Author: Frédérique Lavios, PNA Chair
In response to community concerns Neighborhood Association Chairs Council (NCC) members advocated strongly for an amendment to the residency requirements for those serving on the DRC. Previously, three of the seven members of the DRC were not required to live in Lake Oswego.
Carole Ockert, Chair of the L.O. Neighborhood Association Chairs’ Committee, diligently tracks issues raised at City Hall. Together with other Neighborhood Assoc. Chairs, Bob Ervin, Tom Bland and Grant Howell were able to get the City Council to amend the DRC residency requirements. Since the Development Review Commission (DRC) deals with land use and tree issues, it is extremely important that it’s members are residents who are familiar with our own community.
The City Council voted unanimously to approve the new policy. It now states that four members of the DRC must live in Lake Oswego and the other three must live within Lake Oswego’s Urban Services Boundary (USB). The USB is an area where the city provides public services like water and sewer. Previously the DRC was the only city commission that did not require all members to live within the Urban Services Boundary.
This is a small but important step towards citizens representing their own community and Neighborhood Associations making a positive difference in our community.
