The CRC: A Boatload of Questions 1.1 from Spencer Boomhower on Vimeo.
Category Archives: Land Use & Transportation
Crossing the Columbia: How should we spend $3 to $10 billion?
Does the I-5 Bridge really need to be replaced?
Will the Columbia River Crossing improve the region’s livability?
How much will it really cost and how else could that money be used?
Make your voice heard to elected officials! Please join neighbors in voicing questions & comments about the Columbia River Crossing directly to elected officials!
What: Public Forum on the Columbia River Crossing (CRC). Co-sponsored by the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN) & the Concordia Neighborhood Association
When: Monday, March 7th, 7pm to 9pm
Where: Concordia University’s Luther Hall – Room 121 (NE Holman btwn NE 27th & NE 29th)
Agenda:
- Overview of questions and concerns about the CRC project
- Statements from Neighborhood Associations & Neighbors
- Feedback from elected officials including: Tom Hughes, Rex Burkholder, Tina Kotek, Lew Frederick and Chip Shields.
More info: Contact the NECN at 503.823.4570 or visit www.NECoalition.org
NECN Public Forum on the Columbia River Crossing, Monday, March 7th
Come to a Public Forum on the Columbia River Crossing
By George Bruender & David Sweet, Co-chairs, NECN Land Use & Transportation
What do you know about the Columbia River Crossing? Does the I-5 Bridge need to be replaced? Will a new 10-lane bridge solve congestion problems on I-5? Will it cost $3-4 billion, or is it more like $10 Billion? What will the impact be on Northeast Portland neighborhoods? Questions abound; answers are scarce; and the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project keeps grinding along with virtually no public support.
The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods and some individual neighborhoods have publicly stated their opposition asking:
- That the CRC Commission restudy the alternatives to their current plan engaging and involving all affected neighborhoods in this process.
- That the leadership of the CRC reconsider the effects of the current plan and look at alternatives that are less expensive, less intrusive on livability, and more viable socially just.
- And that our elected officials rethink the existing capacity and structure of our whole transportation system in the I-5 corridor.
Are they listening? We plan to find out. Please join us for a Public Forum on the Columbia River Crossing on Monday March 7. We’ve invited many state, regional, and local officials to come and hear what Northeast residents have to say about the CRC, and then to give us their thoughts.
Come learn more about the CRC, share your thoughts with elected officials, and learn where they stand on the most expensive public project ever proposed in this region. This event is co-sponsored by the Concordia Neighborhood Association and the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods.
What: A Public Forum on the Columbia River Crossing
When: Monday, March 7, 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Where: Concordia University’s Luther Hall—Room 121 (an ivy-covered building on NE Holman between 27th and 29th.)
Buy Trees for only $35-$75
Sign up at www.FriendsofTrees.org/BuyTrees.
The $35 to $75 cost per tree includes:
- assistance in filing a city-required street tree permit
- the wholesale price of the tree and delivery
- hole digging, planting assistance, stakes, and follow-up maintenance checks
Friends of Trees offers a wide selection of trees specifically approved for your home’s planting strip:
- Feb. 12 planting in Boise, Eliot, Humboldt, and King
- Feb. 19 planting in Kenton and Portsmouth
- Feb. 19 planting in Cathedral Park, St. Johns, and University Park
- March 12 planting in Alameda, Irvington, Sabin, and Grant Park
- March 19 planting in Madison South and Rose City Park
- March 19 planting in Beaumont-Wilshire, Cully, and Roseway
- March 26 planting in Concordia and Vernon
What good things grow on trees?
Conservation: Tree shade can cut your energy costs by 35% during the summer. Health: Trees clean our air, water, and soil. A new U.S. Forest Service study in Portland even links tree-lined neighborhoods with healthy newborns.
Community: Tree-lined streets calm and slow traffic. This creates safer neighborhoods and happier people. And money even grows on trees! Planting trees on your property can add $7,000 to the value of your home.
Funding for the plantings comes from Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services and the following sponsors: Jan. 29 in Arbor Lodge and Overlook—Adidas and Portland General Electric; Feb. 12 in Boise, Eliot, Humboldt, and King—Safeway; Feb. 19 in Cathedral Park, St. Johns, and University Park—The Oregonian; March 12 in Alameda, Irvington, Sabin, and Grant Park—Backyard Bird Shop; and March 19 in Beaumont-Wilshire, Cully, and Roseway—Port of Portland. Since 1989, Friends of Trees has planted more than 400,000 trees and native plants in the Portland-metro area. Find your tree at www.FriendsofTrees.org.
January 2011 General Meeting features John McKinney of Columbia Biogas
Tuesday, January 4 @ 7:00pm
Concordia University
Luther Hall room 121
Download a map of the Concordia University Campus.
The general meeting this January 4 will be held in Luther Hall room 121 at Concordia University. The topic will be Columbia Biogas (CBG). There will be a presentation by John McKinney, president of the company.
Portland Plan – Inspiring Communities Series Continues
Dr. Julian Agyeman will address equity and sustainability
Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 7-9 PM
Hollywood Theater 4122 NE Sandy Boulevard
Childcare will be provided by reservation. Call 503-823-2041
Dr. Julian Agyeman, who is a Professor and Chair of the Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Department at Tufts University, will discuss environmental justice issues in a talk titled “Just Sustainabilities: Re-imagining (e)quality and living within environmental limits.” The evening will begin with an introduction from Mayor Adams, followed by the keynote address, a discussion with local panelists and questions from the audience.
The program will take place at the Hollywood Theatre located at 4122 NE Sandy Blvd. Admission is free, and childcare will be provided (call 503-823-2041 for reservations). Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. The event will be broadcast on Channel 30 and streamed live on the Portland Plan website.
After Dr. Agyeman’s address there will be a roundtable discussion with a local panel including: Marcus Mundy, president and CEO of the Urban League of Portland; Jonathan Ostar, co-director of Environmental Justice Oregon; and Ronault “Polo” Catalani with the Portland Office of Human Relations.
Dr. Agyeman’s appearance in Portland is part of The Portland Plan – Inspiring Communities Series. The series offers Portlanders a chance to learn how other cities are tackling the issues of economic development, community health, education and equity as well as how to create complete communities and make the most of our natural resources.
The Portland Plan will be a 25-year strategic plan for the City, and the direction it sets will touch every neighborhood, district and resident of Portland as it grows. The plan will help to define priorities, guide investment of public dollars and set the course for Portland for the next quarter of a century. For more information please go to: www.pdxplan.com
The Portland Plan team will make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. Please notify us no fewer than five (5) business days prior to the event by phone at 503-823-7700, by the TTY line at 503-823-6868, or by the Oregon Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.
Metro Council to hold public hearing on Columbia Biogas
The Metro Council will hold a public hearing at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 at Metro Regional Center (600 NE Grand Ave., Portland) to consider a solid waste facility franchise (permit) application submitted by Columbia Biogas. If approved by Metro and issued permits by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the company will construct and operate a food waste anaerobic digestion and energy recovery facility in Cully neighborhood at 6849 NE Columbia Boulevard.
For more details and to read the proposed Metro legislation, staff report and Chief Operating Officer’s recommendation, visit Metro’s website (www.oregonmetro.gov/biogas). If you have a question about Metro’s staff report, call Bill Metzler at 503-797-1666. Sign up to get email news updates about the Columbia Biogas franchise and other important issues at www.oregonmetro.gov/connect.
In addition to requiring actions to prevent off-site nuisances such as litter, dust, odors and noise, Metro is calling for collection of a community enhancement fee on waste brought into the facility. Additionally, Columbia Biogas will be required to develop and maintain a Good Neighbor Plan to minimize the impact of the facility on local residents. As part of the plan, the company will work towards a written agreement describing how the company will hear and respond to neighborhood concerns.
The type of facility proposed by Columbia Biogas meets several goals established by the Metro Council. It could help our region develop a food waste collection and processing infrastructure, a key strategy that will lead us toward a more sustainable future. The facility will help the region dispose of less food waste in landfills and sewers by converting organic matter to energy and agricultural supplements.
But before taking any action, the Metro Council wants to hear from you. Do you agree with the provisions and conditions in Metro’s proposed franchise with Columbia Biogas? Do they address your interests and concerns? If not, what is missing? You can provide public testimony to the Council in person, by mail or by e-mail. The hearing will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 at Metro Regional Center (600 NE Grand Ave., Portland).
– To testify in person at the Council meeting, fill out a testimony card, submit it to the Council Clerk and be present when your name is called to testify. If you require any special accommodation in order to testify before the council, please make your request to the council clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting (503-797-1542).
– Written testimony is welcome too. To testify in writing, insert the agenda item and topic at the beginning of your letter or email message (Ordinance No. 10-1248, Columbia Biogas franchise). Fax your testimony to 503-797-1793. Mail your testimony to the Metro Council, 600 NE Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97232. Send email to metrocouncil@oregonmetro.gov.
The Metro Council and I want to hear from you about this important decision. Your input and insights will be helpful in making policy decisions for the region. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Rex Burkholder
Metro Councilor, District 5
Portland Plan – Inspiring Communities Series on Urban Issues
Inspiring Communities Series presents some of the best and brightest thinkers on urban issues
Inspiring Communities Series offers Portlanders a chance to learn how other cities are tackling the issues of economic development, community health, education and equity as well as how to create complete communities and make the most of our natural systems. Each evening will include a keynote speech, local panel discussion and questions from the audience. Admission is free, and childcare is provided at select locations.
PORTLAND PLAN – INSPIRING COMMUNITIES SERIES
All events start at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m. *Childcare provided by reservation; call 503-823-2041.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Dr. Robert Ogilvie, Public Health Law and Policy
on Healthy and Complete Communities
Kaiser Town Hall Ballroom
3704 N Interstate Ave
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Judith Bell, Policy Link
on Education
PSU – Lincoln Hall*
Recital Hall (Room 75)
1620 SW Park Ave
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Dr. Julian Agyeman, Tufts Univeristy, Dept. of Urban & Env. Policy & Planning
on Re-imagining (E)quality
Hollywood Theatre*
Main Theater
4122 NE Sandy Blvd
Monday January 10, 2011
Cynthia Girling and Ronald Kellett, University of British Columbia
School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture
on Designing for Environment and Community
Multnomah Arts Center*
Auditorium
7688 SW Capitol Hwy
Monday, January 17, 2011
Bob Weissbourd, RW Ventures
on Economic Development
Mercy Corps Action Center
Aceh Community Room
28 SW 1st Ave
Sponsored by: City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, City Club of Portland, Portland State University, Bureau of Environmental Services, Portland Parks & Recreation, Oregon Public Health Institute, The Standard, IBM, Kaiser Permanente, Multnomah County Health Department and Portland Business Alliance
The Portland Plan team will make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. Please notify us no fewer than five (5) business days prior to the event by phone at 503-823-7700, by the TTY line at 503-823-6868, or by the Oregon Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.
About the Portland Plan
As the City’s long range plan for the future, the Portland Plan will guide our investments as the city grows and changes, ensuring that Portland is a thriving and sustainable city, with health, opportunity and prosperity for all.
*Childcare provided by reservation
DEQ Hearing November 18th on the Proposed Columbia Biogas Facility in NE Portland
The purpose of this notice is to invite you to provide comments related to the specific conditions within the proposed air and solid waste permits. You may make oral comments at the public hearing. You may also comment in writing.
Hearing details:
November 18, 2010 Information session begins at 6:30 p.m. with formal hearing to follow.
Written Comments Due:
Written comments are due by 5 p.m. on Monday November 29, 2010.
Metro
Council Chambers
600 NE Grand Avenue
Portland, OR 97232
Alberta Main Street Visioning Seeks Community Input
On June 18th, Mayor Sam Adams named Alberta Street one of the first three Portland Main Street Districts, which will be the first urban Green Main Street program in the country. The Main Street program is closely tied to the Portland Economic Development Strategy, which calls out 20-minute neighborhoods, vibrant commercial corridors and healthy neighborhood businesses as a key objective.
The holistic nature of the Main Street approach is what prompted the Alberta Street Business Association to apply for the program on behalf our community. will bring together residents, business owners, commercial property owners, non-profit & faith-based leaders to create and implement intentional development in our community. The Alberta program area includes parts of Concordia, King and Vernon neighborhoods.
Sara Wittenberg started as the Executive Director on September 6, 2010 and has been working with the Board to get the word out about opportunities for community involvement. Sara’s mantra is, “Alberta Main Street will only be as strong as the community investment in it! We need your help.”
That is where you come in; needs your investment of time, talents & resources.
Contribute Your Time
Monday, November 1, 2010 – 6:30 – 7:30PM @ The Alberta Rose Theatre
Alberta Main Street Community Meeting and Q & A – Find out the latest about Alberta Main Street, learn about the Main Street Committees, and find out more about the Community Visioning Session.
Monday, November 29, 2010 – 5 – 9 PM @ The Alberta Rose Theatre
Alberta Main Street Community Visioning Session – the Community Visioning Session will provide you the opportunity to contribute your ideas and energy into the vision for our community. Diverse community-wide participation is critical to the success of the program. Register online at: http://www.albertastreetfair.com/main-street/community-visioning-session/ and please extend this invitation to others with a stake in the future of the community!
Contribute Your Talents
PARTICIPATE ON A MAIN STREET COMMITTEE: The four Main Street committees include Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring. Find out more about these committees online at:
http://www.albertastreetfair.com/main-street/four-point-approach/. You can also learn more about these opportunities at the November 1st Community Meeting.
Contribute Your Resources
SUPPORT: Healthy commercial districts create opportunities for locally based businesses to succeed, for residents to shop and eat locally and for the preservation of historic structures and an increased tax base. Everybody wins; it will also take everyone’s support. Ranging from $20 – $5000, 101 residents, neighborhood associations, school groups, non-profit & faith-based organizations, business owners and commercial property owners have contributed over to our community. needs your help too. If you haven’t already, please contribute today: http://www.albertastreetfair.com/main-street/contribute/
STAY UP TO DATE: Visit facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alberta-Main-Street/164339070242860 for the latest news and information about the program. A new website is currently under development.
For additional information about Alberta Main Street contact Sara Wittenberg at sarawittenberg@me.com. Information about the Portland Main Street Program can be found at http://www.pdc.us/bus_serv/business_support/mainstreet.asp.