Approved Minutes - 2002-06-17OREGON
I. CALL TO ORDER
City of Lake Oswego
Development Review Commission Minutes
June 17, 2002
Chair Sheila Ostly called the Development Review Commission meeting of June
17, 2002 to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 380 "A"
Avenue, Lake Oswego, Oregon.
II. ROLL CALL
Commissioners present included Chair Sheila Ostly, and Commissioners Dave
Powers, Bill Tierney, Krytsyna Stadnik and Gary Fagelman. Vice Chair Nan
Binkley and Commissioners Julie Morales and Gary Fagelman were excused.
Staff present included Hamid Pishvaie, Development Review Manager; Evan
Boone, Deputy City Attorney; and Jean Hall, Senior Secretary.
III. APPROVAL OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND ORDER
LU 01-0074, a request by OTAK.
Commissioner Stadnik moved for approval of LU 01-0074. Commissioner
Powers seconded the motion and it passed with Chair Ostly, Commissioners
Stadnik and Powers voting yes. Commissioner Tierney abstained from the vote.
Vice Chair Binkley and Commissioners Morales and Fagelman were not present.
There were no votes against.
IV. PUBLIC HEARING
LU 01-0054, a request by Blazer Development, Inc. requesting approval of the
following:
• A minor partition to divide a 1.6 acre site into three parcels.
• Delineation of the Resource Protection (RP) district boundaries.
• Permit to remove an agricultural holly grove (approximately 62 trees), and
potentially a 6 -inch deciduous tree on proposed Parcel 3.
The Site location is 2155 Hazel Road, Tax Lot 400 of Tax Map 21E 4 BC. Staff
coordinator is Debra Andreades, Associate Planner.
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Mr. Pishvaie reported that the applicant had decided to modify the project to the
extent that it might never require a DRC hearing.
LU 02-0012, a request by Mountain West Investment Corp. for approval of
Conditional Use and Development Review Permits in order to construct a 66 -unit
special use housing development for assisted living residents. The proposal
includes a 2,600 square foot ground floor retail space on B Avenue, a small public
park on B Avenue on the west side of the alley, a plaza at the corner of 2nd Street
and B Avenue, and 33 off-street parking spaces along the alley. Also, 13 trees are
proposed to be removed.
The site location is the northwest corner of 2nd Street & B Avenue, Tax Lots
2000, 2100, 2200 of Tax Map 21E 03DD. Staff coordinator is Elizabeth Jacob,
Associate Planner.
The staff related the applicant's request to continue the hearing to August 19,
2002.
Commissioner Stadnik moved to continue LU 02-0012 to August 19, 2002.
Commissioner Powers seconded the motion and it passed with Chair Ostly, and
Commissioners Tierney, Stadnik and Powers voting yes. Vice Chair Binkley and
Commissioners Morales and Fagelman were not present. There were no votes
against.
LU 00-0088, a request by Harper, Houg, Righellis, Inc. for approval of the
following:
• A Development Review Permit for a master plan for Marylhurst University
campus to construct the following improvements:
- A new clock tower
- A two-story addition to the Clark Commons Building
- A new covered walkway and courtyard (cloister) between the BP John
Administration and Clark Commons Buildings
- Additional on-site parking
- Improved access and circulation
- Additional pedestrian improvements
- New recreational facilities, including sport courts and a viewing gazebo
• Class 2 variances:
- A 10 -foot Class 2 variance to LOC 48.14.405(3) in order to increase the
maximum height of the new clock tower from 45' to 55. The proposed
tower measures approximately 53.5' to the mid -point of the roof.
- A 15 -foot Class 2 variance to LOC 48.17.305(3)(a) in order to reduce the
required average buffer abutting a Class I Resource Protection (RP)
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Minutes of June 17, 2002
District from 15 feet to zero. The application of this variance is limited to
a few specific locations on the campus.
- A 10 -foot Class 2 variance to LOC 48.17.310(5)(a) in order to reduce the
required construction setback along an RP District buffer from 10 feet to
zero. The application of this variance is limited to a few specific locations
on the campus.
• Approval to remove approximately 172 trees in order to allow construction of
the proposed improvements. All trees will be mitigated at a one to one ratio.
The property is located at 17600 Pacific Hwy, Tax Lot 400 of Tax Map 21E 14.
Staff coordinator is Hamid Pishvaie, Development Review Manager.
Chair Ostly opened the public hearing and explained the procedures and time
limits to be followed. She asked the Commissioners to report any ex parte
contacts, including site visits, biases or conflicts of interest. Chair Ostly, and
Commissioners Powers, Stadnik and Tierney reported they had visited the site.
No one challenged any Commissioner's right to hear the application.
Hamid Pishvaie, Development Review Manager, advised that the two main
elements of the proposal were the plan to continue the looped street through the
project and the plan for an additional 67 parking spaces. He noted that the street
plan would facilitate emergency service access to the site. He then discussed
recommended conditions that related to impacts to the Sensitive Lands Overlay
Districts on the site, including a condition to design drainage piping in a manner
that would protect significant trees near the storm water swale. He suggested
revised language to clarify that the applicant were to be held responsible for
damage caused by water runoff only to the extent of damage the City Engineer
determined was due to water generated by the project. He reported that although
the applicant had agreed to relocate a portion of the proposed roadway further
north to protect an unstable stream corridor, they still proposed a retaining wall
that staff believed could generate adverse impacts. He suggested that the wall be
required to be outside a 10 -foot setback to the stream buffer, and that the area
between the wall and the creek be addressed by both alternative engineering and
bio -engineering methods that would also ensure that invasive plant species were
removed and native species were restored. He suggested that language requiring
planting of willow cuttings be removed. He pointed out staff recommended that
additional trees be planted along the highway and internal streets. He related the
applicant preferred to maintain an open view of the campus from the highway and
to plant additional trees in natural groupings on additional landscaped islands in
the parking lot and throughout the project. He clarified that the applicant and
staff agreed that conditions related to the final building inspection were only to be
applied to improvements related to the three buildings that were part of this
project, and not to other ongoing projects on campus. He encouraged the
commission to apply the recommended condition that required a final grading
survey of the entire site to ensure that the site drained properly. He reported that
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the applicant had met all applicable criteria and staff recommended approval of
the project subject to the recommended conditions.
During questioning by the Commissioners, he reported that there had been many
neighborhood meetings to discuss the proposal. He said the applicant's plan to
relocate the roadway had addressed a neighbor's concern about proximity of the
road to the stream corridor.
Applicant
Joan Meese, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Marylhurst
University, 17600 Pacific Highway, Marvlhurst, Oregon, 97036, recalled the
108 -year history of the site. She reported the applicants had met many times with
the neighbors and the current plan reflected community input.
Robert Morlan, MCM Architects, 1022 SW Salmon, Portland, Oregon,
97205, explained the proposal would improve circulation, distribute parking more
appropriately for each building, and increase safety. He envisioned an improved
pedestrian environment inside the campus, a new bus stop, an institutional entry
to the university and a clock tower that could be viewed from Highway 43. He
pointed out how the plan would provide an arched arcade to connect a major
classroom building with Clark Commons and where a slope and plaza area would
serve as an informal amphitheater. He explained the applicant planned a "bio -art
lawn" to address storm water runoff and direct it to the Willamette River, and an
overlook and gazebo to provide views of the river. He pointed out the locations
of the sport and tennis courts.
Mike Pruitt, Harper Houf Righellis, Inc., 5200 SW Macadam Avenue, Ste
580, Portland, Oregon, 97206, reported that the applicant and staff had discussed
the applicant's list of issues related to conditions recommended by the staff. He
stated that the applicant planned to maintain three existing bioswales on the site
and their proposal would treat two more acres than the 12 acres of impervious
surface the Code required them to treat. He explained that if the applicant was not
allowed to maintain the bioswales, they could reduce them and still meet the Code
requirement for water quality, or pipe the water. He said the applicant would
most likely eliminate culvert wing walls. He confirmed the applicant could agree
with the staff's suggested language for a condition that the applicant's
responsibility for stream stability and erosion was to be determined by the City
Engineer. He also indicated they could agree to the condition that addressed soil
stability and they would seek direction from a geo-technical engineer about ways
to accomplish that.
Mr. Pruitt said the applicant could agree to the condition to plant street trees along
Highway 43 and add trees in the parking lot, but they preferred to cluster the trees
in natural configurations, leave open areas and avoid a structured street tree look.
He said the condition for a final building inspection should only apply to the
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current project's buildings, including the clock tower, the cloister and Clark
Commons remodeling. He said the applicant would agree to the condition
regarding a final grading survey.
During questioning by the Commissioners, he explained that if the City was
concerned that project runoff would create an even wetter environment for trees in
the protected area, the applicant would eliminate the bioswales and use piping to
handle water runoff. Staff clarified their recommended condition allowed the
City Engineer to determine if the situation could be addressed by reducing the
size of the swales. Mr. Pruitt clarified that the applicant would agree to a normal
spacing of street trees along Highway 43, but they preferred to plant trees in more
natural patterns on the interior of the site. He reported that the applicant had
worked with an arborist and had found ways to save most of the 45 significant
trees on the site.
The commissioners examined the elevations and materials board for the clock
tower and cloister. Ms. Meese related that the entire redevelopment of the
campus was to take place over a seven-year period.
Proponents
None
Opponents
None
Neither for nor against
None
The applicant agreed to waive their right to hold the record open for additional
written evidence or testimony. Chair Ostly then closed the public hearing and
opened deliberations.
nPlihPratinnc
Staff clarified that although the Commission could create a review process for the
City Engineer to use to review drainage at the site, if issues could not be resolved
between the City Engineer and the applicant, the applicant would have the
opportunity to appeal the City Engineer's determination.
Evan Boone, Deputy City Attorney, explained that the Commission findings
would refer to "dedications," which were typically public arrangements, rather
than "easements," which were typically private agreements.
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Chair Ostly recalled testimony that many of the six remaining issues between the
applicant and staff had been resolved. She and Commissioner Stadnik anticipated
that the applicant and staff could resolve the bioengineering issue. They noted
that the City was willing to be flexible and the applicant was to engage a stream
and habitat restoration contractor who would provide valuable guidance as to how
to handle the drainage and protect the large trees at the site.
Staff clarified that they were suggesting a fairly formal positioning of street trees
along Highway 43 — both north and south of the primary campus entrance - — that
could transition to a pattern of natural groupings of trees on the interior of the
campus. They also confirmed that the area along the highway was zoned for
future commercial development. Commissioner Tierney contrasted an
appropriately open view of the campus from the highway with the appropriately
treed view of and drive into the neighboring residential development. He opined
that additional trees in front of the university would obscure the view of the clock
tower and that the open space helped to tie the school with the community.
Commissioner Powers opined that the highway perspective of one street tree
every 30 feet would seem too structured, and he suggested that as many as ten
additional trees could be planted in a manner that would not obscure the clock
tower.
Chair Ostly observed that the applicant's team was the only audience at the
hearing and allowed them to address the Commission again. Commissioner
Morlan clarified for the Commissioners that the applicant had leased out a
number of campus buildings and had substantial onsite square footage in which to
grow without constructing more buildings. He said the open field in front of
Marylhurst University had been a recognizable feature of the school for many
years and that was why they proposed trees only on the north side of the
entrance. He said they could agree to a street tree configuration on the interior of
the campus, if the open field were allowed to remain.
Chair Ostly observed a consensus to accept the conditions recommended by staff,
with the exception that they would allow the area along the highway south of the
entrance to remain open and allow clustered trees along internal streets. Staff
clarified that recommended condition C(1) could be revisited so that it applied
only to the buildings associated with the proposed project and no other part of the
university.
Commissioner Tierney moved for approval of LU 00-0088, subject to the
conditions recommended by the staff, modified as follows:
• Condition A(13)(d) was to be modified to provide for street trees along
Highway 43 and clustering of trees along all internal streets, except those
areas that abutted the RP District.
• Condition A(1)(r) was to be modified to hold the applicant responsible
only for any instability the City Engineer found had been caused by
storm water runoff generated by the applicant's project.
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• The other modifications suggested by the staff during the hearing,
including additional language in Condition A(10)(e) to require a
landscaping plan that used alternative engineering and bio -engineering
techniques and restoration of native plants as well as removal of invasive
plants. The language calling for planting of extensive willow cuttings was
to be deleted.
Commissioner Powers seconded the motion and it passed with Chair Ostly, and
Commissioner Tierney, Stadnik and Powers voting yes. Vice Chair Binkley, and
Commissioners Morales and Fagelman were not present. There were no votes
against. Chair Ostly announced the final vote on the written findings was to take
place on July 1, 2002.
V. GENERAL PLANNING AND OTHER BUSINESS
Staff announced that a special meeting scheduled for June 24, 2002, was no
longer necessary.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Commission, Chair Ostly adjourned
the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Hall
Senior Secretary
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