Lake Oswego Planning Commission Meeting - June 8, 2026

The Lake Oswego Planning Commission met on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. to consider amendments to the city's tree regulations and review preliminary development concepts for the Foothills District. The meeting included a public hearing on tree code amendments (LU 26-0014), a work session on the Foothills District Plan Update (PP 25-0005), and recognition of outgoing commissioners. After a vote of 5-2, the commission recommended approval of the tree code amendments to the city council with staff's recommended changes.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the May 11, 2026 meeting as written.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dorothy Atwood (President, Lake Oswego Sustainability Network) expressed support for the Foothills district plan, urging the city to explore clean energy district heating and keep opportunities open for sustainable, inclusive development.
• Nolan Wenker (Head Golf Course Superintendent, Oswego Lake Country Club) testified against proposed restrictions on the minor forest management permit, arguing that the permit should remain an effective tool for proactive forest management on large properties like golf courses. He noted that the Planning Commission, Development Review Commission, and Tree Task Force had recommended keeping the permit unchanged.
• Tom Horman (Lake Oswego resident) argued that the tree code does not adequately address wildfire risk, especially for large conifers near homes. He urged additional changes to allow removal of trees that violate defensible space guidelines, citing fire prevention expert recommendations and the risk of litigation.

Discussion Items

1. Tree Regulation Amendments (LU 26-0014)

Staff presented draft amendments to the tree code (Chapter 55), community development code (Chapter 50), and nuisance code (Article 34.10). The amendments address 12 substantive issues, including:

• Creating clear and objective tree retention standards for housing development (45% retention of trees >15" DBH or 45% of total DBH for trees >6" DBH, with a fee-in-lieu for deficits).
• Expanding opportunities to remove moderate-risk trees under the discretionary type II process, requiring a qualified arborist assessment and a history of similar tree failures.
• Changing the appeals process for type II applications from the Development Review Commission and City Council to a hearings officer, with appeal to circuit court or LUBA.
• Addressing enforcement of dead trees hazardous to private property: staff recommended retaining the current code (no city enforcement), but two commissioners advocated for a more active role.
• Adding wildfire risk reduction considerations, including a new programmatic permit for public agencies and revised mitigation lists.

Staff recommended approval of the draft amendments with two changes: (1) deleting the proposed amendment that would require property owners to remove dead trees posing a hazard to private property, and (2) adding a technical fix to clarify that type I permits are not eligible on Lake Corporation property or within the 25-foot lake setback.

2. Foothills District Plan Update (PP 25-0005) – Work Session

Staff presented three preliminary development concepts for the Foothills District:

• Park Plaza: Emphasizes a grand connection from State Street to a large public gathering space at the waterfront, with development framing the corridor.
• Downtown Plaza: Focuses on a strong arrival at State Street with a smaller plaza near Foothills Park, creating larger development blocks on the north side.
• Park Promenade: Extends A and B Avenues as tree-lined pedestrian promenades, creating larger development blocks and flexible redevelopment opportunities, but with less activation along the core connection.

Commissioners discussed the importance of the north portal connection (to Willliger or through the public storage yard) for vehicular access and attracting investment. They expressed interest in the Park Promenade concept for its larger blocks and pedestrian-friendly design, while also supporting a small plaza element at the park edge. The commission will refine the concepts based on input and return for further discussion.

Key Outcomes

• Tree Code Amendments: The commission voted 5-2 to recommend approval of the draft amendments to the city council as presented by staff, including the two recommended changes (deleting the private property dead tree enforcement amendment and adding the lake setback clarification). Commissioners Najak and Bruce voted against the motion, favoring a more active role for the city in addressing dead trees on private property.
• Foothills District Plan: The commission provided feedback on the three development concepts, with support for the Park Promenade concept and the idea of mixing elements from other concepts. Staff will incorporate the input and present refined alternatives at a future meeting.
• Next Steps: The tree code amendments will go to the city council for a public hearing tentatively scheduled for July 21, 2026. The Foothills District Plan will be further developed with community input and brought back to the planning commission in late July.

Other Business

• The commission recognized outgoing Commissioners Don Mitchell and Deanna Moreno for their years of service, presenting them with distinguished service awards and city blankets.