSD) and to adopt next year’s budget, the City of Lake Oswego took public testimony and accepted written comments. To read some comments received early in the discussion process on ways to assist the LOSD, visit Open City Hall and click on City School Partnerships.
Citizens are welcome to provide opinions about the manner in which the City is assisting the LOSD for the next fiscal year (i.e. service reductions, using savings, and Franchise Fee). Please put School Funding in the subject line so that we can keep track of the correspondence on this topic.
___________________________________________________________________________
|
