By Ben Earle
May brought another full slate of issues into which the nine members of your Land Use & Transportation Committee could sink our teeth.
LUTC Mission
We made a first pass at identifying goals and objectives for the rest of the year and beyond:
Development. Implement programs to:
- Establish Design Guidelines for residential and mixed use development.
- Encourage developers to comply with demo and construction codes and laws, and establish responsive communications with neighbors and the community.
Good Neighbor Agreements. Renew or create GNAs for:
- Concordia University’s on & off campus development plans, new buildings, parking, traffic, bicycle and pedestrian passage, and neighbor relations.
- As many area businesses as possible.
Transportation. Pursue actions to improve:
- Traffic safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles.
- Alleviation of increased parking.
Homelessness. Work to:
- Identify temporary “placement” locations and support resources.
- Promote community awareness and engagement.
LUTC Operations. Work on:
- Improving administrative and public communications.
- Reviving the Safety and Livability Committee (SALC).
- Engaging with like-minded local and city-wide groups.
- A half-day planning “retreat.”
Bighouse development
See Bighouse Redesign Team member Spencer Parsons’ article (next page) for the status of developer Brian Spencer’s response to the redesign recommendations resulting from his and CNA Chair Isaac Quintero’s meeting with him that was facilitated by Concordia University CFO Denny Stoecklin. For current info, check the CNA website “Bighouse sidebar”.
Residential demolitions
Nice to have some relatively good news to report on this front! On behalf of the nearby neighbors who received a demolition notice for the house at the SE corner of 37th and Killingsworth, I contacted developer Satterberg Construction to find they are using deconstruction to salvage many internal features and materials for use in the four “standalone” 2-story single family residence homes they’ll fit on the property’s R2 zoned lots totaling nearly 12,000 sq. ft. One house has a detached garage with the others integrated, and all have basements, 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths.
Not only do John and Brandy Satterberg, Portland natives who live in Hosford Abernathy, specialize in building classic Portland bungalow style homes with quality construction designed to fit with surrounding older homes, but they are also meeting with the neighbors and a LUTC representative as part of their commitment to establish a positive relationship with the neighborhood throughout the year-long development.
Residential Infill Project
Public outreach meetings to get feedback on proposed residential zoning code updates to improve the scale of houses, narrow lot development, and alternative housing options are slated for June 13 – August 8. For schedule details and more info, see www.portlandoregon.gov/ bps/67728, email , or call Jill at (503)823-7624.
Mixed Use Zoning Project
Though public testimony on the Mixed Use Zoning Draft closed May 24, comments on the resulting Composite Zoning Map can be submitted in writing and via the online Map App until the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) July 12 Hearing. See www. portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/572733, email, or call the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) at (503) 823-7700.
Comprehensive Plan
The final City Council vote on its Comprehensive Plan Amendments will be June 15 and the full package vote is expected in August. BPS is holding “Neighborhood Drop-In Hours” Tuesday June 21 at the Hollywood Library from 5-7 p.m. And you can always contact the City Council directly, call BPS at (503) 823-7700, or go to www.portlandoregon. gov/bps.
Transportation
In response to calls to “provide safe passage for all bicyclists and pedestrians using N.E. Portland Blvd./US 30,” after the tragic bicyclist death last December at the 42nd Avenue crossing, ODOT says its traffic study indicates this “road” is “too busy” to qualify for traffic calming installations. The LUTC is sending letters to elected and bureau leaders at both the City and State to help pressure ODOT to act. We encourage continued citizen requests to “Ask ODOT” at 888- 275-6368 or www.oregon.gov/ODOT.
Concordia residents are always welcome at CNA LUTC Meetings, 7pm every third Wednesday. The June 15 meeting will be in Room GRW 303 at Concordia University Library. For more info see the LUTC section of the CNA website at www.concordiapdx.org/category/landuse-livability, send your questions to landuse@concordiapdx.org, and email lutc_secretary@concordiapdx.org to get on the LUTC notification list.