Laurelwood Estates Subdivision
A 30 lot residential subdivision proposed near Gaston that may potentially rely on shared wells - increasing demand on groundwater where the adjacent neighbors already report insufficient supply.
Background
In summer 2024, Nellie McAdams — attorney and executive director of Oregon Agricultural Trust — reached out to CMWC for support in responding to a subdivision application on SW Laurelwood Road near Gaston. The developer was proposing to build 30 new homes and supply domestic water through shared wells drilled into the same aquifer system that feeds existing private wells in the area.
What we did
CMWC provided technical support throughout Washington County's preliminary approval process, helping the community build a record that reflected the groundwater risks the development posed. When the county granted preliminary approval, we supported an appeal to the Land Use Board of Appeals.
LUBA issued a remand — sending the application back to Washington County for further review. While the remand focused primarily on access easement issues, it also provided concrete direction advancing our goal of protecting the water supply. CMWC is now collecting well monitoring data in the area to establish a baseline — giving neighbors documentation they can point to as the project continues to develop.
Where things stand
The project is back before Washington County following the LUBA remand. Monitoring is underway. CMWC remains engaged and will continue providing technical support as the application works through the review process.
Why it matters
New residential development on Chehalem Mountain puts real pressure on the aquifer system. Every new well drilled into the aquifer system is a new draw on a shared resource — and the cumulative effect of development over time is exactly the kind of slow-moving threat that's easy to miss until it's too late.
This case is also about making sure the data exists. By establishing a monitoring baseline now, CMWC is ensuring that if groundwater levels do decline as this project moves forward, there's documentation to prove it — and to act on it.
