Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

Category Archives: Land Use & Transportation

Help Stop the Rezoning of Colwood Golf Course! Please Comment by April 14

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

As previously reported, there is a proposal to rezone Colwood Golf Course for industrial uses. The loss of this environmentally sensitive green space in favor of industrial uses will have quite an effect on Concordia and the local air and water sheds as well as noise abatement concerns.

The CNA passed a formal resolution in opposition to the rezoning in March and submitted written testimony.

CNA opposition is powerful, but we also need to participate as individuals to make our voices heard. You can take action by doing submitting your comments no later than April 14.

Send in or fax your testimony:

Mr. Greg Frank
Land Use Hearings Officer
1900 SW Fourth Ave.
Suite 3100
Portland, OR 97201
FAX 503-823-4347

Include this file number with your comments:

LU 05-138386 CP ZC PC # 04-065296

We also recommend sending a copy of your comments to the Mayor and City Commissioners.

You can find more information about the proposal on the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) website. You can also download a copy of the March 14 BDS staff report on the proposal here.

Neighborhood Earth Day Celebration, April 19th

Posted on by Posted in Land Use & Transportation

Celebrate Earth Day by taking advantage of several local events, sponsored by the Concordia Neighborhood Association Green Team and McMenamin’s Kennedy School.

UPDATE – We should mention that two of the Earth Day workshops mentioned below require advanced registration — Dr. Pat Murphy’s talk about avoiding household toxins and Glen Andresen’s composting workshop. Please call Gayle at (503) 284-1525 to register or email concordiagreenteam@yahoo.com

Street Cleanup

Meet in front of McMenamin’s Kennedy School at 7:45 AM; the cleanup will begin at 8:00. All you need to bring is a pair of gloves. The cleanup will proceed up 33rd. Ave to Alberta St., then down Alberta to 22nd. Ave. down 22nd. Ave. to Killingsworth and back to Kennedy School. The Multnomah County Community Workers will be removing posters from the utility poles.

Morning Events – Kennedy School Gym

10 AM – City Commissioners Sam Adams and Randy Leonard will be speaking about environmental issues with which they are involved.We will have a rainbarrel donated from the Rainbarrel Man as a drawing prize. Also water saver kits from the Water Bureau and coupons to have kits made to order.

12 Noon – State Senator Margaret Carter will be speaking about many environmental issues. She is working on a bill to remove phalates from makeup and children’s pacifiers. We will have drawings for some free grocery bags and a car lap blanket.

Mystic Canyon Band will be playing during intermissions for our listening pleasure and McMenamins will have pizza and beverages for sale.(You could also have lunch in their dining room or stay for all the events and have dinner there.)

Afternoon Events – Kennedy School, Community Room

We have limited seating in the Community Room so it would be wise to pre-register at concordiagreenteam@yahoo.com or by phone at 503-284-1525.

2 PM – Glen Andresen from Metro will be guiding us through proper composting and having chemical free yards and gardens. You might be surprised at what you don’t know about composting. If you are just starting to garden, come learn to do it right. We will have a compost barrel donated by Metro for a drawing and flowers and coupons donated by Cornell Farms and Buffalo Gardens.

3:30 PM – Dr. Pat Murphy will be speaking about toxins we take into our body and how to avoid them. Fred Meyer is donating a rubber hose (no PVC) and houseplants for drawings.

5:30-7:00 PM – Free lead testing for children under 6 years old and pregnant or nursing moms. This is only a fingerstick test and you will have the results in 30 seconds.

We will also have table displays by the girls from Leave No Plastic Behind, Multnomah soil and Water District and Master Recyclers.

SHOW ME YOUR BAG! – We’ll give you an extra drawing ticket if you bring a cloth bag to carry your goodies .We have a lot of information pamphlets available for you to take with you. Friends,neighbors,and relatives are welcome. This is open to all areas.

Airport Futures Public Meetings, April 8 & 9

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

We received the following invitation from the Airport Futures Planning Advisory Group regarding upcoming public meetings:

Please join us to learn more about forecasting future airplane traffic at PDX, new web tools to track aircraft noise, deicing system environmental assessment scoping, and other airport projects.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Brief presentation at 6:00
Port of Portland Building, 121 NW Everett St. Portland, OR

Wednesday, April 9, 2008: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Brief presentation at 6:00
Discovery Middle School, 800 E. 40th St. Vancouver, WA

For more information and for accessibility information, please call the Port of Portland at 503.460.4073 or 800.547.8411, ext. 4073.

CNA Formally Opposes Colwood Re-Zoning: How You Can Help

Posted on by Posted in Archive, CNA, Land Use & Transportation

As you read earlier, there is a hearing on March 24th to re-zone Colwood Golf Course for industrial uses. The loss of this green space in favor of more airport facilities will have quite an effect on Concordia and the local air and water sheds as well as noise abatement concerns. The CNA formally resolved to oppose the proposal – you can download and read our written testimony.

CNA opposition is powerful, but we also need to participate as individuals to make our voices heard. You can take action by doing one (or both!) of the following:

Go to the hearing:

March 24, 2008, 1:30 PM
1900 SW Fourth Ave.
Suite 3000, Portland, OR 97201

Send in or fax your testimony:

Land Use Hearings Officer
1900 SW Fourth Ave.
Suite 3100
Portland, OR 97201
FAX 503-823-4347

If you submit written testimony route include this file number:

LU 05-138386 CP ZC PC # 04-065296

We also recommend cc:ing the Mayor and Commissioners if you send
in written testimony.

Colwood Golf Course Re-Zoned For Industrial Use? Hearing, March 24

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

There is a hearing on March 24th to re-zone Colwood Golf Course for industrial uses. The loss of this green space in favor of more airport facilities will have quite an effect on Concordia and the local air and water sheds as well as noise abatement concerns. Attending the hearing would be a great way to make sure our interest in protecting our neighborhood environment is considered.

The public hearing regarding the proposal will be at 1:30 p.m. March 24, at the Fourth Avenue Building, at 1900 S.E. Fourth Ave., Suite 3000.

More at the Portland Tribune (Neighborhood Briefs – Northeast).

New Restrictions on Waste Containers is the Right of Way at Business Locations

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

The Portland City Council adopted a resolution on in October that restricts how long businesses may store garbage or recycling on the right of way. According to this new law, storing garbage or recycling on city streets and sidewalks for more than 24 hours is no longer allowed.

Information on the new law is being shared with area businesses. Beginning in May, any container that blocks the sidewalk or creates a nuisance may be ticketed by the City and removed. The only exception to this law will be properly permitted construction drop boxes

Businesses may comply with this requirement by using space on their property for storage. Any business owner that has questions about the law may contact Judy Crockett in Office of Sustainable Development at 503-823-5545.

Columbia Slough Awards Celebration, February 1

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Events, Land Use & Transportation

The Columbia Slough Watershed Council (CSWC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2007 Watershed Council Awards. The awards will be presented at the Council’s Ninth Annual Awards Celebration and Silent Auction on Friday, February 1, 2008 from 6:00 until 9:00 P.M. “These community leaders remind us how important the Columbia Slough Watershed is to our region and the health of our ecosystem,” said Jane Van Dyke, CSWC Executive Director. “It is important to take time to recognize their dedication and contribution to improving our community and watershed.”

2007 Leadership Award Winners

The Council’s Leadership Awards recognize “individuals who demonstrate an extraordinary and long-term commitment to the watershed”.

  • Erwin Bergman – Council Member – Neighborhood Advocate
  • Richard and Gyrid Towle – Columbia Children’s Arboretum Advocates

2007 Achievement Award Winners

The Council’s Achievement Awards recognize “extraordinary projects or project-related efforts”.

  • City of Gresham – Keri Handaly and Kris Rein – Fairview Creek-Burnside to Stark Restoration Project
  • Multnomah Youth Cooperative – Rose Sandy and Jeff Walker – Youth Watershed Restoration Crew
  • Northwest Discoveries – Ken Barker and Jerry Lanz – Canoe Week and Explorando el Columbia Slough Paddle Guides
  • New Columbia – Housing Authority of Portland, Steve Fancher and KPFF Consulting Engineers – Green Streets and Stormwater Facilities

This year’s celebration will be held at the Acadian Ballroom at 1829 NE Alberta Street in Portland. The celebration will include dinner, silent auction, entertainment, and presentation of the awards. Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased online at www.columbiaslough.org or by calling 503.281.1132. Reservation deadline is January 25th at 4:00 P.M.

To learn more about the event, visit the Columbia Slough Watershed Council.

For more information contact:
Katie Meckes, 503.281.1132, katie.meckes@columbiaslough.org

Continue reading →

Master Recyclers Sponsor Free Recycling Roundups (January 26)

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

Recycle those hard-to-recycle plastics on January 26 and February 9th. Master Recyclers will collect plastic material that cannot be recycled curbside including buckets, food tubs, plastic bags, lawn furniture, nursery pots, and trays.

Agri-Plas, a recycler located in Brooks, Oregon, will process the collected plastic for recycling into new products. Past Master Recyclers plastic roundup events successfully recycled and found reuse options for over 73 tons of plastic.

Collections will take place:

Saturday, January 26, 9 A.M. to 2 P.M. at:

  • Southeast Portland: Floyd Light Middle School 10800 SE Washington
  • North Portland: Hosted by Kaiser Permanente West Interstate 3325 N Interstate (off Fremont and Overlook Park)

Saturday, February 9, 9 A.M. to 2 P.M. at:

  • Lake Oswego: Hosted by Shorenstein Realty Services LP and Autodesk, Inc.
    5400 Meadows Road.
  • Rock Creek: Westview High School 4200 NW 185th Ave.

Please sort and rinse plastics into the following categories ahead of time:

  • Plastic bags (dry cleaning, store sacks, bubble wrap, six-pack rings, zip lock bags, etc.)
  • Plant pots and trays (please knock out dirt ahead of time)
  • Sort by numbers (bags and pots go in first categories)
  • Miscellaneous plastics without numbers: bottle caps, drink lids, DVDs, CDs, CD cases, straws, cereal liners, vinyl, lawn/patio furniture, toys (think slides!), pet igloos, laundry baskets, kiddie pools, and more. (Bring it, we’ll try to take it.)
  • Plastic reuse items (good lawn chairs, tables, cat litter buckets, and more)

We are sorry we CANNOT accept:

  • Styrofoam blocks, peanuts, food trays, or egg cartons.
  • Plastic printed “compostable” or # PLA 7.
  • Plastics with a neck (these are accepted in all curbside programs.
  • PVC pipe.
  • Food-contaminated or dirty plastic.
  • Foam or rubber.
  • Small toys that have metal in them.
  • Plastic with metal or electronics inside (spray bottle nozzles and hand lotion pumps have springs in them; please remove the spring or toss the pump).

Continue reading →

Stop Car Idling for Kids, Environment

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Events, Land Use & Transportation

In cold weather and in school parking lots, we see a lot of car idling. The City of Portland urges you to reduce car idling, which has a negative impact on children’s health and air quality in the Concordia neighborhood.

All of us have idled our vehicles while waiting to pick up kids from school, waiting at the drive-up window, or waiting for a bridge. Part of the reason is that when we were just beginning to drive, the mindset was that it’s better to leave the car running rather than turn it on and off.

Well, maybe that was true then, but it’s certainly not true now. As a matter of fact, it’s actually better for your vehicle to turn it off if it’s going to be idling for more than 10 seconds.

This fact leads to the top ten reasons to turn off your vehicle when you’re not moving:

  1. Studies have shown a direct link between contaminants in vehicle emissions and significant respiratory health effects.
  2. Vehicle exhaust is the leading source of toxic air pollution in Oregon.
  3. Excessive idling can be hard on your engine. Because it isn’t working at peak operating temperature, fuel doesn’t undergo complete combustion, leaving spark plugs dirty, which can increase fuel consumption by 4 to 5%. Also, the engine oil becomes contaminated by idling.
  4. According to Ford and the Auto Alliance, vehicles produced after the mid-‘80s don’t require additional time to heat a “cold engine.” The best way to warm up your vehicle is to drive it, even in cold weather.
  5. Besides, idling warms only the engine, not the wheel bearings, steering, suspension, transmission, and tires. These parts warm up when the vehicle is driven.
  6. Frequent restarting has little impact on engine parts such as the battery and starter motor. The wear on components that restarting the engine causes adds about $10 a year to your costs. This is money that you’ll likely recover several times over in fuel savings from reduced idling.
  7. More than 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine.
  8. Toxic air pollutants account for an additional 700 cases of cancer for every million residents.
  9. Children breathe 50% more air per pound than adults, and their asthma symptoms increase as a result of car exhaust.
  10. When you idle you get 0 miles per gallon.

    11. For education resources and for any questions, contact Donna Green at the Portland Office of Transportation at 503.823.6114, donna.green@pdxtrans.org.

Boeing Emissions Proposal Q&A

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

NE Neighbors for Clean Air provided us with some additional information related to Boeing’s application to discharge contaminants at their Portland Airport painting facility. Click the link below for the complete text (with minor edits for length/style). You can also check out previous stories posted on the CNA website related to this issue.

Boeing wants to emit 99 tons per year (tpy) of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and between 10 tpy of any single hazardous air pollutant (as defined by the EPA) and 25 tpy aggregate. It’s important to note that if Boeing had asked for a permit to emit 100 or more tons per year of VOCs (or more) they would have been required to obtain a Title V permit from the EPA, which would have required additional monitoring.

Continue reading →