Oregon: Council asked to address Grasser Street parking concerns

Oregon resident Tom Lambrecht went before city council May 28 to address parking concerns on Grasser Street, where an elderly relative lives.
A section of Grasser is what is called a paper street, which is a designated public right-of-way area without an improved street or other public infrastructure within the said right-of-way area.
Lambrecht said he has concerns about a Grasser Street property owner who’s been knocking down brush and trees in the city's paper street and moving dirt to make an entrance to the property without permission from the city.
Lambrecht also said the property owner may have placed trail cameras on city property to monitor the private property.
Police have been called several times in the past regarding parking concerns, according to Lambrecht, and have told neighbors to park along the curb. But the street is only 12 feet wide, forcing passing cars to drive onto the lawns of residents to get around parked cars and construction vehicles and trailers on the street. The street has one curbed side and stone on the other.
Lambrecht questioned whether the property owner is following city rules when parking construction vehicles and trailers inappropriately while developing the property. Rutting around the area is also a problem, he said.
Director of Public Service Paul Roman, said the property owner can park on stones just off the street and that he has received a warning from the city he must park five feet off the edge of the road on stone parking spaces.
Roman said he will grant access to the property through the city's paper street but that there will be no more removal of brush or trees. He will also write a permit stipulating what the property owner can and cannot do when parking construction equipment and trailers.
The property owner feels it is only fair that since the other neighbors park on the street he should be allowed as well, Roman said.
Roman and Law Director Melissa Purpura met with the property owner May 23. The city officials noted the property owner needed a permit to work in the right of way, which lays out conditions needed for proper access. Conditions listed in a previous encroachment agreement are void because it was turned down by city council this year.
Roman said everyone has a right of way to their property but that the property owner needs to maintain their property and lay out a design for a future potential livable property site. The property owner does have a basic land survey valid to accept property bids, he said.
The owner would eventually need to come back to city council for another encroachment agreement with a planned property design.
Roman said he is willing to collaborate and share the potential design with neighbors and get feedback to come to a mutual agreement.
Lambrecht said his biggest concern is that the property owner will not build there and will continue to tear up the wooded areas in the vicinity with off-road vehicles.
Council president Steve Hornyak said stipulations can be put in place until an encroachment agreement is prepared.