Residents offered $4,000 to sign waivers

The Lake Oswego City Council on Tuesday authorized city staff members to offer up to $4,000 per property to remove restrictive land-use covenants in what is known as the Maple Grove subdivision in West Linn’s Robinwood neighborhood.

The offer affects property owners who aren’t represented by attorneys in the city’s ongoing eminent domain proceedings — including those who originally accepted an offer of compensation to sign off on a waiver.

Removing a provision allowing only single-family homes in the subdivision would allow Lake Oswego to expand its water treatment plant from Kenthorpe Way to properties the city owns on Mapleton Drive in West Linn.

Lake Oswego began working to remove the covenants by offering $1,000 to area property owners who agreed to waive the restrictions.

Lacking enough signatures to secure a waiver, city representatives began eminent domain proceedings, taking 50 property owners to court in January.

The council vote, which was unanimous, happened shortly after 10 p.m., following a 20-minute executive session.

Last week, the council approved a settlement with the owners of four properties near the water treatment plant in West Linn that gives them $4,000 per lot as well as $8,000 to compensate for their legal fees.