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1981 Seavy Meadows (over 54 acres) annexed by City of
Corvallis.
1982 Planned development of Seavy Meadows approved by the
City. Citizens protest, citing drainage concerns.
1987 City forecloses on Seavy Meadows due to unpaid public
improvement assessments (Bancroft loan).
1989 City sells 26 acres (mainly upland on northern part
of Seavy Meadows) to developer
1989 Division of State Lands finds that "significant
portions of the Seavy Meadows property contains wetlands under
the state's jurisdiction."
1990 Corps of Engineers notifies City that construction
Conser Ave. violated wetland law and the damage to Seavy Meadows
wetland will have to be mitigated before any application to build
housing in the wetland can be filed. (Curiously, the Corps later
reversed this decision based on shaky logic about past attempts
at drainage)
1996 Open-space park (29 acres) proposed to City by NE
Corvallis Neighborhood Association.
1998 Community Development Dept. of City proposes: 48-100
housing units on 4-5 acres (RS-12 zoning) in the center of the
wetland, adjacent to the existing fourplex. Also proposes to protect
the remaining wetland with a conservation easement.
1998 Neighborhood rejects Development proposal and affirms
original proposal that all 29 acres of city-owned property be
designated an open-space park.
2000 City of Corvallis applies to fill part of Seavy Meadows
with 2,900 cubic yards of fill, to make way for 48-100 housing
units. Citizens respond with many letters, all negative. DSL sends
copies of the letters to the City and does not approve the permit
application.
2000 The SW corner of Seavy Meadows is destroyed by the
extension of Walnut Blvd. Mitigation is to happen on site, in
areas adjoining the extension.
2002 DSL denies the City of Corvallis' application for
a permit to fill part of Seavy Meadows.
2003 DSL reverses its 2002 decision, approving the City
of Corvallis' application for a permit to fill part of Seavy Meadows,
based on additional information provided by the City.
2004 City reaches agreement to buy Stewart property; Stewart
files papers with Land Use Board of Appeals to drop his case against
the city. (See article in Corvallis Gazette-Times, 3-3-04; City
agreed to pay $178,000 for the 2 acres).
2004 Seavy Meadows designated as "Locally Significant
Wetlands" by the Natural Features Inventory (planning units
N-SEQ-M70-1 and N-VIL-W-3.
2008 Corvallis Planning Commission denies application to
build 43 housing units on 3.46 acres in the middle of Seavy Meadows,
by vote of 4 to 1 (April 16, 2008).
2008 Corvallis City Council overturns Planning Commission
decision, allowing development of 43 dwelling units on 3.46 acres
by Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services. The decision was
made on June 16, 2008. Condition 33 of the decision states that,
"At the time of final plat approval for the proposed development,
the City shall grant a conservation easement on the remaining
City-owned land within the original Seavey Meadows - Willamettedale
Farms development area. In addition, City Staff will also ask
the City Council to initiate a change in land use designation
for the remaining city-owned land... to Open Space - Conservation.
The City shall also consider additional measures that would accomplish
the goal of permanent protection of the remaining City-owned land
on the... site."