Open Spaces (Lincoln City) - TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Lincoln City Open Space bond measure - November 1998 - $3.1 million

In November of 1998, Lincoln City voters passed a $3.1 million open space bond measure.

In the early 1990s Lincoln City Parks and Recreation completed a Parks Master Plan by J.C. Dragoo and Associates that included a plan for open spaces and a city-wide trail system. In the summer of 1998, PADL member Lynn Hermo proposed a bond measure before the Lincoln City City Council to protect property in response to a proposed development in the Nelscott area and a proposed 102-unit motel north of the D River.

The hope was to be proactive instead of reactive and purchase property that needed protection before an unwanted development was proposed and then try to prevent the development. An unwanted development can be divisive to a community with citizens writing letters to the editor in the newspaper. Many of the open space property is difficult to develop because of wetlands (requires wetland mitigation) or steep slopes.

Hermo contacted the City of Portland and received information about the Portland Open Space bond measure from which he wrote the first draft of the Lincoln City bond measure. Portland used their first bond measure funds – made a compelling case and passed a second bond measure to preserve their open spaces and missing links for their city-wide trail system.

Hermo researched property prices and mapped open spaces that the Lincoln City Parks Department and the Friends of Wildwoods and Trails had identified for preservation. Hermo compiled information about property tax benefits when property is sold or donated for open space – Friends of Wildwoods and Trails sent the information to property owners of potential open space. Many of the properties have wetlands, some have significant wetlands under Goals 5 and 17 that make them difficult to develop. Saving properties with trees to prevent erosion and deter flooding were also targeted. Other properties were added to the list. Land for trails, native plant garden (later removed by the city committee) and a nature center were written into the 1998 measure. Friends of Wildwoods and Trails volunteers sent out information including a support letter for the voter's pamphlet. A PADL volunteer sent out educational information about the value of preserving wetlands. PADL encouraged the Devils Lake Water Improvement District (DLWID) to support the measure to protect Devils Lake. DLWID staff with help from volunteer organizations sent out information about protecting wetlands. Numerous citizens wrote support letters to the editors of the local newspapers. The measure passed by about 60 votes.

After the bond measure passed – Lincoln City Parks and Recreation director Ron Ploger wrote several grants to match the bond funds - all of his Oregon Parks and Recreation (OPRD) grant requests were granted.

Note that not all the properties are in the Devils Lake watershed as this is a city-wide program. However the Devils Lake watershed is so large that many are near the lake and its watershed - thus providing benefits to preserve the lake and its water quality. Parts of Spyglass and Villages at Cascade Head open space drain into Devils Lake.

PADL encouraged Paul Robertson to apply for the Lincoln Land Legacy committee with Lincoln County. As of January 2009, $500,000 is available to help landowners with conservation easements, estate planning, etc. The Lincoln Land Legacy program of Lincoln County may be a future source of funding for open space.

In 2009 PADL is looking into other means of funding wetland protection.

Devils Lake area (watershed) open spaces highlighted in green.

OPEN SPACE ACQUISITIONS -
Subject to corrections
Devils Lake watershed - highlighted in light green
* not bond measure funds - usually a donation, lease from county, or other funds used

Open Space Acquisition Program

Property Acres Sale Price Purchase Date
Spring Lake addition (Jacobson Property) 10.00 98,005.61 10/2000
Agnes Creek Open Space (Rose Property) 56.67 842,356.55 12/2000
Alice Park 2.14 56,425.00 2/2001
Sied Creek Open Space (Peace Harbor) 7.24 64,494.83 3/2001
Friends of Wildwoods & Trails Open Space 32.91 467,355.49 7/2001
(Franzke Property)
Slayden Donation 8.20 3,811.00 8/2001
Butler Property 2.57 25,396.30 1/2002
Burrows 5.36 89,588.01 5/2002
Mazloom 1.60 25,000.00 3/2003
Spyglass Open Space (IBDC Property) 69 496,429.00 9/2003
Spyglass City Property 5 65,000.00 10/2003
D – River Open Space 2.5 215,398.00 5/2004
Spyglass Wetland Open Space 6.79 107,699 9/2007
Schooner Creek .74 226,388 6/2008
Devils Lake 192 linear feet of lakefront 150,000 6/2009

Open space bond program used to help
1. Oregon Coast Community College by acquiring nearby wetland property with grant funds
2. New Non-profit organization
3. Taft High School Voris Field sport field turf – by purchasing old Taft Elementary School property from the Lincoln County School District with the stipulation that funds go to the school district for the field.

Open Space Acquisition to Date - March, 2009
Acquired Property Appraisal Value $4,704,452
Actual Sale Cost $3,077,642
Donation Value $1,577,311
Open Space Bond Funds Used $2,019,154
Grants $854,898
Acquisition Partnership Funds $25,000
Urban Renewal Authority Funds $225,000
Total Land Acquired 210.71 Acres
Open Space Bond Fund Balance $994,148

The bonds are probably coming due for the city to pay out interest.
Ten Year Anniversary - Voters approved November 1998 with plan for use in 3 to 5 years.
Close to one-third of the bond measure funds remain.
Waiting for the hill.

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Copyright © 2003-2011 Preservation Association of Devils Lake (PADL).
All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 36
Lincoln City, OR 97367
PADLsteward@wcn.net