Dear Neighbors,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last September, our Palisades neighbors<\/span> were confronted with insurmountable<\/strong> odds<\/strong> to protect Cook\u2019s Butte<\/span> for the 3rd time in THREE decades from the City\u2019s plans<\/span> for a significant<\/em><\/strong> telecommunications facility that would have forever altered this natural park. After TWO prior victories, residents believed this natural area was FINALLY protected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet, again, WE mobilized<\/span> over<\/strong> 900 residents<\/strong>, spent thousands of hours<\/strong> speaking to citizens, researched facts, and informed our community and spent thousands of dollars<\/strong> to prevail against<\/strong> our City\u2019s reactive <\/strong>development process<\/span>. It could have been much worse had the surviving grantor\u2019s children not reaffirmed the intended use<\/strong> as a NATURE PRESERVE!!! <\/p>\n\n\n\n But<\/em><\/strong>, Cook\u2019s Butte remains vulnerable<\/strong> unless there are additional legal protections<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SIGN & MAIL the OFFICIAL Petition E-Sheet(s) to PROTECT Cook\u2019s Butte, FOREVER!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Residents<\/span> across Lake Oswego were upset to learn<\/span> the City\u2019s continued exploits<\/strong> for this natural area \u2014 against<\/span> the original grantors’ wishes<\/span> for Cook\u2019s Butte to remain forever wild<\/span><\/em>. Many expressed concern for other natural areas that are intertwined throughout our neighborhoods — small habitats with abundant wildlife. We promised<\/strong> to look into sensible <\/strong>legal protections<\/span> for our natural areas, not just Cook\u2019s Butte. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We have done just that<\/span>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We discovered<\/span> Springbrook Park<\/strong> is the ONLY<\/strong> natural area with City Charter protection today<\/span>. We also found historical evidence the City considered developing some of these natural areas. Our prospective initiative, 2020IN-1, revises our City Charter\u2019s \u201cChapter X – Park Development Limitation\u201d to include 15 natural areas<\/span> with sensible development limitations<\/span> at NO<\/em> COST <\/em><\/strong>to taxpayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our charter amendment DOES NOT<\/em><\/strong> negate the City\u2019s responsibility to produce Park Master and Management Plans for these natural areas. These plans<\/span> are not<\/em><\/strong> binding legal documents<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a>SIGN & MAIL the OFFICIAL Petition E-Sheet(s) to PROTECT 15 Natural Parks, FOREVER!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your signature<\/span> IS NEEDED<\/strong> to qualify<\/span> our citizen-led NATURAL PARK protection initiative<\/span> for the ballot<\/span>. To qualify, we need 4,365 Lake Oswego voter signatures — we are already over 30%<\/strong> in just a few weeks<\/span>. Community response<\/strong> has been positive<\/strong> with notes of appreciation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Please help us give our community the decision to protect these natural areas on the ballot. Sign and mail your petition TODAY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n