Lake Oswego council approves school lot plan

By Rebecca Randall

The Lake Oswego Review, Jan 28, 2010

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On Tuesday, the Lake Oswego City Council put the rubber stamp on a new definition of schools within the development code. The distinction will provide more equity between public schools and private institutions such as Our Lady of the Lake Grade School and Westside Christian High School.

The original language was crafted by Councilor Kristin Johnson and is intended to be a compromise. It will override the planning commission’s September recommendation to reduce public school development from 35 percent to 25 percent lot coverage to equal that of private schools.

The new ruling will allow development on up to 30 percent lot coverage for a school built to accommodate at least 100 students and offering at least two grades. It applies to private schools in the low-density residential zones as well as the public schools, which are located in the public function zone.

The intent was to leave out schools, such as Montessoris or day care facilities that may exist in residential zones.

It should be noted that some private schools, such as Touchstone School, the Christie School or Park Academy were already more at liberty than OLL and WCHS to develop by virtue of their location in other zones.

The city has only one Montessori school within city limits, while two others are adjacent to Lake Oswego neighborhoods.

For public schools the code has become more restrictive. Formerly, the Lake Oswego School District had the freedom to develop up to 35 percent of its lots. The schools with the highest lot coverage are Lake Grove with about 20 percent lot coverage and Forest Hills with 22.4 percent coverage.

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