By Ben Earle Secretary, CNA LUTC
The LUTC plate brims with substantial developments on three issues that will affect Concordia neighborhood livability for years to come.
Portland 2035 Comprehensive Plan
The Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) Board approved a LUTC-drafted letter to city council that supports a modified version of the Residential Infill Project’s (RIP) “Housing Diversity Perspective.” The RIP’s purpose is to identify how best to reduce house size and retain neighborhood character and livability, while increasing the range of housing types to address community concerns about the scale of new homes and current housing supply challenges.
The topics of the city council’s Oct. 6 and 13 public hearings on the Portland 2035 Comprehensive Plan are the updated zoning code and map changes that reflect the early implementation components of the plan adopted June 15. These updates include the R5 to R2.5 rezoning for homes in the Killingsworth-to-Jarret corridor from 22nd to 33rd as well as the CM-1 and CM-2 mixed-use zoning determinations that both the CNA and Concordia residents provided input about on multiple occasions.
For more information and to submit comments online or via letter, visit PortlandOregon.gov/bps, email PSC@PortlandOregon.gov, or call 503.823.7700.
Traffic safety
See CNA chair Garlynn Woodsong’s report about the city’s reluctance to reduce speed limits on Alberta and Killingsworth streets.
Jessica Horning, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) bicycle/ pedestrian coordinator, attended the Sept. 21 LUTC meeting. She presented the “Safety and Active Transportation Enhancements” project for the US 30B/ Lombard Street corridor, from the St. Johns Bridge to Northeast 162nd Avenue. These improvements include lane reshaping and restriping, signage and signal upgrades, new lighting, sidewalk upgrades and Americans with Disabilities Act ramps, and renovated pedestrian and bike lane paths.
In response to CNA’s advocacy for changes to the 42nd Avenue overpass bridge access to better ensure safe passage for bicyclists and pedestrians, ODOT will construct a new eastbound path behind the guardrail. As well as providing a much needed sidewalk, this will provide protected access to the 42nd ramp where the bridge supports currently create a “pinchpoint” in the bike lane that forces bicyclists into traffic.
Project construction is slated for the first week of November with completion in early 2017. As ODOT continues to assess viable solutions for the more complicated westbound access situation, it will also consider the LUTC’s suggestions for possible additional short-term additions such as road diets, warning signs with flashing lights, etc.
Bighouse development
As of press time, there is no new news to report on any design changes for the four-story apartment building underway at Northeast 30th Avenue & Killingsworth Street. Stay tuned for the next update in the November CNews.
Concordia residents are always welcome at CNA LUTC meetings, 7 p.m. every third Wednesday in the McMenamins Kennedy School Community Room. For more information, visit the Concordia Neighborhood Association website, send your questions to LandUse@ConcordiaPDX.org or email LUTC_Secretary@ConcordiaPDX.org to join the LUTC notification list.