Proposed Measure 3-618

Update

On November 5, 2024, Lake Oswego voters passed Measure 3-618. Measure 3-618 amends the City Charter to allow Clackamas County to use up to 0.4 acres of Stevens Meadows for a road safety project at Stafford Road and Childs Road. The rest of Stevens Meadows remains protected as a natural area.

The Stafford/Childs Road Improvement Project features a new one-lane roundabout, six-foot bike lanes, environmental mitigations to preserve natural habitat adjacent to Pecan Creek and installing a new more fish-friendly culvert.

The Charter will be amended to exempt 0.4 acres of Stevens Meadows from Chapter X of the City Charter. The exemption will be for the limited purpose of building the intersection improvements and realigning an existing maintenance driveway. After the Charter is amended, Lake Oswego will work with Metro and Clackamas County on the process for the County to acquire the land for the road project.

For more information on the project, go to www.clackamas.us/engineering/st-rd-improvements.

Overview

Measure 3-618 - If passed, authorizes road safety project, driveway realignment on specific park property

The City of Lake Oswego owns Stevens Meadows, a 28-acre park outside city limits in unincorporated Clackamas County. The County is responsible for maintaining and improving Stafford and Childs Roads, which are near Stevens Meadows.

In 2018, the County conducted a Federal Highway Administration road safety audit that revealed problems with the Stafford/Childs intersection, including limited intersection visibility, rear-end crashes involving injuries, high-speed turning, and heavy traffic without many gaps.

After a multi-year public engagement process and incorporating community feedback, the County designed and funded a new roundabout as the preferred project to address the findings of the road safety audit and minimize impacts to natural areas.

If the measure passes, the County would use up to 0.4 acres of Stevens Meadows – 0.2 acres for the construction project, and another 0.2 acres to realign an existing gravel driveway used for park maintenance.

The County designed the project to reduce crashes, ease traffic congestion, and create bike lanes and safer pedestrian paths. The project also includes plans to mitigate potential environmental impacts of the project through work on the land around Pecan Creek, a fish-bearing stream directly adjacent to Stevens Meadows.

Measure 3-618 would amend the City Charter, allowing the City to grant the County use of up to 0.4 acres of Stevens Meadows for the limited purposes of public safety road improvements and park driveway realignment.

On the November ballot, Lake Oswego voters will have the opportunity to vote on Measure 3-618.

If Measure 3-618 is passed:		If Measure 3-618 is not passed:
The City Charter would be amended, allowing the City to authorize the County to use up to 0.4 acres of Stevens Meadows for the limited purposes of public safety road improvements and driveway realignment. The City Charter will continue prohibiting development on the rest of Stevens Meadows. The City will continue to manage the park in accordance with the City Charter. The County would be responsible for funding and constructing the Stafford/Childs Road project with County funds. Measure 3-618 would not increase City taxes.		The City Charter will continue to prohibit road construction and driveway realignment on all of Stevens Meadows. The City would not authorize the County to use 0.4 acres at the corner of Stafford/Childs for the road improvement project or driveway realignment. The City will continue to manage the park in accordance with the City Charter.

Clackamas County Stafford Road Improvements Project Background

Between 2020 and 2024, the County presented alternative designs for the intersection to the public and other stakeholders, including the City. The County evaluated and accepted public comments on a number of alternative intersection improvement designs, including installing a traffic signal and two different potential roundabout designs.

As a result of the public engagement process, the County designed and funded the construction of a roundabout at the Stafford/Childs intersection. The project is designed to address the findings of the 2018 Federal Highway Administration road safety audit, reduce crashes, ease traffic congestion, and create bike lanes and safer pedestrian paths for multi-modal transportation and connection.

If the measure passes, the County’s proposed design would use about 0.2 acres of Stevens Meadows for these road projects. The project would also realign an existing gravel driveway that is used to maintain the park, affecting another area of about 0.2 acres.

If passed, Measure 3-618 would amend the City Charter to allow Lake Oswego to authorize the County to use the 0.4 acres of Stevens Meadows needed for the County’s proposed roundabout design.

Project Design Features:		Environmental Mitigation:
Build a new one-lane roundabout Add 6ft bike lanes Meet State and Federal permitting requirement to minimize impacts to Pecan Creek Minimize impacts to Habitat Conservation Area that runs along Pecan Creek Lowest lifecycle cost (construction, right-of-way, operations and maintenance and safety)		Securing a new easement to preserve natural habitat directly adjacent to Pecan Creek Reconnecting natural habitats Replacing an existing fish barrier with a more fish-friendly culvert Replanting areas along Pecan Creek with native trees and shrubs

Estimated Safety Improvements:		Estimated Congestion Improvements:
County engineers estimate the roundabout design road improvements could decrease fatal and injury crashes by 88% compared to a “no-build” alternative. County engineers estimate the roundabout design could decrease crashes by 80% compared to a “no-build” alternative.		County engineers estimate the proposed roundabout design could reduce the average wait time eastbound on Childs Rd by approximately 95% compared to today’s wait times.