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The local family proposing to build a 21-home subdivision in the Southwest Portland hills will appeal the City Council’s decision last month that halted the development.

Stephen Griffith, one of four brothers who own the land behind Riverview Abbey Mausoleum Co. on Taylors Ferry Road, said the family will file an appeal with the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.

鈥淚t is our hope that LUBA will recognize the fact that our development plan complies with the law,鈥� Griffith stated in an email message. 鈥淧ortland needs more housing options. We desire to fulfill my grandfather’s dream of building on the property that he had the foresight to purchase many years ago.鈥�

On Feb. 7, the City Council upheld an appeal by the South Burlingame Neighborhood Association. The group had challenged development plans for the Macadam Ridge subdivision, citing landslide hazards and environmental overlay rules. Commissioners said they were also concerned about tree removal and disruption of a wildlife corridor.

The Neighborhood Association delivered to the council a three-hour presentation with coordinated testimony from more than 30 neighbors.

The council overturned a favorable decision by hearings officer Melvin Oden-Orr 鈥渂ased on an emotional appeal by the Neighborhood Association,鈥� Griffith stated.

The 14-acre property, purchased by Willard Griffith in 1945, is a rare undeveloped plot of land within Portland’s urban growth boundary. Stephen Griffith said the family intends to establish a preliminary plat and sell the property to a homebuilder. Each new home would be about 3,500 square feet and cost approximately $750,000.

At the February council meeting, Mayor Ted Wheeler said some development on the land is inevitable.

鈥淚t is my view that this is a complex site, for obvious reasons 鈥� it has all of the overlay issues 鈥� but ultimately it is a developable site, and it is my belief it will be developed,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o now the question is: How do we shape that development and how do we take that from here?鈥�

Griffith said the family has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars during the past four years to develop the property.

鈥淚t’s so extremely costly,鈥� he said. 鈥淏etween us and development partners, it’s close to a million dollars now.鈥�

Starting over in the city’s approval process would only add to the costs, according to Griffith.

鈥淚t’s basically cheaper to appeal than to start a new application,鈥� he said.

Griffith said he expects to hear a decision from LUBA in about 70 days.