WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP?
Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. In our case, there are 185 acres of common property entrusted to the care of the Landscape Stewardship Department. Our goal is to use industry best management practices for landscape stewardship tasks in the field of landscape management, horticulture and arboriculture.
To achieve this, we are in the process of reinventing the Landscape Stewardship Department and creating organizational and public resources for more efficient operations. We want this department to be part of the community. Additionally, we are updating, expanding, implementing, and drafting new policies and procedures regarding the management and maintenance of common property. More importantly, we are focused on finding long-term solutions for day-to-day, seasonal and yearly challenges that arise from the size, location and layout of Mountain Park.
Here are some examples of how we steward the common property:
- Maintain and expand the tree canopy, and implement preventative pruning for overall tree health
- Plant native species
- Remove and manage invasive species
- Explore opportunities to create bioswales, rain gardens and other water management features
- Investigate ways to manage stormwater and mitigate erosion
- Restore streams and riparian areas
- Practice water-wise irrigation by removing unnecessary turf areas, replanting with natives, and monitoring irrigation
- Engage with the community and offer outreach, volunteer events and educational workshops
- Utilize arborist chips as mulch
- Transition away from synthetic chemicals
- Apply organic herbicides and fertilizers
- Use proper pruning techniques
- Brew and use compost tea to increase beneficial microorganisms in the soil
- Explore options for creating edible landscapes, including community gardens
- And more…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please scroll to bottom of this page.
CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO
City of Lake Oswego Native and Invasive Plant List
NATURAL AREAS
MPHOA Natural Area Assessment 2012
ISA Certified Arborists with Knowledge of MPHOA Policies – Coming Soon
NATIVE PLANTS
LANDSCAPE PROJECTS
COMMON PROPERTY
Periodically, a homeowner may wish to request that the Landscape Stewardship Department consider additional or potential landscape-related care on Mt. Park Common Property. The Common Property Work Request (CPWR) is the way for the homeowner to submit a request to the Landscape Stewardship Department for consideration. For more information about CPWRs, please refer to the MPHOA Common Property Policies and Common Property Committee page HERE.
FAQs
The property owners adjacent to the sidewalk or street is responsible for maintaining plants to keep them from encroaching into street and sidewalks to create an obstruction or limit visibility.
Property either can be private property or Common Property. To determine property boundaries please see Where is my property line?
If private property is adjacent to sidewalks or streets the private property owner is responsible for maintenance.
If the property adjacent to streets is Common Property the Landscape Stewardship Department is responsible for maintenance. Please fill out a Common Property Work Request form and get in touch with the Landscape Stewardship Department.
Some Common Property is maintained by the adjacent property owners under Legacy landscaping. In situation like this the adjacent property owner is responsible for maintenance.
For view related issues see Question 8.
Private property trees are dropping just as much debris on Common Property as Common Property Trees on private property. The Landscape Stewardship Department will clean up Common Property. Private property owners are responsible for cleaning up private property. If you are concerned about dangerous limbs, please get in touch with the Landscape Stewardship Department.
The Landscape Stewardship Department doesn’t mediate such disputes. These are matters that must be resolved between the affected parties. You may need the support and assistance of a qualified consulting arborist to resolve such disputes.
Damage to trails or sidewalks are not normally considered justification for removing otherwise healthy and safe trees. Please get in touch with the Landscape Stewardship Department for evaluation.
Please get in touch with the Landscape Stewardship Department for evaluation.
Trees on Common Property will be considered for REMOVAL for the following reasons ONLY:
• The tree is dead and poses high risk of failure.
• The tree is diseased or in declining health.
• The tree is invasive.
If a hazard tree is on Common Property = HOA pays
If a hazard tree trunk is on Common Property and branches over private property = HOA pays
If the hazard tree fully or partially on private property = Owner/Requestor pays
Nuisance tree fully or partially on Common Property = Requestor pays
These requests will be taken to the Common Property Committee for further discussion. For more information please take a look at the Tree Removal Guidelines on the “Landscape Stewardship” page.
If there is a question about a tree being a hazard or a nuisance, please contact the Landscape Stewardship Department. If there is a disagreement between the Requestor and the Department, an ISA Tree Risk Assessor Qualified Arborist will do a risk assessment and evaluation.
Tree removal is NOT allowed on Common Property by residents or contractors hired by residents without approval by the Landscape Stewardship Department.
If you believe a tree needs to be removed from Common Property, please fill out a Common Property Work Request and get in touch with the Landscape Stewardship Department. These requests will be taken to the Common Property Committee for further discussion.
Yes, a permit is required to remove a tree with a trunk that is 6 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH) or greater. You need to apply for permit at the City of Lake Oswego: https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/trees
Maintenance Pruning:
If the whole tree is on Common Property = HOA pays
Trunk on Common Property branches over private property = Cost sharing
Solar/Vista Pruning:
If the whole tree is on Common Property = Requestor pays
Trunk on Common Property branches over private property = Requestor pays
These requests will be taken to the Common Property Committee for further discussion.
For more information please take a look at the Tree Pruning Guidelines on MPHOA’s website on the “Documents” page.
MPHOA does not guarantee the preservation of an EXISTING or PREVIOUS view. MPHOA does not permit the establishment of a view where none existed at the time of house purchase by the Requestor. These requests will be taken to the Common Property Committee for further discussion.
Pruning is NOT allowed on Common Property by residents or contractors hired by residents without approval by the Landscape Stewardship Department.
If you believe a tree needs pruning on Common Property, please fill out a Common Property Work Request and get in touch with the Landscape Stewardship Department. These requests will be taken to the Common Property Committee for further discussion.
Normal pruning and maintenance does not require a permit. Normal pruning consists of no more than the removal of 15% of the live crown. Topping, removing 50% or more of the tree (crown, trunk or root), or damaging a tree resulting in its death are all considered removal and can be subject to enforcement action.
Send an email to the Mountain Park Landscape Stewardship Department: landscapestewardship@mtparkhoa.com
Call the City of Lake Oswego Public Works at 503-635-0280
Option 1: Call the Clubhouse and ask for the CC&R Manager: (503) 635 3561
Option 2. Email the Landscape Stewardship Department: landscapestewardship@mtparkhoa.com
It is a MPHOA tree if the tree is located on Common Property. To verify the boundary between private and Common property, please see: Where is my property line?