My name is John Morrison – some of you know me from my many years both as a
resident of Canterwood, and as the Development Manager for Lorigon and the Baker
family. For those of you who have moved to Canterwood within the past several years
and are not familiar with me personally or professionally, allow me to introduce myself.
I grew up in Eugene OR and am a native Northwesterner. After college, I began a
career of property development and brokerage in the Eugene area. In 1987, I was
asked by the Baker family through their long time retained counsel, Bob Hutchins, to
serve as Development Manager. Back in those times, Canterwood had only sold
several dozen lots in the preceding five years. As the first part of my work, I performed a
financial analysis of the potential viability/profitability of Canterwood over the next ten to
fifteen years. This analysis showed clearly that the way forward was promising. After
completing the construction of the then unfinished golf course at the end of 1987, we
were ready for the next selling season in Spring 1988. As it happened, we sold many
more lots than my spreadsheet predicted, which may have been due to my brilliant
planning and design achievements, but probably was more a result of the booming
market of 1988-1990. Either way, we got off to a good start, and in the next few years,
the tennis courts and clubhouse were built, and Canterwood established itself as a
sustainable, beautiful community that was built to last for decades and beyond.
As part of my work, I led the design of the infrastructure and other common area
improvements, including the STEP and sewer systems. I made the decision to bring
sewer to Canterwood early in 1988 because I was able to acquire another 175 acres
and by then we knew portions of the site were not good for onsite drain fields. It was a
sound decision because today about 50% of Canterwood is on STEP. I decided to
retain control of the STEP by the development company because it was a complex
infrastructure system and I thought it irresponsible to pawn it off on the HOA. I want to
emphasize my role in the design, creation and establishment of these improvements
because it will become important to the issues in which I intend to involve myself as a
member of the Canterwood community.
Ronnie and I recently bought a lot on Old Stump Drive and we are working with Jeanne
Ratcliffe-Gagliano as the architect. We plan to be living near the club house by next fall.
We had moved a few years ago from Canterwood to Cave Creek Arizona, for the
sunshine and the tennis, but our eldest child just moved from Colorado to Western
Washington along with her husband and our two year old grandson, and our younger
child lives in Olalla with his wife and son, so we are moving back to be close to our
family.
I deliberately bought a lot on STEP and I am going to run for the Canterwood Board of
Directors in early December. I am very proud of my contributions to the successful and
beautiful community that is today’s Canterwood, and am eager to add my voice, energy
and experience to those of others to solve some pressing problems. We have an
opportunity to not only avert major and minor disasters, but to maintain the high
standards that are part of the successful legacy of Canterwood.
I intend to run for a seat on the Homeowners’ BOD – I sent my paperwork in online
recently. I will be posting a few letters in the near future that will outline in detail items
that I think are important and which I believe I can be of value in solving.
I hope I can win your support.
PS: Many years ago, I purchased two parcels north of Canterwood. One is a five acre
commercial site at the corner of Peacock Hill Rd and 144th
, non-contiguous to
Canterwood. The other is a 40 acre parcel immediately north of Canterwood and zoned
for residential development. Both of these parcels are outside the Growth Management
Area, and any status change in Canterwood will have minimal, or zero, effect on the
value, status or marketability of these parcels. I mention this to counter the idea that my
motives are purely those of self-interest.
