OPINION: Grapevines or powerlines?

It may have started with A.R. Shipley, over a hundred fifty years ago. That Stafford area was a great place that forty varieties of grapes could grow. Concords were the best he felt, for juice, jams and jelly oh so fine: But never imagined a good place for growing grapes for making wine.

I-205 and affordable housing pressure, issues flooding land speculators cup. Resident concerns about PGE ability on how to safely power the region up. Vineyards, farms, active-agriculture, what our Stafford character is about. Powerlines should be underground not overhead to bale PGE budget out!

Overhead brings extra baggage with it, Underground is safer, but more expensive. Our views, the trees, why we moved here, Towers with powerlines, making us apprehensive. If development in the area, can bore sewers under Pecan Creek.

Let’s place power lines 6 ft. underground, a Stafford’s game of hide and seek. So now it’s time to ponder, is it lines or is it wine.

That Stafford residents will live with watching their property values decline. County changing its ZDO, because of staffing issue numbers? Or finally acknowledging and now correcting years of “conditional use permitting” blunders. Kerosene lamps and wooden stoves, could be making a comeback.

If PGE, county and residents can’t concur on this ZDO attack. Coming soon how the area will shine, will it be Pinot Gris or maybe Pinot Noir? Or will lines of PGE prevail and win, towers and above ground powerline war?

For information visit: https://www.savestaffordroad.org/ info on: Ordinance ZDO-288,Zoning & Development Ordinance (ZDO) Amendments Related to Utility Facilities Planning Commission: Monday, April 8, 2024, 6:30 p.m. www.clackamas.us/planning/planning-commission RJ Cook is a resident of the Stafford area.