A no-brainer in Lake Oswego: Why it's time to protect sensitive lands

The Lake Oswego City Council is currently discussing how it will move forward to comply with Title 13 by implementing polices that will protect the city's sensitive lands. For the less wonky version of that...Lake Oswego is talking about how it will protect trees, riparian areas, streams and critical wildlife habitat to meet regional goals and priorities. (Read more about Lake Oswego's Sensitive Lands Overlay.)

The city is actually in a great position to do this. Recently, a task force looked at the city's original program and addressed citizen concerns about it. It then released a report making 63 recommendations to the city council about how to make the program better.

Unfortunately, there are those that don't want to see any rules take effect. In fact, they even want to roll back current protections. The most common claims are that these rules will hurt porperty values, or that a voluntary program is all the city needs to get into compliance. Unfortunately, this well-organized opposition to basic environmental protection is a classic case of the vocal minority. They seem to be everywhere--at meetings, in the opnion pages of the paper--but actually represent very few.

Why are they wrong:

1. On the issue of property value the numbers just don't add up for them. The areas that these rules would protect actually add value to property and save the city and residents money. "Lake Oswego's State of the Forest Report" from 2009 estimates that tree groves can add add anywhere from three to 10 percent to overall property value. For businesses, the report show that consumers are willing to pay more for goods in districts with trees than those without. These advantages add up to real dollars in the pockets of homeowners, business owners and the city.

But added value isn't the only place the city's residents and businesses benefit. The same report shows that trees, streams corridors and wetlands saves the city and its residents some $3 million in heating and cooling costs, storm water management and other services provided by the natural environment that we take for granted.

2. About voluntary compliance: While incentives, education and other programs should be part of this program, voluntary stewardship does not guarantee the long-term protection of these resources. In fact, no jurisdiction in the Metro region has been able to comply with the regional goals with an entirely voluntary program.

Right now, rules opponents are working to delay a decision on Title 13 compliance with their eye on the upcoming election, which they hope could translate into a city council that will vote against these important protections. We need to encourage Lake Oswego City Councilors and the Mayor not to delay, and to vote on a strong program to protect these important areas. Here are a few things you can do right now to help protect sensetive lands in Lake Oswego.

1) Sign the petition and pass it on to friends, family and neighbors in Lake Oswego.

2) If you live in Lake Oswego e-mail or call your city councilors and tell them you want real programs to protect sensetive lands in the city.

3) Testify at the hearing this Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Lake Oswego City Council Chambers.

There are many reasons to protect trees, stream corridors and wetlands in Lake Oswego--both economic and environmental. While there will always be those who want to protect only their own short-term interests instead of working for the greater good, Lake Oswego is really facing a no-brainer for the city. In the next few days, please take a moment to do one thing to let the city council know that we care and why.