Oregon OKs rezoning for stores, eateries

12/22/2006

Oregon residents wanting to shop and eat in their own city will soon have more options.

Oregon City Council voted unanimously, 7-0, last night in favor of rezoning three parcels on the southwest corner of Navarre Avenue and Lallendorf Road from residential zoning to business district zoning.

The rezoning would allow two big box stores and up to four restaurants to locate there.

It s unfortunate that we have to infringe on an established neighborhood, said Councilman Paul Lambrecht. I think it s important that we look at the community as a whole.

The planning commission last month recommended that council approve the rezoning, with several conditions.

Council last night added its own: No structures can be less than 100 feet from the west and south property line that abuts residential property.

Roughly 75 of the 100 audience members stood up to show they were in favor of the rezoning. Many were wearing green in support of the project after officials from the city s economic development foundation asked them to.

I don t understand why we re debating this issue, said Gaye Huss, 5435 Brown Rd. Did people really move out here and expect this area not to be developed? Realistically, there is no way Navarre Avenue cannot progress. This is progress, and this is what must happen.

Several of those speaking against the zoning change stated that they were not opposed to economic growth and development, but had other concerns with buffering, truck noise, and the stores location.

We want to see this come here, but protect us with the buffers, said Michael Wegrzyn, of 1111 Heritage Lane.

Council moved its meeting to last night because its regularly scheduled meeting would have fallen on Christmas Day.

The planning commission voted 3-2 to recommend that council approve rezoning the parcels, with several conditions, after discussing the matter for about three hours at a meeting last month with developer George Oravecz. He is the consulting engineer on the project.

Mike White, chairman of the planning commission, and Rick Orovitz, a commission member, voted against the recommendation, which called for the parcels totaling about 30 acres to be rezoned.

Conditions that were part of the planning commission recommendation were that the western and southern property lines include a minimum 50-foot buffer, delivery times be restricted, and the buildings be lighted from the ground to allay residents fears that wall-mounted lights shine into the surrounding neighborhood.