October 2007.indd - Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc.

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OCTOBER 2007 Neighborhoods & Schools
Multnomah
Next Mtg:
Tuesday, October 9, 7 pm
Multnomah Center
7688 SW Capitol Hwy
Chair Brian Russell,
503-869-1632
barusse@hotmail.com
Greetings, once again! We
had another informationpacked
meeting last month,
though we weren’t joined by
any formal presenters.
The most pressing situation
is the redevelopment of the
Sears Armory, which held an
open house in mid-September.
We will be updating everyone
on the plan and any news on
the selection of the organization
that will be taking over the
property.
We also discussed the
Multnomah Village Park, which
Randy has been spearheading
(and doing a wonderful job)
and which is progressing quite
quickly. Most of the invasive
species and diseased trees have
been removed. The park is ready
for another intensive push in
October to begin the planting
of native plants. We will also be
having a volunteer appreciation
party in the near future.
Another season of the
Multnomah Outdoor Cinema
is now behind us and is considered
a success! We had many
new folks show up and meet
community members again this
year. We are, however, looking
for more volunteers to help run
the theater next summer as Jessica
(who has been a fantastic
leader of the MOC) will be occupied
with her new position.
Officer Lai updated us
on current crime trends in
Multnomah, which thankfully
are quite low, but he also warned
us about car prowls. DON’T
LEAVE VALUABLES IN
PLAIN VIEW IN YOUR
CARS. Thieves will steal what
they PERCEIVE to be valuable.
Your car may be broken
into for an empty box!
Kay presented our efforts to
get SW 30th from Multnomah
to Barbur put on the list as a potential
project for the halo LID
pilot program. As I recently
heard the street was ranked by
the committee at 5th. We shall
continue to work toward getting
streets improved where the
neighbors would like them improved.
Plans are continuing to move
forward on the Spring Garden
Park project. The group is
working on developing plans
for a natural playground. We
will let you know if any more
action will be taken.
We hope to see you at our next
meeting on October 9, 7 pm, at
the Multnomah Center. And as
always, please look through this
newspaper and find an activity
to participate in. Cheers, Brian.
South Burlingame
Next Mtg: Mon., Nov. 5, 7 pm
Burlingame Baptist Church 125 SW Miles
Chair Mike Andrews, 503-977-6262
mike.andrews@wrgdesign.com
By the time this article hits
the street the Burlingame
Neighborhood Block Party
will have come to pass. Our
next news article will have a
more detailed report on who
attended and a photo or two.
In our last meeting we discussed
crime in the neighborhood
and some recent events that have
been note worthy. For the most
part, crime in South Burlingame
is very low, however there were
discussions amongst the board
members of minor vandalism and
illegal activities, ranging from illegal
dumping, alcohol consumption
and litter, to graffiti on public
(street signs, bridges) and private
property.
Neighbors should be mindful
not to dump their yard waste in
our open space areas and rightof-ways.
Rampant growth of
non-native plants not only
leads to protective cover for
nuisance animals, (i.e., rats), but
it is unsightly and contributes
to the spread of invasive plants.
Invasive plants like English
ivy, holly and laurel from yard
clippings migrate easily into
the open spaces and choke out
native species (sword ferns,
trilliums, native tree seedlings).
This has been evident in the areas
abutting Burlingame Park
and Canby Street in the past.
Maybe we can get a couple
signs from the City of Portland
to notify potential dumpers
that it is illegal to do so?
Regarding littering and vandalism;
alcohol containers are
being found on 6th Ave and
Carson Street on a semi regular
basis and political graffiti protesting
Bush’s actions are evident
on traffic signs. While it
would be difficult to say that the
two events are related, I would
conclude that we do need to
keep an eye out for our (and
our neighbors property) and report
these events to the proper
authorities in a timely manner.
Those that are concerned about
the politics of our government
and love to write, please do so,
but choose a source (i.e., internet,
newspaper) that will get
the word out without resorting
to vandalism. You don’t want to
give the frustrated liberals, (like
yours truly), a bad reputation as
a non law abiding citizen.
A special ‘thanks’ go out to Ken
Harding who sits on the board
for the crime prevention updates.
Thank you for your support and
consistency on the board.
One last request to all our
neighbors. The board is in need
of additional members. There are
several positions open and we
could use an extra hand. South
Burlingame needs individuals
who are willing to stay active
and up to date on the activities
that affect our livability and
growth in our area. A couple of
hours a month is all we are asking.
A board that is not in tune
with the upcoming challenges
will be caught by surprise when
change comes a knockin’.
Come join us for our next
meeting at the Burlingame
Church on November 5th, 7-8
pm. Cheers.
Southwest Hills Residential
League (SWHRL)
Next Quarterly Membership Mtg: Wednesday, Oct. 24, 7 pm
Ascension Episcopal Parish, 1823 SW Spring St.
Chair Jim Thayer, 503-220-0755
jim@thayers.org, swhrl.org
SWHRL’s quarterly membership
meeting, will include
guest speaker Police Chief
Rosie Sizer. News of this will
be in the next issue.
Meanwhile, read about our
recent efforts on a land use issue,
excerpted from our most
recent newsletter:
On June 13th, at a public hearing,
SWHRL residents made an
extraordinary effort and significant
contributions to oppose a
proposed development on SW
Upper Drive. It would have
placed 7 large “McMansions” in
a space currently occupied by 2
homes. The development is located
on a steep site, would have
removed over 90% of the site’s
trees and did not address the potential
danger of landslides, increased
stormwater, and impact
on the existing homes and landscape
of neighbors. Because of
all of these impacts on a site with
environmental zoning overlays,
a Type III Review and a public
hearing was required.
With the help of a professional
planning consultation and some
pro-bono services, the veracity of
the developer’s proposal, applications
and consultant documents
were reviewed. The city staff is
often overworked and a number
of new hires are unfamiliar
with a neighborhood’s planning
history; neighbors have to bring
additional technical information
and historical knowledge about
the specific sites and neighborhood
concerns to their attention.
A neighbor’s evidence of city concerns
regarding infrastructure in
the neighborhood was very effective
in calling attention to previous
decisions that were already on
record at the city. Special thanks,
Cathe Mansfield, Ann-Marie
Lamb, Robert Lundfield and
Betsy Bolston, for their excellent
research and testimony and to
Nancy Seton, land use chair.
A combination of SWHRL
board members and concerned
neighbors led the testimony at
the public hearing. SWHRL
and residents were able to make
a broad case to the hearing officer
that resulted in a denial of the
developer’s proposed application.
This is a great example of
what neighbors can do when
they band together effectively;
it’s more than the neighborhood
association, but also the
concerned residents.
Latest news: SWHRL has received
a request from the developer’s
planning consultant to make a
presentation to SWHRL to consider
revisions and a new proposal
for the potential development our
Sept. meeting. Presumably, this is
the “alternative development proposal”
that was lacking in the denied
application and is a required
criterion for any review.
West Portland Park
Next Mtg: Thursday, October 11, 7 pm
Markham School Cafeteria, 10531 SW Capitol Hwy
Chair David Gens, 503-244-8043
http://swni.org/w_portland_park
Checking out the playground at the grand opening
Park Grand Opening
a GRAND Success
About 250 people attended
the Grand Opening of the
Holly Farm Park on Capitol
Hwy to use the park facilities
and say thanks to all who made
the park possible. Many thanks
to all who had a part by working
to design the park; volunteer
their time and talents; support
the park idea with letters, phone
calls and walking the neighborhood;
and by making monetary
donations large and small. Go
to the park! Have some fun!
The park has been in use for
several weeks. Some issues have
arisen of concern to park neighbors.
If you live near the Holly
Farm Park and you have some
issues regarding park users or the
park itself, please do join us at the
next meeting. We will work together
to address these issues and
strive to find solutions and come
up with a stewardship plan.
Land Division
at 42nd and Galeburn
Ken Sandblast presented
changes that have occurred to
the proposed 12-lot land division
and environmental review
of the property fronting Galeburn,
Dickinson, and 42nd Ave.
Mr. Sandblast, of Planning Resources
Inc, represented the applicant,
Nate Schwalback, president
and CEO of Shadypeak
Development, LLC, a Minnesota
company.
One change the city asked
for, moves the emergency vehicle
turnaround north to a
more central location. Another
is that the two (formerly) flag
lots now have direct lot-frontage
on 42nd Avenue.
The neighborhood’s comments
to the Bureau of Development’s
Request for Response
were discussed along with individual
members’ concerns and
suggestions.
The neighborhood’s response
commented on preserving the
functional value of the resources
conservation overlay with least
practicable detrimental impact
of the resource area and functional
values of the conservation
zone; no minimum density
for site; support not improving
Dickinson (with mention that
some members favor this improvement);
eliminating some
lots, extensive paving in environmental
conservation (EC)
not required; preserve significant
trees both inside and outside the
resource conservation zone; etc.
Ken Sandblast limited his
remarks to the land division
and street improvement and
questions on structures not addressed.
Ken offered to return
when invited or when new
plans are proposed.
Neighborhood Crime –
or Lack of Crime
Portland Police Bureau Officer
Sze Lai noted that our area
had exceptionally good crime
statistics for the past month.
Officer Lai stressed that motor
vehicles are key targets for
thieves and that leaving things
in view prompts theft.
Officer Lai remained after
the meeting for individual questions/concerns.
News on Schools
Robert Leith provided updates
on the SWNI Schools committee.
The school district’s search
for marketable excess school
properties was presented.
Neighborhood Sign Caps
Robert Leith requested WPP
NA support for city street sign
caps with “West Portland Park.”
This request was approved.
Land Use News
Rob Shirley summarized
the recent land use committee
meeting where a halo local improvement
district (LID) was
considered. Improvements to
SW 35th near Jackson Middle
School using a halo LID was
one of three trial projects approved
by the city. Halo LIDs
distribute improvement assessments
to surrounding properties,
not just contiguous property
owners.
Somali Community grant
update
A motion was made asking
for an update on accomplishments
and accounting for the
grant WPP NA supported in
the local Somali community.
No vote was taken on this item,
which shall be brought back to
the board at the next meeting.
Your Neighborhood – Your
Neighborhood Association
Keep current with the neighborhood
around you and participate
in monthly meetings at
the Markham School cafeteria
(through June) each second
Thursday of the month at 7 pm.
The neighborhood association
presents issues and concerns
at the truly local and pertinent
level. Here you have direct access
to civic processes that affect
your neighborhood. The
neighborhood association is a
forum for developing consensus
and action for the common
good, respecting the value of
dialogue. Come to the meeting
and express your opinions.