F-016 City Charter Chapter X Lake Oswego Municipal Code CHAPTER X. PARK DEVELOPMENT LIMITATION Page 1 of 4
CHAPTER X. PARK DEVELOPMENT LIMITATION
Section 41. Purpose.
The purpose of this Chapter is to preserve all designated Nature Preserves that are owned by the
City of Lake Oswego, inclusive of the fifteen natural parks specified in this Chapter, as natural areas
for the enjoyment of all residents of and visitors to Lake Oswego. This Chapter shall be interpreted
liberally to achieve this purpose.
(Amended November 7, 1978; November 2, 2021.)
Section 42. Definitions.
As used in this Chapter:
Athletic Facility means any area, field, or building which is graded, leveled, constructed, or equipped
for use in sports or athletics. Fields for baseball, soccer, or football and courts of tennis are examples
of Athletic Facilities.
Bryant Woods Park means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is commonly
referred to as "Bryant Woods Park" (19.7 acres, more or less, to the North of Childs Road located at
the corner of Childs Road and Canal Road at 4301 Childs Road).
Canal Acres means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is commonly referred to
as "Canal Acres" (27.3 acres, more or less, to the South of Childs Road, to the West of Canal Road,
and to the East of Sycamore Avenue, located at 19300 Canal Road).
Cooks Butte Park means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is commonly
referred to as "Cooks Butte Park" (43 acres, more or less, located at 2100 Palisades Crest Drive).
Cornell Natural Area means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is commonly
referred to as "Cornell Natural Area" (3.2 acres, more or less, to the East of Cornell Street, to the
South of Larch Street, located at 16920 Cornell Street).
Glenmorrie Greenway means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is commonly
referred to as "Glenmorrie Greenway" (1.3 acres, more or less, to the East of Pacific Hwy, to the
North of Glenmorrie Terrace, located at 16540 Pacific Hwy).
Hallinan Woods means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is commonly referred
to as "Hallinan Woods" (3.8 acres, more or less, located at 1103 Obrien Street).
Iron Mountain Park means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is commonly
referred to as "Iron Mountain Park" (51 acres, more or less, to the North of Iron Mountain Blvd,
located at 2401 Iron Mountain Blvd).
Kerr Open Space means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is commonly
referred to as "Kerr Open Space" (10 acres, more or less, to the South of SW Stevenson Street, to
the East of Grouse Terrace, to the North of Walking Woods Drive, to the West of Icarus Loop).
Lamont Springs Natural Area means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is
The Lake Oswego Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2922, and legislation passed through June 6, 2023.
Lake Oswego Municipal Code CHAPTER X. PARK DEVELOPMENT LIMITATION Page 2 of 4
commonly referred to as "Lamont Springs Natural Area" (0.5 acres, more or less, to the South of
Lakeview Blvd, and to the East of Bryant Road, at the corner of Lakeview Blvd and Bryant Road,
located at 4600 Lakeview Drive).
Nature Preserve means natural area parks or open spaces owned by the City of Lake Oswego that
are managed or maintained to retain their natural condition and prevent habitat deterioration. Nature
Preserves that are subject to the limitations of this Chapter, which upon ratification will initially
include, Bryant Woods Park, Canal Acres, Cornell Natural Area, Cooks Butte Park, Glenmorrie
Greenway, Hallinan Woods, Iron Mountain Park, Kerr Open Space, Lamont Springs Natural Area,
River Run, Southshore Natural Area, Springbrook Park, Stevens Meadows, Waluga Park—West, and
Woodmont Natural Park.
River Run means the park land comprised of two parcels (River Run East and River Run West),
owned by the City of Lake Oswego, which is commonly referred to as "River Run" (10.8 acres, more
or less, to the East of Canal Road, to the North of the Tualatin River, located at 19690 River Run
Drive and 3770 Rivers Edge Drive).
Southshore Natural Area means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is commonly
referred to as "Southshore Natural Area" (9.2 acres, more or less, located at 1201 South Shore Blvd).
Springbrook Park means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is commonly
referred to as "Springbrook Park" (52 acres, more or less, to the South of Country Club Road, to the
West and North of Wembley Park Road, and to the East of Boones Ferry Road). The term
"Springbrook Park" does not include the City of Lake Oswego existing indoor tennis facility and
adjoining parking lot.
Stevens Meadows means the two park lands owned by the City of Lake Oswego, which is commonly
referred to as "Stevens Meadows" and the "Stevens Homestead" (27.8 acres, more or less, located at
18600 Shipley Drive and 1551 Childs Road, respectively).
Telecommunications Facility means any area, field, or building which is graded, leveled, constructed,
or equipped for use in telecommunications or broadband communication, Antennas, Cellular Towers,
Radio Masts and Towers, Satellite Dishes, and Emergency Communications Systems are examples
of Telecommunications Facilities. This includes Telecommunications Facilities for both public or
private use.
Waluga Park—West means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is commonly
referred to as "Waluga Park—West" (22.8 acres, more or less, to the East of Inverurie Drive, to the
North of SW Oakridge Road, to the West of Waluga Drive).
Woodmont Natural Park means the park land owned by the City of Lake Oswego which is commonly
referred to as "Woodmont Natural Park" (6.8 acres, more or less, at the corner of Atwater Rd and
Atwater Lane, located at 13600 Atwater Lane).
(Amended November 2, 2021.)
Section 43. Limitations on Development.
The City of Lake Oswego shall insure that all development within a Nature Preserve is consistent with
the preservation of a Nature Preserve as a natural area available for public enjoyment.
The Lake Oswego Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2922, and legislation passed through June 6, 2023.
Lake Oswego Municipal Code CHAPTER X. PARK DEVELOPMENT LIMITATION Page 3 of 4
To facilitate public access and use, the City of Lake Oswego may build trails for hiking, jogging,
horseback and bicycle riding, may provide benches and interpretive displays, and may provide picnic
and sanitary facilities within a Nature Preserve. To access and use particularly fragile habitats,
boardwalks may be built; however, trails shall refrain from using hard surface materials, such as
asphalt and concrete, in order to remain consistent with the natural conditions of a Nature Preserve.
The City of Lake Oswego shall not construct or develop (or allow any person to construct or develop)
any Athletic Facility, any Telecommunications Facility, or any parking lot, road, or trail for motorized
vehicles within a Nature Preserve. The City of Lake Oswego shall not cut (or allow any person to cut)
any tree in a Nature Preserve for the purpose of facilitating the construction or development of any
Athletic Facility, any Telecommunications Facility, or any parking lot, road, or trail for motorized
vehicles.
The City of Lake Oswego shall not construct or develop (or allow any person to construct or develop)
any facility or any structure above ground that would impair or be inconsistent with the natural
conditions of a Nature Preserve.
The City of Lake Oswego shall not cut (or allow any person to cut) any tree in a Nature Preserve for
the purpose of commercial logging.
The City of Lake Oswego shall be allowed to maintain (or allow any person to maintain) a Nature
Preserve for the purposes of ecological restoration that provides a safe and healthy natural area that
is accessible for public enjoyment, provides a healthy habitat for wildlife, eliminates invasive species,
restores native species, and mitigates fire hazards.
The City of Lake Oswego shall be allowed to maintain (or allow any person to maintain) any existing
facility or existing structure, or any existing parking lot, road, or trail for motorized vehicles in a
Nature Preserve constructed before November 2, 2021 that is above ground as long as that facility or
structure, or parking lot, road, or trail for motorized vehicles is not altered in any manner that would
further impair or be inconsistent with the natural conditions of a Nature Preserve.
The City of Lake Oswego shall be allowed to implement (or allow any person to implement) a park
master plan for a Nature Preserve that was adopted before November 2, 2021.
(Amended November 7, 1978; November 2, 2021.)
Section 44. Effective Date.
This Chapter carries an effective date of November 2, 2021.
(Amended November 2, 2021.)
Section 45. Severability.
If a court should hold invalid or unconstitutional any clause or part of this Chapter, that holding shall
not affect the remaining parts of this Chapter which are not held invalid or unconstitutional.
(Amended November 2, 2021.)
Section 46. Application to Other Park.
This Chapter shall apply to any other park (i) conveyed by property owners to the City of Lake
Oswego with a"Nature Preserve" designation that shall carry with the property in perpetuity, (ii)
The Lake Oswego Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2922, and legislation passed through June 6, 2023.
Lake Oswego Municipal Code CHAPTER X. PARK DEVELOPMENT LIMITATION Page 4 of 4
nominated by the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Board and/or the Director of Parks and
Recreation designating such other park as a"Nature Preserve" and ratified by the City Council, (iii)
ratified by voters specifically designating such other park as a"Nature Preserve," or (iv) acquired by
a bond issued after the effective date of this Chapter if (and only if) the voters specifically designate
such other park as subject to this Chapter. If any other park is designated as subject to this Chapter,
then this Chapter shall apply to that park as if its name (preceded by the word "and") were added to
the Nature Preserve definition of this Chapter.
(Amended November 7, 1978 [Note: from November 7, 1978 until June 30, 1980, this Chapter was
numbered XXV and included Sections 102 through 107]; Renumbered Chapter on July 1, 1980;
Amended November 2, 2021.)
Section 46A. Maximum Height of Structures in Residential Areas.
The City of Lake Oswego shall neither construct nor allow the construction of any structure which is
more than 50 feet in height within a residential zone, except for the construction of a single symbolic
appurtenance of a structure to 75 foot height. The City may, however, construct or allow the
construction of a lighting structure which is more than 50 feet in height in a public park or school
sports fields located in a residential zone. For purposes of this section the height of a structure or of a
part or appurtenance of a structure shall be measured from the ground or sidewalk surface within a 5-
foot horizontal distance of the exterior of the structure, provided such sidewalk or ground surface is
not more than 10 feet above the lowest grade as defined by city ordinance; or, if such sidewalk or
ground surface is more than 10 feet above lowest grade, height shall be measured from a point 10
feet higher than the lowest grade, to the top of the highest element of the building or structure.
(Amended May 19, 1987; March 24, 1992.)
The Lake Oswego Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2922, and legislation passed through June 6, 2023.