The Oregonian
Mayor withdraws unpopular plan for 125th Avenue
New route - A promise to Meeker Townhome residents will be honored
Friday, July 25, 2008
DAVID R. ANDERSON
The Oregonian Staff
BEAVERTON -- After hearing from residents angry that the city was considering a new route next to their homes for Southwest 125th Avenue, Mayor Rob Drake has taken that option off the table.
The city hopes to extend 125th Avenue north of Brockman Road to Hall Boulevard. Ten years ago, a committee chose a route intersecting Hall Boulevard on the north side of a wetlands. But earlier this year, the city revived the possibility of following Southwest Green Lane south of the wetlands for the extension because it might save as much as $3.6 million and have less effect on the wetlands.
In a memo to the City Council on Thursday, Drake said the city might be able to reduce the cost of the original route so there's not such a difference. But more important, the city had to keep a 10-year promise to residents of the Meeker Townhomes, Drake said.
"My gut tells me you have an obligation to those homeowners," he said.
After homeowners learned that Green Lane would possibly be used for the route, they sent a petition signed by 102 residents last month and 12 residents testified to the council. On Thursday, they celebrated the news.
"I'm just ecstatic," said Brenda Modahl, who lives in one of the 88 townhomes. "We felt like we had been listened to."
The council had approved spending as much as $300,000 for engineering and $300,000 for acquiring right of way. The city will continue with those efforts, but might spend less with one of the two options no longer being considered, Drake said.
The city has yet to decide on other design issues that might be changed from the original plan, including posted speed and how much excavation might be done.
The city has no money set aside for the project, which could cost as much as $14.8 million. Drake said the best hope remains an increase in Washington County's traffic impact fee charged to new development. The county commissioners will decide next month whether to place that measure on the Nov. 4 ballot.
David R. Anderson: 503-294-5199; davidanderson@ news.oregonian.com
©2008 Oregonian
