Projects Foothills District Redevelopment Plan

Project Summary and Schedule

Lake Oswego’s Foothills area lies between the Willamette River and the city’s downtown. The Foothills District Refinement Plan project will develop an integrated land use and transportation plan for the transformation of the area from predominately industrial uses to mixed uses, served by multiple modes of transportation. The project is a follow-up to a city-sponsored vision plan for the Foothills area that, in addition to mixed-use redevelopment, emphasized public space and improved connections from downtown to the river. One connective element, which came to be called “the Willamette Steps,” was a major piece of the envisioned redevelopment, intended to enhance the identity of the Foothills area and to traverse steep terrain.

The Foothills area is generally considered to be prime redevelopment land, adjacent to a downtown area with strong real estate demand.  The major issues to be addressed in this project are:

• Development densities.  Ultimately, densities must be commensurate with proposed transportation infrastructure, including the potential planned extension of streetcar through the Foothills area, potential development costs and consider potential market constraints.
• Multi-modal transportation options.  Identifying feasible connections to ORE 43, considering topography, the presence of a parallel rail line and potential streetcar line, existing level-of-service on the highway and connecting the area to the existing downtown with pedestrian and bicycle connections.
• Layout of streets and other public space.  Plan cost estimates. Items such as construction of arterial/collector connections, rail crossings, environmental clean-up and electrical utility relocation will be explored.  Estimated public revenues, including those from a proposed urban renewal district must be matched to project costs.

Project Boundaries

The project area is bounded by the Willamette River on the east, ORE43 on the west, Tryon Creek on the north, and the Oswego Pointe development on the south.  For the consideration of street connections to the north and south, the study area extends between Briarwood Road and Leonard Street.

Project Area Description

The Foothills District is approximately 19 acres, and is mostly flat with steep grades at the riverfront and just east of ORE 43. The Willamette Greenway Management District extends 150 feet westward along the Willamette from the river’s low water mark. Freight rail tracks run north and south at the western edge of the district. The district contains 14 parcels, with major property owners being the City of Lake Oswego, Public Storage, Toklat Industries, and the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services. Most property is designated as industrial in both the comprehensive plan and zoning map. Currently, the dominant uses are industrial businesses, a wastewater treatment plan, and an electrical substation. A waterfront park is currently under construction.

Transportation Relationship and Benefits

The project will develop a land use and redevelopment plan for the Foothills area that assures that land uses and densities are consistent with needed multi-modal transportation improvements.  The redevelopment plan will include provisions for local streets, connections to the existing arterial/collector system, and multi-modal system improvements, including the potential extension of streetcar service through this area, to ensure that redevelopment will be served by multiple modes of transportation.

Project Objectives

• Integrate land-use and transportation planning for the Foothills District and Highway 43 area in order to promote compact, land-efficient development that is planned in accordance with improved transit opportunities and street capacities.
• Comply with and implement State, regional and local plans and policies, including Titles 1, 2 and 6 of the Urban Growth Management Functional Plan (UGMFP) adopted by Metro, the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), the State of Oregon Transportation Planning Rule (TPR), and the Lake Oswego Comprehensive Plan and Transportation System Plan.
• Identify strategies to encourage infill and redevelopment in the Foothills District by providing for a pedestrian-, bicycle-, and transit-friendly environment with a mix of housing, jobs and retail services, including necessary public investment, potential private investment, and potential phasing.
• Assure meaningful public participation so that project products will be endorsed and embraced by a broad spectrum of community interests and organizations.
• Assure coordination between affected agencies, with specific focus on Metro, ODOT, Tri-Met, Clackamas County, the Lake Oswego Planning Commission, the City’s Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) and City Council.
• Ensure the preferred plan is economically feasible for public and private investment.

Updated Schedule (10-20-04)

Selection of Consultants

The consultant team of OTAK/DKS was selected in October 2004.

City Council Appointment of Foothills Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC)

The City Council appointed the Foothills CAC at its September 7, 2004 Council meeting.  Committee members include:

For more information please contact Sidaro Sin, project coordinator at 503-697-7421 or e-mail us.