Lake Oswego council approves three annexations, applies mitigation conditions after on-site tree removals

The Lake Oswego City Council on July 15 approved annexation of three Clackamas County properties — 5450 Kenny Street, 6210 Lakeview Boulevard and 16284 Bon Air Avenue — and attached mitigation conditions to the first two after staff reported recent tree removal at those sites.

The council voted 6-0 to enact ordinances related to the annexations and to apply subsections a, c, d, e, f and g of Resolution 19-59 to the Kenny Street and Lakeview Boulevard properties. Resolution 19-59 is the city policy that sets review and mitigation requirements when significant tree removal occurs on unincorporated land prior to annexation.

Why it matters: Councilors said the action balanced the city’s interest in encouraging development and adding housing with discouraging property owners from removing trees to avoid local review and public comment. Several councilors described the tree removals as significant and said stronger consequences were needed to deter similar behavior.

Staff presentation and findings: Planning staff member Mister Espy…