“We look forward to working with SK Northwest and the City as the development moves forward.”
— BTA’s metro-area advocate Emily Gardner
After a protracted legal battle that first came to light back in April of 2006, a Willamette riverfront property owner whose parcel lies in a key gap between two popular trails has relented and agreed to allow a trail to be built on their property.
The news comes from the BTA’s metro-area advocate Emily Gardner via the BTA Blog (emphasis mine):
“Earlier this year the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the City’s ordinance that requires a Greenway Trail on the property to be developed by SK Northwest. Following that decision, SK Northwest had the option to continue fighting the trail designation by taking the case to the Oregon Supreme Court…
Instead they have chosen to build the trail alignment on their property, and work with adjacent property owners and the City of Portland to make sure the ultimate plans provide a safe connection between the end of the Eastbank Esplanade and the start of the Springwater Corridor Trail.”
Gardner, and other staff and volunteers at the BTA, along with the City of Portland have been following this and fighting for the trail for over two years. According to Gardner, another “integral component” of this effort were several uber-volunteers. She credits Ben Schonberger of Winterbrook Planning, William Kabeisman of Garvey, Schubert and Barer, Rick Nys of Greenlight Engineering, and Christine Cook, attorney at law, “for their expertise and assistance in preparing testimony at key points along the way.”
This story marks the 19th I’ve written on this saga since my initial story Springwater development may nix trail improvement was published back on April 12, 2006. That story touched off significant outcry from many in the Portland community and it feels good to know that more than two years later, the passion and hard work of local advocates, professionals, and volunteers has made such an impact.
A fully connecting trail between OMSI and the Springwater Corridor Trail is still far from reality, but it just became much more possible.
Way to go Portland. And thanks to the BTA for staying on top of this throughout.
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[For all the background, numerous appeals, and other drama in this saga, check out my archives.]