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Metro is moving toward approving a master plan for the Willamette Falls Riverwalk, even as the agency and its partners remain at an impasse with the landowner who controls the site.

The Riverwalk is intended to spur further development at the site overlooking the nation’s second-largest waterfall by volume.

The Metro Council heard an update on the master plan Nov. 21. The council agreed to release the plan for public comment.

Metro, along with Clackamas County, Oregon City and the state of Oregon, has identified $19 million to pay for the first phase of development at Willamette Falls. That includes $12.5 million in state lottery bonds allotted by the Legislature, $5 million in Metro bonds, $1.5 million in city, county and landowner contributions and approximately $8 million in private money expected to be raised by 2022.

In the master plan released by Metro, the partner agencies make it a priority to establish a public viewing area for the falls as soon as possible. Snohetta, a design firm based in Oslo, Norway, led the design process.

Access to the site from U.S. Route 99E remains in question. Alex Gilbertson, Metro’s senior parks planner, said the project agencies want to get a design-build firm under contract before determining the best way to provide access to the falls from the highway.

The government agencies and property owner George Heidgerken have offered different visions for the Willamette Falls Legacy Project. Heidgerken complained Metro and partner agencies want to build 鈥渁 park鈥� at the site. Heidgerken, a Tacoma-based developer who purchased the ex-Blue Heron paper mill site in 2014, said he’s interested in building a hotel, condos, restaurants and other amenities.

Heidgerken agreed to an easement with the government representatives in December 2014. A dispute arose earlier this year, and the government agencies went public with a letter on Sept. 22, 2017, saying Heidgerken would not sign an application for permits from the state and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers needed to move the project forward. Heidgerken also has not submitted a $200,000 payment that was due in January.

Heidgerken said he was in active discussions with Metro to resolve the impasse.

鈥淢etro has gone way overboard,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey don’t have the authority they think they do in designing what they want.鈥�

Heidgerken said he was optimistic the two sides would reach an agreement. 鈥淲e’re at a crossroads with Metro right now, but I think we’ll get that straightened out,鈥� he said.

Brian Moore, Metro’s project manager for Willamette Falls, said he could not discuss the ongoing real-estate negotiation with Heidgerken.

鈥淭he partners are very committed to moving the project forward and excited about the future,鈥� Moore said.

Metro Council President Tom Hughes said the council had had no recent updates on the negotiations.

鈥淲e hope they have that worked out soon,鈥� he said.

Heidgerken owns the entire 22-acre site, except for Portland General Electric’s dam. PGE has provided the agencies an easement for the Riverwalk across the top of the dam.

Heidgerken said Willamette Falls could be a special project.

鈥淭hese projects, if you do them right, they can be real winners,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd if you don’t, you wish you’d never seen them.鈥�

The master plan is expected to be adopted at a Jan. 4, 2018 Metro Council meeting, and by the City Council of Oregon City shortly thereafter.