Estacada resident tells Clackamas County board long permitting dispute has left her seeking help

At the board’s public‑comment period on April 23, resident Christine Lamroso described a protracted permitting and property‑line issue on a rural five‑acre parcel near Estacada. Lamroso said the county notified her in 2023 that a pole barn on the property lacked a permit even though the electric service sticker and prior signoffs appeared to indicate past inspections.

"We were notified that the pole barn that’s on our property was not permitted... we’ve spent nearly $5,000 in lawyer fees," Lamroso told the commissioners, describing confusion created by historical splits in tax lots and inconsistent records, which she said date back to the 1960s–1980s and may have been affected by a 1996 flood.

County Administrator Gary Schmidt acknowledged the difficulty and said staff had been working with Lamroso, pointing to staff member Emily (a policy adviser) and Department of Transportation and Development employees in the room. Schmidt and the board agreed staff would meet with Lamroso immediately after the meeting to explore options and continue due diligence.

Why it matters: The comment highlights how historical property records and changes in lot configuration can create compliance and permitting burdens for current owners, particularly for older rural structures. Lamroso asked the board to help ensure county records and the permitting path are clarified and not imposed as an undue burden on the resident.

Next steps: Staff agreed to meet with Lamroso after the meeting to continue troubleshooting record and permitting questions; no formal action or vote was taken during the public‑comment period.