Oregon City staff outline options for McLaughlin Promenade encroachments; commissioners authorize targeted follow-ups

City staff presented the commission with options for resolving multiple private encroachments along the McLaughlin Promenade at the March 11 work session, and commissioners provided direction to pursue a mix of site-specific responses including vacations, negotiated agreements and removals.

Staff told commissioners the promenade was dedicated to public use and that easements or lot-line adjustments are not generally recommended as a way to resolve encroachments that conflict with the original dedication; instead, staff outlined four options: record an encroachment license agreement, process a property vacation to move a narrow strip of promenade to the adjacent property, record a simple letter of acknowledgement of the encroachment, or require removal.

City staff and City Attorney/land-use staff (Bill) explained that when property was dedicated to a public purpose the city acts as trustee and the dedication can only be removed through a…