City Projects/Proposals

Clean Streams Plan

The City of Lake Oswego manages about 130 miles of storm drainage pipes, several thousand catch basins and various specialized facilities including detention/sedimentation basins, and other water quality facilities. The City needs community guidance to determine how much of our resources should go to managing surface water and to identify our priorities within the surface water program. The current master plan, which was the culmination of a similar process 17 years ago, is no longer current: it does not reflect current science, technology or regulations and does not reflect current community goals.

Lake Oswego to Portland Transit Project

  • Environmental Analysis Moves Forward
    Metro and its partners continue to work to develop a transit project that meets future travel demand between Lake Oswego and Portland, supports local and regional land use plans, and garners public acceptance and community support. The transit project is now preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement, studying the potential benefits and impacts of three alternatives in the corridor. The DEIS analyzes the direct and indirect effects of the alternatives.

    After the DEIS publication, anticipated for summer 2010, public events will offer an opportunity to share information and solicit comments about the no-build, enhanced bus and streetcar alternatives and design options based on a comparison of potential benefits and impacts. The project steering committee will rely on public input and the analysis results to select a Locally Preferred Alternative in fall 2010.

    The project partners have just published the latest newsletter for the project, outlining the alternatives and design options being analyzed in the study.

For current information: www.metro-region.org/lakeoswego.

Infill Task Force

The City reactivated its Infill Task Force in 2005 to determine whether infill design standards approved in 2003 were working or needed to be modified. After two years of work, the task force has nearly completed its recommendations:

  • Use of overlay zoning that allows neighborhoods with a given typology to specify standards that better insure compatibility of new development with existing homes.
  • Formation of a new Residential Design Review Board to determine whether new home construction meets certain (yet to be specified) criteria. The City is also being asked to develop a Design Handbook for new homes.
  • Changing the side yard setbacks for two story homes from a total of 15 feet with a 5 foot minimum (i.e. 10 feet and 5 feet) to a total of fifteen feet (no change) with a 7.5 feet minimum (7.5 feet on both sides).
  • Including garage floor areaa in overall floor area ratio (FAR) calculations.

Public hearings on Infill II began January 2009. Planning Commission needs to approve and then the City Council.

See the City web site for more information about the Infill Task Force 2005.

Oswego Lake Interceptor Sewer

The City Engineer has recommended an in-lake, buoyant, gravity sewer, rather than an around-the-lake pumping system to replace much of the current Oswego Lake Interceptor Sewer. Life-cycle cost, construction impacts, and long-term reliability are the primary factors. Lake drawdown needs are the same for both options.

For news and updates on the Lake Oswego Interceptor Sewer (LOIS) visit: www.lakeinterceptor.com.

Contact Jeff Selby, Citizen Information Coordinator, City of Lake Oswego at (503) 697-6514 or jselby@ci.oswego.or.us for more information or to have him speak to your group about LOIS.

West End Building (formerly Safeco)

The new City Council has as one of its goals to “make an informed, community-supported decision about the West End Building." City staff did an assessment of city facilities including the West End Building (WEB) and reported back to the Council in February 2009.

Strategy for the West End Building and Other City Facilities - April 20, 2009

[ Last updated 27 December 2009 ]