Sense of Place starts with its citizen

Lake Oswego Review (2/27/2014) letter to the editor:

‘What “Is” is’ in Lake Oswego

This past month I spent more than nine hours listening to citizen comment regarding the Wizer project — Block 137. As a result I strongly encourage, no, make that “strongly request” the city of Lake Oswego adopt a height pole and netting policy for additions and new construction similar to the one in Los Gatos, Calif. — see town.los-gatos.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=733.

This policy establishes a process that ensures all stakeholders in a development project share the same sense of mass, volume and community impact. Additionally, it will reduce the number of hours (read cost and frustration) attributed to defining what “Is” is.

Ron Smith

Lake Oswego  

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Smith is correct.  I have heard this argument made for changing the LO CDCs:  Find another city that has already solved the problem with density and community character and citizen demands (typically well-to-do communities).   I've heard stories about villages on the East Coast that have retained their original Revolution-era, small town feel and character from being overrun by too-big,  modern development.  Our current code does not fit our town - and having staff review and interpret it on each project gives them too much power and the possibility of unfair code enforcement.  Culling out half of the tome of codes and regulations to its bare necessities should be a city priority.