Oregon City agrees to mediate neighbors—dispute over state-funded group home in Ainsworth Estates

Oregon City commissioners on Tuesday directed the city manager to begin mediation between Ainsworth Estates homeowners, the state and the builder over a proposed five-resident group home on Lot 9, after hours of neighbor testimony about traffic, parking and whether the project complied with subdivision covenants and local historic-review procedures.

The move came after residents said the state purchased Lot 9 in March and submitted plans later in April; neighbors said they were told by some staff and consultants that the state's design would not be subject to the neighborhood's architectural or historic review. "We were told that it would have to meet all of our CCRs, it would have to follow all the city codes and that, we would be notified and we would have a say," resident Charlene Warnock told the commission. "You all knew, yet you proceeded with the project anyway."

Neighbors and homeowner…