LUBAAppealCascadeCrest

***We are a group of neighbors in the Brooklane Drive/Chintimini/Cascade (Roth ;-) neighborhood who are joining forces to resist the Cascade Crest development being proposed on the corner of Brooklane and Chintimini Dr. ***

At the city council meetings on 2/3, 2/18 and 2/24, and after dozens of written and oral testimonies given by concerned neighbors—by many of you—the city council voted to approve this development. The die was cast and caused us to double-down on our work to fully consider all angles of haulting this development and the prospects going forward.  

On Thursday March 6, 2025 a small group of us met with the developer and had, by all accounts, a very pleasant informative meeting.  We learned some interesting information about the developer’s last 18-years with this project on the back burner as well as their present day situation both personally as well as business wise.  This meeting spurred additional research and outreach as well as meetings with city staff (thank you Susan!), digging up more information and delving into the minutiae of land use laws and policy and has resulted in us solidifying our next move: File the appeal to LUBA. 

This appeal was filed 3/14/2025. If you gave testimony on this case during the city council proceedings you have received an email notifying you of this filing. Those with only their street addresses on file with the city were mailed this same notification via USPS mail, you will receive that shortly.

We all tried our hardest to beat this at the city level, and I thank you all for that 🙏 But here we are and now is when we really need your support!! Susan and I are committed to seeing this through the end and have been working on this round tirelessly since January. We are fueled by our passion for a better outcome of this property than the one currently proposals and based on 1993 land use laws that began with an unauthorized clear-cut of the newly designated “Highly Protected Signicant Vegetation” (ie, old growth Oregon White Oaks) on the north Western end of this property. If you’ve lived here since at least 2004 you know exactly what I’m talking about.

For 20-years now—since 2005—Susan and I have been working on this case as a labor of love. The reason this land sits wild and free of houses today is because of that. To date we have taken a sum total of $0 personally for our efforts and we are both committed to continuing at this amazing pay rate ;-)—to the very end. But….unfortunately our lawyer isn’t working at this same pay rate! 🤔

It shows from the copious and impassioned written and oral testimony about this vacant, semi-wild piece of land is intrinsically loved deeply by our neighborhood.

We started this campaign in an hope and a prayer that others would step up as they are able to help foot the bill. We are now entering the period of the appeal process that will be “lawyer intensive” and the money will begin to flow at a brisk pace out to pay for their wise council. Tell your friends and neighbors donate what you can and help us win this appeal! I have posted a google spreadsheet for you to follow our accounting (below) so you can see exactly where and how this money is being spent—big thanks to Rob for your help getting this going!

We recently received a generous gift from a neighbor Laura Iverson who is a wonderful artist and is offering her artwork and jewelry to folks who donate to this Cascade Crest Subdivision LUBA appeal. Thanks, Laura!

Details from Laura:

”I’d be happy to give a painting(s) of their choice to anyone who donates, and I’ll double the amount they can select (so, if they donate $100, they can pick $200 worth of art). My paintings are at https://zenbreeze.com/ I have lots that are lower cost.

I’m happy to donate any of the original paintings or jewelry on there for the cause.”

Thank you so much Laura!! 😊

Lastly I want to thank all of you who have already contributed so much to help out with this cause. Some of you I will be leaning on in the weeks to come for your expertise as we build and refine our case. And some of you have already contributed so much and helped out in so many ways. I’m deeply thankful for all of you especially Susan—we couldn’t do this without your wisdom, expertise and guidance!!! Also a big thank you to our excellent team and supporting cast of Rachel, Rob, Will and Al. Deep appreciation 🙏

This is our neighborhood! let’s do what we can to preserve its most vital resource—beautiful open space to expand our hearts and minds during these tumultuous times.

With deep gratitude,

Justin Soares

For transparency sake here is a link to the detailed accounting of this campaign:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QttF0pxpVW_1bX8KVbYLbDMm_-RAUpQvq1zqMWBYz4I/edit?usp=drivesdk