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Council asks staff to pursue due diligence on 19-acre Cascadia Ridge HOA forest parcel transfer
Summary
HOA representatives asked the city to accept a 19-acre greenbelt parcel for public access; council directed staff to research title, insurance, CC&Rs and conveyance options and to return with a plan and costs. HOA said it can contribute limited funds and volunteer time toward cleanup.
Representatives from Cascadia Ridge Number 6 Homeowners Association asked the Estacada City Council on June 1 to consider accepting a 19-acre forested greenbelt parcel for public access and trails. The council directed staff to perform due diligence, explore funding options and return with recommended next steps.
Landon Sheckard, who identified himself as the HOA secretary, and Jonathan Auslin, the HOA president, told the council the tract is 19 acres of greenbelt currently maintained on a tight HOA budget. They said the HOA carries an annual maintenance allocation of $2,500 and a contingency fund of about $3,000 that could be used toward initial cleanup; board members have donated time to remove invasive blackberries and do litter abatement.
City staff and the city attorney flagged several due-diligence items the council should consider before accepting ownership: insurability and potential insurance premium changes, whether the parcel is a lawfully established unit of land that can be conveyed in fee, existing encumbrances or CC&Rs that could restrict transfer, and alternatives such as a permanent exclusive easement if fee transfer is not possible. Staff noted potential partners — nonprofits and the National Guard or community groups — and grant programs for wildfire fuel reduction and park improvements.
Council direction: pursue a preliminary title report, review CC&Rs and deed restrictions with the HOA, get insurance guidance from the city’s insurer, and identify possible grant or partner funding. If the council remains interested after staff returns with options and cost estimates, it may authorize a transfer or an alternative conveyance instrument.
The HOA said it supports work to prepare the property for public use and would consider rolling its annual maintenance allocation and contingency into initial cleanup work; additional earthmoving or large-scale work would likely require grants or city contribution.
Next steps: staff will coordinate with the HOA to assemble title and CC&R information, seek insurance input and estimate costs; council will consider the results in a future meeting.
