Oregon: Townhome development gets council OK

Published by news@presspubli... on Fri, 08/30/2024 - 4:00pm

By:

Larry Limpf

Oregon City Council has authorized a Special Use Exemption for property on Navarre Avenue near Wynn Road where developers plan to construct 64 townhomes.
Council voted 5-2 last week to issue the SUE permit, allowing developers Nate Reading and J.P. Ankney, of Vista Living, to proceed with the development on an 8-acre parcel.
Councilmembers Beth Ackerman, Steve Hornyak, Kathy Pollauf, Dennis Walendzak, and Terry Reeves voted in favor of the developers’ request while Paul Drake and Steve Salander voted against.
In July, the city’s planning commission approved a recommendation in favor of the developer’s request with the conditions that a planned access road meets public road standards and that sidewalks be installed.
The property is located at 5011 Navarre Ave. and is zoned C-5.
Several residents last week raised objections to the development with concerns about increased traffic in the area and possible water drainage problems.
Residents noted that Wynn Road is already a dedicated truck route and the development will exacerbate traffic congestion.
Steven Shrake, building and zoning inspection commissioner, said the C-5 classification opens the property to possible commercial development such as retail outlets, restaurants, car dealerships, hotels, and professional offices that could generate more traffic than the townhome development.
During the planning commission hearing in July, Ankney said the development would include four quadplexes with units covering 1,765 square feet. Each unit would have three bedrooms, 2 ½ baths and a single car garage.
There would be no age restriction on tenants, he said, and the complex isn’t going to accept renters under Section 8 housing regulations.
The developers had sought to amend their initial application and increase the number of units to 67 but council, by a 5-2 vote last week, rejected the amendment. Reeves and Pollauf voted in favor but Ackerman, Hornyak, Salander, Walendzak, and Drake voted no.