Woodburn Independent Online

Hubbard, ODOT reach compromise

• By: Rachel Cavanaugh  
• Published: 1/5/2010 1:08:53 PM

HUBBARD — Hubbard officials have stopped a portion of a highway project that would have forced a 10-foot right-of-way acquisition through several homes and businesses.
 
In a special work session in late December with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), representatives from city staff and city council negotiated a deal on the Highway 99E upgrade project.
 
The project will still move forward, but terms have changed to lessen the impact on property owners. Now, rather than taking 10 feet from all properties along the highway, the new concept will essentially divide the work into five sections, approaching each individually.
 
After months of disagreement between ODOT and council, the work session marked a success. It was followed by an open house with affected property owners.
 
“I felt really good coming out of both the workshop and the open house of the project continuing to go forward,” said Councilor Bruce Warner, who attended the meeting.
 
“The initial gathering of the minds (earlier this year) was just, ‘No way,’” he said. “But now, we want this project to go forward so badly that we’ve both been able to compromise and accept some areas, some differences. … I’m happy. … I’m really positive at this point versus my original concerns toward the project.”
 
All of the proposed work is on Highway 99E at the north end of town.
 
According to Warner, the new suggestions divide it into several sections. The first begins at Bobcat West tractor dealer and extends about 250 feet to a gun safe company.
 
In the majority of that section, instead of a sidewalk, white lines would be painted to establish where the safe walking route is. Then, at the section where there is current landscaping, a concrete or asphalt pathway could be cut through to make it continuous.
 
Next is a pair of two vacant lots. In that section, impact is minimal so the project would proceed as planned with a 10-foot right-of-way acquisition.
 
In the third section, beginning at Parkway Avenue, a drywall company has already put in a sidewalk, so it will be minimally affected. It stretches about 200 feet and ends at a driveway by a grassy field.
 
Next, is a section from the driveway to Rudometkin Drive. This is the section that has raised the most concern, as it goes past several mobile home units and private residences, none of which have ample room in front of them.
 
According to Warner, the 10-foot right-of way originally proposed would have severely impacted their properties, cutting into homes and landscaping. This was one of his biggest objections to the project.
 
ODOT officials have agreed to ask the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for more information about filling in a ditch in front of the mobile units to build the sidewalk on top. That would vastly mitigate the impact.
 
However, it is still unclear if DEQ will approve the idea.
 
Warner said they are waiting to see how that portion will move forward.
 
In the last section, which extends from Rudometkin Drive to Elm Street, officials have compromised a 5-foot right-of-way. That will give ODOT crews enough room to do the work while lessening the impact on surrounding properties.
 
In additional to dividing the proposal into sections, officials also agreed at the work session to terminate the project north of Elm Street, which cuts off about 600 feet from the original concept. This will salvage some arborvitae trees, as well as mitigate impact on properties. Warner stressed, however, that the move is only temporary and at some point, ODOT will have to do the work in the future.
 
The cumulative changes will save a portion of the $300,000 originally slated in for right-of-way acquisition, although it is not yet known how much.
 
Warner said overall he is pleased with the project.
 
“Where we’ve come from is a lack of communication in the very beginning to the point where we had some serious sit-downs and talks and … it’s just made a world of difference,” Warner said.
 
“I’m ecstatic at the fact that we’re moving forward.”

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