Thursday will change this town forever

Maybe not just Thursday, but whatever gets approved after a few rounds with the Planning  Commission and the City Council will be set in stone.  Will there be higher buildings coming to LO?  Do you WANT there to be higher buildings in LO?

Note - The excuse that we have to have more density because Metro and the State mandate it is hogwash.  The city has enough housing capabilities now for 20 or more years which is all that is required.

There is no mandate to change commercial or housing codes except to ensure that our housing codes have a "clear and objective" path to development that meets state requirements.  In other words, these code changes are not necessary.   What will LO residents get out of them?  Will they be good for the current residents or will they ultimately make LO into an unattractive, urban jungle?

WARNING!

IF codes are changed now to a higher density, they CANNOT be changed back to a lower density!!!

We can always go up in the future, but we cannot come down!

Please read the proposed codes prior to the meeting and come with pithy questions and an educated mind.

• How high?
• What are the setbacks?
• What will downtown, Lake Grove or Kruse Way or the SW Employment Area look like with these codes?  
• Will buildings be higher in downtown?  
• How will changing "may" and "shall" in the codes now affect the Wizer project if the developers file a for a new permit?  
• What about the way the number of stories is figured on a sloping lot?  
• How are nonconforming codes used in a particular zone?  
• Aren't these codes more complicated, not less?
• Why combine zones?  Developers only deal with one zone at a time anyway.
• The codes seem awfully developer-friendly and not so friendly to Lake Oswego residents who will have to live with congestion and density.  Who are the codes for?
• Why mixed use?
• Why allow housing EVERYWHERE where in the city?  there are good reasons to separate uses into discrete zones.  Why abandon those principals now?  
• What will happen or CAN happen in (pick an area) with the new codes as written?  
• Why would Lake Oswego want or need this?  

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATES

Date/Time: Thu, May 15, 2014 4:00pm - 6:00pm

INFORMATIONAL MEETING
THURSDAY, MAY 15, FROM 4-6 P.M., CITY HALL

You are invited to learn about proposed updates to the City’s Development Code, including:

• Amendments that are intended to streamline and simplify sections of the Code that allow adjustments or variances to code standards and regulate nonconforming structures and uses.
• Amendments that would bring the Code into compliance with State requirements for clear and objective housing approval standards, intended to reduce unnecessary costs and delays in permitting needed housing.
• Other amendments for the purpose of clarifying and updating various code provisions.

There will be presentations at 4 and 5 p.m. with an opportunity for questions and discussion with staff after each session. Drafts of the proposed Code updates will be available at the meeting.

The Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to hold public hearings on these amendments on May 28 (clarifying amendments), July 28 (variances and nonconformities) and August 11 (clear and objective housing standards). To learn more about this project, visit www.ci.oswego.or.us/planning, or contact Sarah Selden atsselden@ci.oswego.or.us or 503-697-6524.