Commission approves partition and conditional use to add Lakeshore Trail land at Estacada Community Center

The Estacada Planning Commission unanimously approved a two‑lot partition and conditional use on Aug. 20 that will let the city incorporate a southern portion of the Estacada Community Center property into the Lakeshore Trail and river access project.

City planner Alan (presenting staff) said the application — the city is the applicant and the Friends of Estacada Community Center are the property owners — would split one tax lot into two parcels and allow the southern parcel (roughly 0.8 acre) to be used for a public trail and water access. “Staff finds that this application meets or can meet all relevant criteria as described in our report,” Alan said, and recommended approval with six standard conditions of approval.

Staff explained the lot is split‑zoned: the northern portion that contains the community center is zoned downtown and served by water, sewer and storm utilities; the southern sliver is zoned R‑3 (high‑density residential) and has storm service, with water and sewer lines adjacent under Lakeshore Drive. Conditional use approval is required for the city’s proposed government/public‑use improvements on the R‑3 portion.

Proposed conditions include that the partition match the preliminary plan, no parcel sales or building permits until final plat approval and recording, conditional use building permits be consistent with the approved trail plan, partition approval validity of two years and conditional use approval validity of three years (the code maximum). Staff noted agency comments from the city engineer and public works and that PGE owns adjacent riverfront property where the city is negotiating a long‑term lease to extend trail and water access.

Commission discussion confirmed the community center building will remain and that the partition is intended to enable the Lakeshore Trail and a future water‑access dock and viewing platform. Commissioners asked whether the lot would remain downtown zoning in the long term; staff said the community center parcel had been rezoned to downtown in December and the city is not planning to change that. The commission motion to approve carried 6‑0.

Next steps are final plat approval and completing title/transfer steps described in a donation agreement with the community center; construction of the Lakeshore Trail is expected to proceed in staged phases subject to funding and permitting.