July 1999 Minutes
Meeting minutes
Citywide Land Use Forum
July 26, 1999
The meeting began with introductions followed by guest Mayor Katz. Mayor
Katz briefly opened the discussion about the Planning Director search,,
saying it was taking longer than originally thought and running along the
same timelines as the Chief of Police search. She asked Betsy Ames to talk
about the search.
Betsy reported that a search firm had been selected, they are finalizing the
recruitment brochure, that a draft job description had been sent out to the
community and feedback incorporated into the final version, and that ads
have been placed. The application process closes 9/10/99. There is a long
series of criteria. Attendees were encouraged to submit names, let people
know and even if there is a particular city that has excellent planning,
the share that so they can look into it further.
The Mayor thanked us for showing up in large numbers to testify for the Base
Zone Design Standards. Citizen testimony made a big difference in the
outcome. There are draft rowhouse standards coming up soon and then broader
scale after that. If we know of quality designs for rowhouses, let them
know.
Especially in light of efforts to increase density, she felt that the City
has a responsibility for ensuring good design.
The SW Community Plan is still in limbo. They would like to move ahead but
there needs to be agreement up front before moving forward. There is a time
crunch and no money designated for it at this time. The Mayor is committed
to completion of the plan policies and the map if agreement can be reached.
She is trying to figure out the Council's commitment at the moment. The
cost to complete is estimated
at $250K and Commissioner Francesconi also wants $275K for the Greenway
project.
The Mayor also talked about the budget. Since Planning is supported by
General fund it is limited in activities now.
She is sending a letter to industry and the community inviting them to a
series of meeting to seek agreement on what kinds of changing image signs
are acceptable. An example might be the Portland PCPA sign. This process
is just starting and they may not be able to come up with a workable,
enforceable, and legal option.
A question was raised about the traffic safety angle on the flashing signs.
The answer was that we are no closer to resolving that issue than the
possible agreement just mentioned. The prohibition was based upon
aesthetics in Title 32 not the traffic safety as they felt they had a better
defense position. The signs are currently prohibited under both Titles 32
and 33.
The Mayor has a project management system in her office. Staff members
checking every week and have timelines and target dates. She asked for
input from those attending about possible improvements. Those mentioned
included better communication and more access to the legislative process.
The Mayor offered to have a staff or planning liaison attend the monthly
meetings which was gladly accepted.
The Sitings issue? There is a planner assigned from BOP to the project.
Several preliminary meetings have occurred to date. The best example being
Out Front House where she believes that if handled slightly differently, the
case could have reached an appeal where Council could have voted on the
case. The ability to appeal to Council is a key component for the Mayor.
She also mentioned the Code Maintenance 2000 (formerly CLIP) and Livable
City clean ups. She has asked staff to move these forward.
Other questions/comments for the Mayor:
-Unimproved roads-interested in basic guidelines. Right now the system is
complaint driven. There needs to be a guideline developed somewhere between
paving the road and completely unimproved so the spaces are used well.
-SW Community Plan addressed some of the infrastructure issues. Wants to
know about the LID status?
Reply: There have been several steering committee meetings with
Commissioner Saltzman and Hales on the committee.
-Notification of proposed legislation that affects livability is late and
not enough-example being the density around light rail stations of high
density within a 1000 feet. The Jefferson Street station has a Historic
District within the 1000 foot boundary. The designation for density should
be based upon actual sites, not a blanket designation.
-Where is the old neighborhood needs project system?
The Mayor replied that she really liked the system but without funding its
hard to ask for ideas to fix things when there is no money to fix the
problems. She mentioned having placed money in the budget pre-M47/50 to
have a "neighborhood enhancement program" -- unfortunately it was cut due to
budget concerns. She encouraged NA folks to keep asking for the return of
the system. Mentioned during the discussion was the SW Community Plan
surveys, the loss of single neighborhood plans as a way to identify the same
problems and Tom described the minimal cost and time involved in annual
surveys in Sunnyside.
-What about Title 34 appeals-where does the Mayor stand?
Reply-She wants to see the whole package before commenting
-Evening meetings?
Thinks they are good and the design standards hearing was great to see the
support coming from neighborhoods. As long as the evening meetings keep
drawing attendance, its good. In addition, she mentioned wanting to go out
to the neighborhoods for appropriate meetings, but need to work out Cable
and ADA issues first.
-Suggestion was made to add bus route information to all meeting
announcements.
-Portland Meadows Noise; the answers regarding noise enforcement is vague.
Not sure if the new amphitheater is the right location. Current use of a
nearby venue causes huge traffic problems and adding another 5000 seat venue
will only make it worse.
-How much cooperation between Police and School Police. Specifically
working at Irvington Park where there is a definite boundary and neighbors
are frustrated not knowing who to call. Also, school police are not as
close as regular police so by the time neighbors get the right point of
contact the kids that are drinking in the park are long gone.
Reply: Confident it will continue to work and improve since Cliff Madison
is now in charge of school police and is a former Portland Police
Lieutenant.
-Covering of I-405
A committee has identified 2 blocks to start with. Its not really covering
the freeway. Its appropriate to call it creating new blocks. When adjacent
land values are higher than the cost of building the platform (the part the
City would pay for) it will happen.
There is a just about completed deal with a buyer for the Stroh's property
(Weinhard's) that will include some retail, housing and commercial uses.
Other issues mentioned by the Mayor:
The Alberta Street project is starting to show signs of success
Extension of the drug free zone
National Conference of African American Police officers in town
Those attending thanked the Mayor for attending and the Mayor thanked the
attendees for the list of issues and ideas and promised to get back to us on
them.
Lori Graham presented the proposed Erosion Control Standards.
Approximately 1200 notices were sent out and meetings have occurred with architects, construction people and soon with neighborhoods.
Reasons for the standard:
External include NPDES requirements, Metro Title 3 requirements and the Endangered Species Act
Internal issues include there being 4 bureaus and 4 ways of doing business for private property and various ways of dealing with public works projects. Customers have no single point of information.
The intent is to streamline the program, control erosion at the source and comply with the regulations.
The existing programs is based upon size (greater than 5 acres), locations (such as Johnson Creek area) and has the potential for 4 different enforcement bureaus. I addition, all public works projects regardless of size are required to have erosion control.
Additionally, there is no clear complaint response system, the handbook requirements are prescriptive and this applies only to new development.
The proposed changes will consolidate the regulations into one place, will cover all projects citywide and will be performance oriented.
Administrative changes include one Bureau overseeing all private property applications; that Bureau will be the Office of Planning and Development Review and will handle all complaint processes both public and private as well as land divisions and private utilities.
There will be a revised Methods review. A first board consists of staff from the related bureaus when a customer wants a variance from approved methods and materials. If the customer is unsatisfied with the ruling of that board, the customer can appeal to a second board will consist of an appointed panel (Commissioner in charge). The decision is binding. If the first board rules in favor of a variance, the decision is binding. If they appeal, the ruling of the second board is binding. The approved variance is site specific.
For reference, the current condition is roughly 10-25 reviews by board #1 now and approximately 3% of those are appealed to board #2.
Jerry asked if public notice was required on the appeals (No) and suggested it would be a good idea.
Other changes:
Compliance standards, covers any ground disturbing activity, new inspections, accountability, pollution control, reduction of exceptions, changes to the manual and new enforcement.
There will be no allowance of visible measurable erosion of soil.
Jerry asked about whether that was at the site or included other areas such as in the NW hills where the soil type has a feature known as piping where run off could appear some distance from the site because the soil forms natural underground channels. They will be looking into it further.
The new inspections include pre ground breaking inspections, responsible party inspections and a post construction inspection that may be 6-12 months after project completion.
Accountability used to only apply to the owner or project manager and now will apply to anyone performing an activity that is covered such as the backhoe operator.
Pollution control is only covering those pollutants already covered in the Best Management Practices in the manual. This originates from the NPDES permit. There will also be fee changes (to cover the cost of enforcement) , training and manual changes.
They expect the Homebuilders Association to fight the fee's and that if neighborhoods want inspections, we should support the fee system.
Comments will be accepted through September 1, 1999. Several public meetings will be held and the desire is to present to the City Council in late September or early October.
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM.
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