Oregon: Subdivision near park sought again
1/11/2006Developers are once again attempting to build a subdivision on two parcels of land in Oregon near Pearson Metropark.
Jack Laskey of J.A. Laskey and Associates Ltd. in Waterville is proposing to develop a combined 27 acres north of Navarre Avenue just east of Wynn Road into a subdivision of single-family homes.
He said the proposed subdivision would hold 79 bungalow-style homes that would be between 1,600 and 2,100 square feet, and would cost between $175,000 and $225,000.
All the homes in the subdivision, which would be called The Bungalows at Pearson Park, would have basements or crawl spaces, a two-car garage, and large front porches that face opposite the street into a wide green space, Mr. Laskey said.
In addition, he said there would be one access road off Navarre and possibly a cut-through drive to Pearson.
"We wanted to do something different than the standard stuff," Mr. Laskey said. "I think people are tired of villas, and I think people want to be in a single-family home with little yards. I think people will like this a lot because it's different."
For the subdivision to be built there, Zoning Inspector Mike Rudey said Oregon City Council would have to approve changing the zoning from R-1 low-density residential to R-4 planned-unit development because the homes would be close to the lot lines.
The plans will be presented to the Oregon Planning Commission at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The commission will then recommend to council whether to change the zoning on the two neighboring parcels at 5135 Navarre and 5205 Navarre. Council will most likely consider the zoning change at its last meeting in February after the required public hearing.
A four-family-home subdivision was proposed for that same location last year only to be withdrawn after some residents in the adjacent Parkside and Park Place subdivisions voiced their concern with increased traffic and problems with sanitary sewers, storm sewers, and drainage.
That subdivision would have held 25 condominiums - each unit about the size of the proposed bungalows - starting at $225,000.
An R-3 multiple-family zoning change was recommended for approval by the planning commission on July 19, but Consulting Engineer George Oravecz sent a letter to council a week later asking that the item be continued on council's agenda until Nov. 28, which was approved.
When Nov. 28 rolled around, council withdrew the zoning request before taking a vote because Mr. Oravecz sent them a letter stating that the developer determined he "would have difficulty marketing his high end, quality units in this area."