THE PALISADES NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Proposed Palisades Overlay District Map
PNA Board Statement
“The Palisades Neighborhood Association (PNA) kindly requests the Planning Commission incorporate in its 2022 goals for City Council review the drafting of a PNA Overlay District covering a portion of the Palisades neighborhood.” September 29, 2021, This statement was approved by the PNA Board.
Q&A'S
What is a Zoning Overlay and Why is the PNA Overlay Subcommittee Creating One?
A “… zoning overlay is designed to address neighborhood‐specific development issues. If a neighborhood wants to address a unique development issue/s, this may be an option. The process would be similar to codifying a neighborhood plan, and include conducting an assessment of the issue/s, setting neighborhood objectives for the overlay, looking at alternatives, and conducting neighborhood outreach to determine the preferred approach” (City of Lake Oswego’s web page, item #3).
The Palisades Overlay process started as a citizen-led effort in 2021 by a group of residents in the older portion of Palisades for the purpose of protecting the unique characteristics of this neighborhood that we saw were quickly being demolished. In the Fall of 2021 we requested the city’s Planning Commission to establish, as a goal for 2022, the creation of an Overlay District for a portion of the Palisades Neighborhood. On March 14, 2022, the Planning Commission adopted the creation of an Overlay District as a goal and assigned city planning department staff to work with the overlay committee (composed of residents and some PNA board members).
The specific “provisions” within the overlay are yet to be determined and will be the product of much research and discussion by committee and board, public input, city staff input, planning commission input, city council input and neighborhood survey(s). Click here for the most recent ‘Draft of Code Amendment Concepts‘.
Will the proposed Overlay affect my property value?
The PNA Overlay Subcommittee is made up of property owners with the objective of developing an Overlay that is property value neutral. Some elements (still to be finalized) may change side yard layback planes to increase the distance between existing neighbors’ homes and the 2nd floor of new larger homes (intent to reduce massing and increase privacy). But, other elements of the Overlay may allow a lot coverage area bonus under certain conditions. There may be a bonus with the potential to increase the home size that could be built, and therefore increase property value. Current speculative home development in our older neighborhoods may actually be reducing our property values due to lost privacy, reduced mature landscaping on the developed site(s) and sun exposure. Click here for updated concepts.
Where are the Concepts of the Overlay?
Click here for the most recent ‘Draft of Code Amendment Concepts‘. The Overlay Subcommittee and the City of Lake Oswego continue to refine these concepts and add more detail as we receive feedback from neighbors, the PNA Board, and during working sessions with the Planning Commission and City Council.
What Properties in Palisades are Included in the Proposed Overlay Plan?
(updated 3/5/2023)
Properties where there will be a new primary single family home OR that qualify as “demolition” under under LOC 45.12.100(1):
d. “Demolition” or “demolish” means removal of 50% or more of the total surface area of exterior walls or perimeter foundation of a residential structure as it existed on June 2, 2022, either as a single project or cumulatively over five years or less.
e. “Exterior wall” for the purpose of this section means a wall enclosing a dwelling that has a surface exposed to the outside, including all framing and sheathing, from top plate to bottom plate on all stories.
AND where those properties are within the proposed Overlay Boundary.
*Most remodels and additions would not be affected by the Overlay unless they meet the criteria above.