After more than 14 years, citizens with properties unfairly regulated under the arbitrary and politically driven sensitive lands program may have their backyards returned to them.

In a July 31 study session, a proposal brought by Councilors Mary Olson and Mike Kehoe and presented by David Hunnicutt, a well-regarded land use attorney with Oregonians in Action, proposed to remove the sensitive lands regulations from 203 acres of private property and replace those “private backyards” with city-owned public parks and open spaces. The proposal places us in closer alignment with Metro’s maps of our city’s real natural resources and includes many city-owned properties that are shown by Metro as water and habitat areas but are not mapped or regulated as sensitive lands by the city.

This proposal would end the use of private backyards as trade or mitigation for what the city holds as economically valuable property, a political program that puts development before citizens’ rights and before environmental protection. Instead, it trades 203 acres of private backyards for city-owned properties along with better environmental protection. And most importantly, it returns our backyards to us.

This is a sound, commonsense proposal that keeps the sensitive lands program in place, is guided by legitimate environmental interests, meets state and regional requirements for protection of our water and wildlife habitat and should, without hesitation, be embraced by all council members who want to bring an end to the community divisiveness brought by the unfair, onerous regulation of approximately 1,000 of our citizens’ private backyards.

But, as last Thursday’s Review (jump) headline (page 4) states, “...Hoffman, Jordan were opposed.” What a shock!

I had the opportunity to preview the proposal prior to the study session and sat quietly in the back of chambers, with other interested citizens, as the presentation and discussion went forward. Mayor Hoffman and Councilor Jordan struggled to present empty objections to sound and logical reasons why this proposal can work, including Councilor Jordan’s outrageous charge of potential “damming” of backyard water flow by citizens once restrictions are removed. They’ve maintained all along that it’s the sensitive lands regulations on our backyards that protect our water and wildlife, not citizen stewardship of their own properties. Without it, our beautiful, canopied city would not be the same.

Their arguments were consistent with their disrespect for the citizens in our community and serve as fuel for the divisiveness that exists in our city. It was punctuated by Mayor Hoffman’s reference to those of us in council chambers as “... the same old faces in the back of the room” and Councilor Jordan’s reference to those who disagree as “the complainers.”

But common sense and respect for citizens prevailed as Councilor Tierney joined Councilors Olson, Kehoe and Gudman in a four to two recommendation to continue working on the proposal over the next few weeks with a goal of presenting it to Metro. But, as Councilor Kehoe stated, “We won’t be able to change anything unless we try.”

You can view the proposal at LOStewards.org.

Robert Thompson is a Lake Oswego resident.