Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes - 2025-12-01 PM 0 `P.i. CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO Development Review Commission Minutes U O December 1, 2025 cseEoe The Commissioners convened at 7:01 PM. Members Present: Chair Larry Linstrom, Vice Chair Helen Leek, John Dewes, Kristen Bates, Dwight Sangrey, Meetal Salunkhe, and John Wendland, City Council Liaison Members Absent: Yuko Mino Staff Present: Johanna Hastay, Planning Manager*; Chris Crean, Consulting Attorney; Evan Fransted, Senior Planner; and, Kat Kluge, Administrative Assistant *Appeared remotely. Chair Linstrom noted that changes were made to the original Agenda. REPORT ON COUNCIL ACTIVITIES—John Wendland, City Councilor Councilor Wendland provided an overview of the following recent area and City Council activities: the City Council held two work sessions regarding housing production strategy; a Tree Code Committee was created to assist with amendments to the Tree Code; the city-services fees and charges were set for 2026; and six of the Pathways projects have been completed. Commissioner Sangrey asked what kind of formal or informal communication allowed the Lake Oswego experience and perspective to be heard in Salem. Councilor Wendland replied that it was accomplished through letters being written by the citizens and City Council members, and by staff fine-tuning policy and speaking with State planning staff. FINDINGS LU 25-0018: A request for approval of a Development Review Permit to construct an addition to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church for internal circulation and a major variance to project further into the street front setback plane on A Ave. The request includes the removal of nine trees (6-30" DBH). This site is located at 790 & 650 A Ave. (Tax References 21E03CD08700, 21E03DC13701, 21E03DC13700, 21E03DC13600, & 21E03DC13500). The Staff Coordinator was Courtney Simms, AICP, Associate Planner. Commissioner Sangrey moved to approve the Written Findings, Conclusion, and Order of LU 25- 0018, as written. Seconded by Commissioner Bates and passed 6:0. Respect. Excellence. Trust. Service 503-635-0290 380 A AVENUE PO BOX 369 LAKE OSWEGO,OR 97034 WWW.LAKEOSWEGO.CITY PUBLIC HEARING LU 25-0025: A request for approval of a Development Review Permit to construct an additional 8- unit multi-family building on an existing site and removal of five trees for public improvements. This site is located at 4501-4519 Lakeview Blvd.; 4600-4602, &4614 Lower Dr. (Tax Reference 21E18AA07000). The Staff Coordinator is Evan Fransted, AICP, Senior Planner. Chair Linstrom formally opened the Public Hearing. Chris Crean, Consulting Attorney, gave an overview of the public hearing process, outlined the applicable criteria and procedures, and gave instructions for any verbal testimony provided. Mr. Crean asked DRC members to declare any ex parte contacts (including site visits), biases, or financial conflicts of interest. All DRC members declared that they had not made a site visit, and that they had no ex parte contacts, conflicts of interest, and no bias. Vice Chair Leek and Commissioner Sangrey stated that they were familiar with the property. There were no challenges to the Commissioners' rights to consider the application. Staff Report Evan Fransted, Senior Planner, presented the staff report. The site is approximately 46,328 sq. ft. in area and has frontage on Lakeview Boulevard, Bryant Road, and Lower Drive. It is a unified site consisting of three tax lots and there are two existing multifamily buildings on site. The site is zoned R-0 and abutting properties are also zoned R-0, while the properties across Lower Drive are zoned R-7.5/R-10, the property across Bryant Road is zoned Neighborhood Commercial (NC), and the property across Lakeview Boulevard is zoned Public Natural Area (PNA). The application includes a request to construct an 8-unit multifamily building, a new parking lot with 10 parking spaces, and new sidewalks along the Lakeview Boulevard and Bryant Road frontages. The building placement complies with maximum lot coverage and the 10-foot setbacks from all lot lines. The proposal includes the removal of six trees for development purposes (mainly for constructing the sidewalks), complies with the Type 2 Tree Removal standards, and includes the planting of eleven street trees and five on-site mitigation trees. The unified site contains approximately 54% open space and landscaping set-asides (exceeding the 40% minimum). Renderings of the landscape plan and elevations were shown. The proposed building is three stories in height (the new building height average for the site would be 30.98 feet, in compliance with the 40-foot average maximum height requirement). The floor area is 8,256 sq. ft., which complies with the maximum floor area ratio of 1.2:1 and the minimum density of 21 units for the unified site altogether. The new building will integrate with the design of the existing buildings by matching the flat roofline, black-clad corner and vertical line-stacked windows, and horizontal Development Review Commission Minutes December 1, 2025 Page 2 of 5 wood siding with black metal trim. The existing buildings will be painted to match the new building. Mechanical equipment will be located on the rooftop and screened. In conclusion, staff finds that the proposal can be made to comply with all applicable criteria, with recommended conditions. Staff recommends approval of LU 25-0025, with conditions. Mr. Fransted noted that they did not receive any written public testimony as of noon that day. Questions of Staff Vice Chair Leek inquired whether this was the site where a building burned many years ago. Mr. Fransted replied in the affirmative. Vice Chair Leek then asked how many units there were in the prior building. Mr. Fransted answered that he was not sure and that it was not part of the record. Applicant Testimony Kristian Lolich-Beyer, Principal at Lolich Investments, LLC, began by answering Vice Chair Leek's question; stating that he believed the prior building was a four-plex. He then shared his personal and work background. He relayed that he put his all into the project, with the goal of beautifying the neighborhood; opining that the previous owner neglected the property. Questions of Applicant Vice Chair Leek thanked Mr. Lolich-Beyer for the interest he was taking in improving the property. Public Testimony In Opposition Hisham Bismar, Lake Oswego Resident, voiced his concern over the design not fitting into the area as it was an imposing structure (being the second of only two 3-story buildings in the area and set close to the road). He also stated that the area was becoming quite busy, and this addition will add to the noise level. He opined that the priorities of the City were to enhance the living in the area by bettering walkability, as opposed to putting in a large structure such as this. Vice Chair Leek asked Mr. Bismar to describe the architectural style of the area. Mr. Bismar replied that the townhouses to the north of the property matched better with the design of the homes in the area. Neither For nor Against Michael (Scott) Arena, Lake Oswego Resident, stated that he had lived in the townhouses, north of the property, for ten years, and that he was concerned about the lack of sidewalks along the frontage and diminishment of the view corridor from his deck (the new rooftops blocking the tree line, the canal area, and the sunlight). Applicant Rebuttal Development Review Commission Minutes December 1, 2025 Page 3 of 5 Mr. Lolich-Beyer relayed that he could have built a building 50 feet in height, per City code; however, in trying to help, he kept it under 30 feet which is essentially the height of a residential house. He also noted that he was required to connect and extend the sidewalks as part of the project. Mr. Crean asked if anyone from the public wished to hold the record open for further submissions. There were no such requests. Mr. Crean then asked if the applicant wished to hold the record open to submit a final written argument, which would delay the decision this evening. Mr. Lolich-Beyer waived submission of a final written argument. Chair Linstrom closed the public hearing and directed members into deliberations. Deliberations Commissioner Bates relayed that the sidewalk project on Lakeview Boulevard was slated for that year, and that it appeared that it would act as a connector in the area. Commissioner Dewes echoed Vice Chair Leek's earlier comment; adding that this was the type of project that brought more of the needed housing into Lake Oswego. Vice Chair Leek added to her earlier comment; sharing that she thought that it was a good-looking building, and that the development was a win for both the applicant, the City, and the neighborhood. Chair Linstrom asked Mr. Fransted to speak on the results of the traffic study (any irregularities or anything that could clarify the issues raised by the public). Mr. Fransted replied that the study showed that this project would add approximately 54 daily trips to the system. He added that all traffic standards were met, and that no red flags were raised by the Engineering staff who reviewed the report. Chair Linstrom pointed out that the addition of the 10 parking spaces was being done in-kind for the neighborhood, as they were not required. Vice Chair Leek moved to approve LU 25-0025, as conditioned by staff. Seconded by Commissioner Bates and passed 6:0. Mr. Crean instructed staff to return the Written Findings, Conclusion, and Order on December 15, 2025, at 7:00 PM. SCHEDULE REVIEW AND MANAGEMENT UPDATE Johanna Hastay, Planning Manager, updated DRC members on upcoming meetings: December 15, 2025 has the Findings from this hearing and a public hearing for an 11-lot subdivision. January 5, 2026 has a public hearing on a Type 2 Tree Removal application and may have the Findings from the hearing on December 15, 2025. January 19, 2026 may have the Findings from the hearing on January 5, 2026. Development Review Commission Minutes December 1, 2025 Page 4 of 5 Adding to Councilor Wendland's report, Ms. Hastay then informed members that the Tree Code Committee had drafted conceptual regulatory ideas, had a discussion with the city council, and were now moving into drafting actual Tree Code amendments (this initial draft will primarily deal with regulations specifically related to housing). ADJOURNMENT Chair Linstrom thanked City staff and DRC members for their time, then adjourned the meeting at 7:53 PM. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Kat Kluge, Administrative Support Development Review Commission Minutes December 1, 2025 Page 5 of 5