HomeMy WebLinkAboutltr city of tigard 10142025 CHRIST THE KING
LUTHERAN CHURCH
CRISTO REY IGLESIA LUTERANA
11305 SW Bull Mountain Road
Tigard,Oregon 97224
Pastor Dorothy Cottingham
503.639.2789
ctkoffice@tigardlutherans.com
www.tigardlutherans.com
October 14, 2025
Ken Ross, Code Compliance
and
Planner on Duty
City of Tigard
13125 SW Hall Blvd.
Tigard, OR 97223
Re: Code Compliance Request Record Number NCC 2025-0232
Dear Mr. Ross and Planner on Duty:
We are responding to the allegations lodged against Christ the King Lutheran Church,
11305 SW Bull Mountain Road, Tigard.
On or about October 7, 2025, we received an email from Ken Ross, Tigard Code
Compliance Department, informing us of multiple code violations alleged by a
"neighbor" of the church. We responded immediately by email and a phone call. Mr. Ross
informed us that we have 20 days to correct the violations or face fines up to $250 per
day per violation. We are seeking clarity of the timeframe for us to work with the city to
assure we are in compliance with applicable codes. The documentation provided states,
"If you can confirm that no violation exists or if you correct it voluntarily within 20
days..." and later on says "You have 20 days to respond to this compliance request."
We have responded within 20 days and are notifying you that none of the violations exist
on our property.
We are troubled by Mr. Ross's instruction to "obtain a trespass agreement with the Tigard
Police Department" and"post No Trespassing signage."We were also instructed to
contact Tigard Police and"coordinate removal of unwanted subjects" from our property.
Christ the King Lutheran Church welcomes everyone. In the past three years we have had
three instances where we filed No Trespass orders with Tigard Police. If a situation arises
where a person is deemed a danger to our people or property, we will do the same.
However,we will not place a blanket No Trespass order on our property nor post No
Trespassing signs. Doing so would be antithetical to our very existence as a church.
City of Tigard
Page 2
The allegations of openly stored junk, garbage, waste, and debris are patently false. Our
property is well-maintained and all garbage is stored in sealed containers provided by
Pride Disposal for their contracted weekly pickup. We can provide photographic evidence
if that would be helpful, or a code compliance officer is invited to inspect the property.
Also listed as a violation is "prohibited transient camps."We believe there is a
misunderstanding and misclassification as to our guests who are occasionally invited to
park their upscale RVs overnight in our parking lot.
A quick internet search for the definition of"transient camps"results in:
A transient camp is a temporary settlement of people who are living in tents, vehicles,
or other makeshift shelters. The residents are typically people who are experiencing
homelessness or poverty. Transient camps are often found in areas with high rates of
poverty and unemployment, and they can be a source of social and environmental
problems.
Is this what is being alleged? Because that is not an accurate description of the one or two
guests who are from time to time invited to rest overnight in their upscale RVs. These are
not transients and there is no camp. They are invited. They are here for a limited time—
typically only a night or two.And they contribute to the economy of Tigard with their
dollars and with their favorable reviews of the city at our invitation.
Approximately two years ago we partnered with the City of Tigard to investigate whether
our property would be a viable site for the Safe Parking Program.A group in the
neighborhood was vehemently opposed and has engaged in a campaign of harassment of
the church and staff ever since. It appears to us that this allegation of"transient camps"—
and, likely, this entire complaint—is a continuation of this harassment by members of the
group. Incidentally, we are no longer being considered as a host site for the Safe Parking
Program. The harassment, however, continues.
The Planner on Duty referred to our property as having a conditional use permit. We
believe our property is zoned commercial/mixed use. We would like a copy of the
conditional use permit for review.
Finally, we are requesting an in-person conversation with a representative of the City of
Tigard to clear up these complaints against our property and us as a church. We have been
on this site for 60 years. It is important to us, too, that Tigard remain a safe, clean, and
attractive community.
Please respond within 48 hours, and thank you for your prompt attention to this matter as
we are under your time restraints to resolve the matter.
Sincerely,
Parish Administrator Tim Ditch
Pastor Dorothy Cottingham