Pendleton Development Commission calls a special meeting

PENDLETON – The Pendleton Development Commission is holding a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. today (Tuesday). The commissioners will consider a request for a change in scope for townhomes planned on the banks of the Umatilla River on Southwest Ninth Street.

The River Walk apartments are being planned by developer Randy Baker. It has suffered delays due to what is termed an inability to reach an agreement with a property owner whose approval is needed to build four units of townhomes.

“To vacate the entire width of the street requires the approval of the property owner on the east side of Southwest Ninth Street next to the levee,” the report states. “The owner has seemed interested in making a deal that would accomplish the street vacation but most recently has shown very little interest and has not responded to contacts.”

Baker, therefore, wants to reduce the number of units to three. That would not require vacating the street. It would reduce the revenue from the project that is greater than the reduction in the cost of construction, but the city reports Baker has other properties on the river that he wishes to pursue depending on the market acceptance of the first units.

This would require Baker to sign a development agreement. That agreement would then require a public hearing before the city council. If it’s approved the third step would have the PDC demolish the houses and remove the trees from the city-owned property.

Conceptual drawing of River Walk apartments as four units via the city of Pendleton

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Elkhorn Media Group