City of Portland Hearings Officer Gregory Frank has considered the evidence related to the request to change the zoning of Colwood Golf Course from Open Space to Industrial.

To summarize the Hearings Officer recommendation:

“… the Colwood site open space is unique, is a practically irreplaceable asset, and therefore this application should not be approved.”

“…the Hearing Officer recommends that the application for a Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment from Open Space to Industrial Sanctuary be denied, the Hearing Officer also recommends that the Zoning Map Amendment from OS to IG2 also be denied.”

You can download the full recommendation report.

What’s Next?

The Hearings Officer’s recommendation will be transmitted to the City Council for review. The City Council will hold a public hearing prior to making a final recommendation.

Until the Council acts, the request to allow industrial use of this open space is still alive.

We will post here when a Council hearing on this issue has been scheduled so you can send your comments and testimony to the Mayor and Commissioners and ask them to support the Hearings Officer’s recommendation.

A meeting to plan next steps is still scheduled for May 21, 8 pm in the Community Room of the Kennedy School (5736 N.E. 33rd Ave., Portland, OR 97211).

A recommendation related to the proposed rezoning of Colwood is expected from the hearing officer on May 15. The recommendation will then go to the city council for review.

There will be a community action meeting to discuss the hearing officer’s findings and plan the community response.

Here are the meeting details:

Colwood Rezoning Community Action Meeting
Wednesday, May 21 – 8 pm
Community Room of the Kennedy School, 5736 N.E. 33rd Ave. Portland, OR 97211

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.