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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 22, 2017)
Saturday, April 22, 2017 OFF PAGE ONE RIVERFRONT: Study revealed Pendleton could support 90 more for-sale units Page 14A East Oregonian Continued from 1A . Se S.W ven th S t t. tree OFF MGRP ALL 2017 CAMRYG IN GTOCK * N.W. Sixth St. N.W. Seventh St. N.W. Eighth St. N.W. Ninth Street th S 4 , 000 . 10 S.W $ Riverfront land up for development N.W. 10th Street as neighborhood children build tree forts, evidenced by wood planks nailed to various trunks. When the Pendleton Planning Commission announced in January it was holding a public hearing on a zoning procedure that could change the nature of the land, Peg Willis went to voice her opposition. The city had identifi ed a more than four-acre parcel by the river it owned through the Pendleton Devel- opment Commission as a prime piece of property to sell to a potential housing developer. The city requested that the commission approve division of the parcel, cleaving off most of the southern portion that lies in the fl ood plain to remain undeveloped.. The remaining 0.58-acre chunk, which is more accessible to utilities and Seventh Street, would be made available for purchase and building. Peg Willis was the only person to speak against the move during the commission’s public testimony period, not only arguing her case from a preservationist standpoint, but also expressing her concerns that a new housing development would clog on-street parking as well as the property’s proximity to the 100-year fl ood line. The commission listened to the testimony but unanimously voted to approve the division of the parcel. After all of the research and prepa- ration, Peg Willis called the commis- sion’s decision “disheartening,” and she decided against appealing the decision to the city council because she wasn’t a “political person.” But neither Peg Willis nor her husband like the thought of a housing project down the slope from their home any more than they did six months ago. The couple described how central Pendleton sits in a geographical hole surrounded by inclines and hills. They much preferred one of the city’s other expansion initiatives — replacing the Eighth Street Bridge — because it opened up the possibility of providing housing growth on the northern edge of town rather than continuing to pack people in the city’s interior. “Instead of this hole, look out at the periphery of the town,” Jim Willis said. And while they also made the point that preserving that section of the river is aesthetically important to the community, especially those who ciently, which includes offl oading publicly owned land unused by the city. Before the meeting ended, Turner said the city could sell the Willises the land, although he didn’t quote them a price. Peg and Jim remain interested in Turner’s offer and have contem- plated buying riverfront land near their house before. Two large parcels of land near the river, extending from south of Northwest Seventh Street to just past the area behind Northwest Eighth Street, used to be owned by a Pendleton man named Stan Simons. The Willises approached him about buying the land, but he was interested in developing it and declined their offer. When Stan Simons died in 2011, ownership of the land was transferred to Stansbrood LLC, a reference to his children and a pheasant breeding hobby. Stansbrood is owned by Tim Simons, the Pendleton community development director and city engi- Staff photo by E.J. Harris neer, and his two siblings. No current plans are on the books for this section of land on the north bank of the Umatilla River in Tim Simons said Peg Willis also Pendleton. approached him about buying the land, but walk the Pendleton River Parkway Given the recent discussions haven’t on the south side of the Umatilla, the history of large-scale The City of Pendleton recently divided a parcel of land it owns advanced past an heart of the Willises’ argument is a housing development initial inquiry. north of the Umatilla River in anticipation of attracting a housing personal one. in Pendleton, Turner’s Having talked about “(This is) not for humanity, argument holds some development to the area. the still-undeveloped because we don’t know humanity, weight. land with his siblings, but for our kids,” Peg Willis said. The Pendleton Pendleton School Tim Simons said he The need Heights subdivision on Administration Office wouldn’t think about for housing Tutuilla Road endured developing the land The Willises were eventually able years of community N.W. Bailey Ave. until after he retires, to capture the attention of Mayor criticism, and that was when he would have John Turner, who is well acquainted before the developer more time and it would with the city’s housing issues as both decided to make the be less of a confl ict a politician and a citizen. fi nal phase a 100-unit of interest. He said Turner has chaired two separate apartment complex N.W. A ura Stansbrood is open to housing study committees for the instead of 24 town- Ave . r selling the land, but e v city, and after he was sworn in houses. i R N isn’t actively soliciting as mayor in January, he assumed While it never Pendleton Development a buyer. the chairmanship for the Housing came to fruition, a 100 feet l l a Commission parcel ati The city has no and Neighborhood Improvement housing developer’s Um targeted for development immediate plans to Committee. Turner met with them, plan to build an Pendleton develop their land and although both sides described apartment complex Fire Dept. ve. either, with John the meeting as cordial, neither the on an old gun range rt A u ROY o . C W . Turner unaware of any S mayor nor the North Hill couple near Blue Mountain RALEY recent interest from a PARK seemed swayed after it concluded. Community College housing developer. Although he understood where the also drew opposition Source: City of Pendleton Antonio Sierra and Alan Kenaga/EO Media Group While a housing Willises were coming from, Turner from nearby residents development isn’t said land that can be developed in 2014. for housing is a rare commodity in Neighborhood discomfort with units. City offi cials believe that more imminent, both Peg and Jim Willis Pendleton, especially a piece of land new housing developments butts up housing could make commuters buy plan to challenge the city any way in close proximity to city utilities. against the city’s goals to provide and live in Pendleton, and make the they can if plans for condos or town- city a more attractive destination for houses start to materialize. Turner said that if the city nixed more housing. ——— housing developments because of The most recent housing study potential employers. Contact Antonio Sierra at Turner said the city also faces neighboring opposition, nothing the city commissioned revealed that or would ever get done. No one wants the Pendleton market could support pressure from constituents who feel asierra@eastoregonian.com something built next door. 125 more rental units and 90 for-sale the city needs to operate more effi - 541-966-0836. DRIVE A NEW 2017 COROLLA LE BACKUP CAMERA · GAFETY GENGE TECHNOLOGY $ 189 MO ** $ on approved credit 0 UP FRONT! STK # 17TH314* WITH OUR BEST INVENTORY EVER - NOW’S THE TIME FOR YOUR BEST DEAL. 250 NEW TOYOTAS IN STOCK & ON THE WAY! ** $1500 ROGERS DISCOUNT + $2,500 TMS CUSTOMER CASH. EXCLUSIVE OF TFS LOW APR OFFERS. OAC + T.T.D. *STK# 17TH365 2017 TOYOTA COROLLA LE. CAP COST $19104 - LESS $1500 TFS LEASE CASH. LEV 12,492. 36 MO CLOSED END LEASE/12K MILES/YEAR. OAC + TTD