Canemah Neighborhood Association

Canemah Neighborhood Land Use Committee

Jun 01, 2004

By: Canemah Neighborhood Land Use Committee

Shirley Smith
James Roddey
Alan Shull

To: Nancy Krushaar, City Engineer
Christina Robertson-Gardiner, Historic Review Board
Dan Drentlaw, Community Development Director


On Thursday, May 14th, a private partnership, headed by Ken Zahler, began clearing land and cutting trees on ten lots and city easements within the Canemah National Registered Historic District.

On Monday, May 17th, the Canemah Neighborhood Association (CNA) informed city officials of their concern involving the clearing of this property sitting between 4th Avenue, Miller St. and 5th Avenue. When the City responded to our inquiries, Dan Drentlaw, Community Development Director, informed us that this was a permissible activity.

On May 21st, residents of Canemah saw that a stop work order had been posted on these properties.

As of Monday, May 24th, 2004, the CNA has not been informed of why a stop work order was issued. We are obligated to question the manner in which the Oregon City Planning Department is approaching this issue and how they are integrating the federal, state and local ordinances that overlay the Canemah Neighborhood, especially with regard to its designation as a National Registered Historic District.

Under the Oregon City Historic Review Board Policies, authorized by Section 17.4060 of the Oregon City Municipal Code, ?“no major public improvements shall be made in a (national registered historic) district unless approved by the Historic Review Board and given a certificate of appropriateness.?” In addition, having consulted the State Historic Preservation Office, we understand that other development regulations apply, including guidelines for cutting trees on private property within a National Registered Historic District. We do not know if these policies and regulations were used in issuing the stop work order or if other factors were considered.

Questions of code enforcement, issues regarding development process guidelines as they relate specifically to Canemah as a National Registered Historic District, concerns with conservation and preservation easements, and the permit process for development need to be fully discussed between the City of Oregon City and the Canemah Neighborhood Association before the stop order is lifted.

This current issue and the as yet unresolved situation from September, 2003 involving Canemah Block 52 and the matter of Redmond & Associates and Oregon City?’s response to the filing of Geologic and Drainage Reports of questionable fidelity that were stamped by a Registered Professional Engineer is an opportunity for the City and the Canemah National Historic District/Neighborhood to begin the communication that will be essential to put together the fundamental groundwork for all future development in Canemah.

The Canemah Neighborhood Association has scheduled a meeting (see calendar of events). We invite you as our representatives of Oregon City Planning and Development to discuss and explore these issues. We look forward to the opportunity to begin addressing these questions and concerns with you.

Refreshments will be provided.

Your timely response is appreciated.


Sincerely,

Canemah Neighborhood Land Use Committee
Shirley Smith
James Roddey
Alan Shull #503-655-0603

Howard Post
Canemah Neighborhood Association President