Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

Tag Archives: Local Government

Join us at a PDX Airport Futures Public Meeting

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

Vancouver, WA
Thursday, June 4, 2009 / 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Harney Elementary School Cafeteria
3212 E. Evergreen Blvd
Vancouver, WA

Portland, OR
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 / 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Portland Fire & Rescue Training Center
4800 NE 122nd Ave
Portland, OR

Airport Futures is a collaborative effort between the City of Portland, the Port of Portland and the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan community to create a long-range development plan for Portland International Airport (PDX). This process is being guided by a diverse 30-member, regional Planning Advisory Group, and input from key stakeholders. Your organization or neighborhood has been identified as one of these stakeholder groups.

Three major draft products from this planning effort will be released in late May 2009 and available for review and comment at the upcoming Airport Futures public meetings.

1. The Airport Master Plan will outline the preferred development alternative for PDX, including future terminal, airfield, runway, roadway and parking facility needs;
2. The Long-range Land Use Plan will incorporate land use, transportation and natural resource systems in the area surrounding the airport and address community concerns regarding growth at PDX; and
3. The Ongoing Public Involvement Strategy will provide a mechanism for regular input on planning efforts and development at PDX after Airport Futures has concluded.

Please join us at these public meetings to learn more about Airport Futures, ask questions and provide your comments on these draft documents. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about PDX Noise Management, Deicing Enhancement System, and the North Runway Expansion.

Contact: For more information and accessibility information, please call the Port of Portland at (503) 460-4839 or (800) 547-8411, ext. 4839.

Related Links:
www.pdxairportfutures.com
www.portlandonline.com/planning/
www.portofportland.com

Sponsored by City of Portland and Port of Portland.
This event is not sponsored or endorsed by the Vancouver School District.

A New Way to Report Aircraft Noise

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

CNA has recently met with the Port of Portland’s Noise Management team to discuss concerns about the safety of increase F-15 travel over nearby residential areas as part of their present “test”. One outcome of those discussions has been a reminder that anytime – day or night – any resident has a concern about aircraft noise of any kind can call the Port of Portland’s noise hotline: 503-460-4100. But now you can also report your concerns – and view flight patterns – on-line using WebTrak.

WebTrak is an online flight tracking system covering the greater Portland/Vancouver area. WebTrak offers a wealth of information about each flight, ranging from altitude and direction to aircraft type and airline to flight or tail number. For security purposes, the system is delayed 90 minutes and does not show government, military or law enforcement flights.

I took WebTrak for a whirl. You pick a location and time period and then you watch plane icons move across an area map. Basically this gives you the option to clearly identify the flight that was causing you grief and you can report the problem using an on-line form in WebTrak. Try it out yourself by logging on at http://www.portofportland.com/Noise_Mgmt_Home.aspx, you definitely need a high speed connection to use it.

WebTrak is a neat tool but it is a little clunky and if you are experiencing a noise problem, you have to wait at least 90 minutes to identify the issue using WebTrak. It remains easier and quicker to just call the Port at 503-460-4100 when you hear a wayward and/or loud aircraft.

When you call the Port or submit a report on-line via WebTrak, the Port noise management team is required to thoroughly investigate and respond within 48 hours. In some cases, the information provided by citizens or obtained during the investigation, is used to refine the noise abatement program and in discussions with aircraft operators.

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane…yeah, that is a plane…

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation

That is the sound and sight of F-15 fighter jets roaring over the neighborhood at low altitudes. The Oregon Air National Guard has been practicing combat-style landing patterns in the area as a “test”. Typically, these drills have been practiced outside of residential areas. However, the National Guard is hoping to make the practice of military maneuvers over local residential areas a permanent fixture.

Let me repeat that, although NO public outreach or notification regarding this “test” of military combat training over residential areas occurred, what you are hearing and seeing now could become a permanent experience.

The present “test” will proceed until the end of February, then the Port of Portland will decide whether to allow this to continue ad infinitum or not.

The Cully Association of Neighbors (CAN) has come out formally against this making this testing permanent because of the noise and safety concerns. The Concordia Neighborhood Association intends to take a formal position on this issue at its December Board meeting.

However individual residents and businesses are free to voice their concern about low-level military maneuvers in the area IMMEDIATELY by contacting the Airport Noise Complaint line at 503-460-4100 and/or sending a letter to the Jason Schwartz, Noise Program Manager PO Box 3529, Portland. OR 97208.

As always, it never hurts to also contact the Portland City Council about your concerns. We will keep you posted on this issue in the Concordia News and at concordiapdx.org.