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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2011)
January 2011 The Southwest Portland Post • 3 NEwS Despite concerns about Tryon Creek, Portland Plan moves forward By Lee Perlman The Southwest Portland Post There are no rezoning proposals on the table, but the Portland Plan is mov- ing forward. The Plan will update the 1980 Port- land Comprehensive Plan and set policy, zoning and other regulations that will guide public projects and pri- vate development. As part of the effort, the City is con- sidering some 20 background reports on subjects such as transportation, housing and economic development, and the Buildable Lands Analysis. The latter is an inventory designed to show the location of lands that are either empty or occupied by uses well below the level of activity allowed by the zoning. An overlay then shows where there are “constraints” such as regulations, geologic issues or lack of infrastructure that would interfere with the build-out of these lands. In recent presentations to the Port- land Planning Commission, planner Eric Engstrom said that the City doesn’t necessarily view the “constraints” as bad or something that needs to be eliminated, nor is the Analysis a policy decision that would dictate anything else. However, it would be an important influence on actual decisions further on in the process. For that reason, Southwest Neighbor- hoods, Inc. land use chair John Gibbon asked the Commission to delay their adoption of the Analysis, and other background material, last month in order to give neighborhood volunteers more time to react to it. He noted that an analysis of the possi- ble build-out of land in the Tryon Creek Basin had jumped suddenly from zero units to 1300. “I know the city is trying to increase the supply of single-family housing, but we’re trying to re-establish fisheries here,” Gibbon said. “That big of a numbers change makes me a lot less comfortable.” Gibbon also noted that developers are continuing to build in known landslide areas. Engstrom later said that change was due to an initial technical error, and that the higher number (1300 units) still left the Tryon Creek Basin with a very low projected development potential. Engstrom conceded that in an effort to reach a broader public audience, “we haven’t had as much contact with traditional neighborhood groups as we normally do.” Despite Gibbon’s objections, the Commission chose to pass the Analysis, with the observation that neighborhood groups and others will still have time to give input before the document goes to City Council. Engstrom reported that even if all “constraints” remain as they are, the City has the capacity to meet goals for the development of new housing. It is deficient, however, in the amount of land desired for industrial develop- ment. The City is depending on the expansion of health and education facilities for a significant portion of job growth, and both are located in cam- puses adjacent to residential neighbor- hoods, a source of friction when the institutions try to expand. Other findings included that 60 per- cent of the city’s housing stock is single family, but 60 percent of what has been built in the last ten years is multi-family (including condominiums.) The city of Portland has 40 percent of the region’s jobs (which Bureau of Planning and Sustainability director Susan Anderson is unusually high among American cities today), but has captured just 11 percent of recent job growth. The last two in a series of five lectures related to Portland Plan sub-topics will be held this month. On January 10 from 7 to 9 p.m., Cynthia Girling and Ronald Kellett of the University of British Columbia School of Architecture will lead a discussion on “Design for Environment and Commu- nity” at the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 S.W. Capitol Hwy. On January 17 from 7 to 9 p.m. Bob Weissbourd will discuss Economic Development at Mercy Corps, 28 S.W. First Ave. PoSt ClaSSIfIEd adS Computer Services Dave’s PC Help 503-810-2881•www.davespchelp.com MUSIC LESSONS = HIGHER SATs Extraordinary Piano and Violin Lessons. Home of the Complete Instruction Method. Visit www.EliasonMusic.com or call Eliason School of Music. (503)293-2390 Purchase a Classified Ad! Print Only is $32 per column inch (up to 15 words per inch) Includes design! Print and Online are $64 per column inch. Frequency discounts are available. Online Text Only is $2 per word (15 word minimum). E-mail (preferred): ads@multnomahpost.com Online Form: www.multnomahpost.com Phone: 503-244-6933 (Continued from Page 1) a drop-off location and free fundraising space. “We want to give instruments to the schools so when someone wants to play and they can’t afford it, it’s theirs,” Broten said, ex- plaining the reason WAAC’s new drive Music teacher Jeanne Berg leads the Robert Gray Middle School Panache singing group outside Food Front Grocery is important. According to Bro- on December 5. (Post photo by Polina Olsen) ten, “Kids often can’t afford instruments and are too embarrassed to ask for help.” The group also hopes spare instruments will be available when needed. “We had one little girl who had nothing to play when her clarinet broke,” said Broten. “And, we have only one instrument repairer. We would also like to give a grant for repairing instruments.” 11318 SW Barbur Blvd. All instruments in any state of re- Portland, OR 97219 pair are needed. Baritone saxophones, 503-245-6464 oboes, double French horns, and bas- soons are particularly sought after. Part of your SW Neighborhood! Drop off the instruments at Food Front Cooperative Grocery, 6344 SW Work from home? Capitol Hwy, 503-546-6559 during • LetusbeyourBusinessCenter regular business hours. Be sure to • Mailboxes leave your name and address if you • Meetingroom would like WAAC to send a receipt. • GreenStorageSolution Call Lisa Broten at 503-293-0903 for in- • SolarPanels strument pickup. To receive WAAC’s • FamilyOwned&Operated free newsletter visit www.wilsonarts. org and select email list sign-up. SW Multnomah Blvd Pedestrian/Bicycle Improvement Project PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE How would you improve pedestrian and bicycle conditions on Multnomah Blvd? Please mark your calendar and plan on joining us on Tuesday, January 11th anytime between 6:30 and 8:30pm to learn more about a project to provide sidewalks, stormwater management, and improved bicycle facilities on SW Multnomah Blvd between 21st and 31st Ave. Staff from the Portland Bureau of Transportation and the Bureau of Environmental Services will be on hand to present background information and design options for public review and comment. Solve your computer questions and issues Learn to use your computer more effectively Windows - Mac - Linux Lessons WAAC Rings in Holiday Season Massage This project provides Tuesday, January 11, 2011 a great opportunity Drop in anytime between to improve pedestrian 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM connections between Multnomah Arts Center Auditorium SW Barbur Blvd and 7688 SW Capitol Highway Multnomah Village, in TriMet Bus #44 and #64 addition to improving safety for both pedestrians and bicycles. Current funding should allow for improvements on the north side of Multnomah Blvd between SW 21st and 31st Ave. in conjunction with the Bureau of Environmental Services sewer main project. The project also intends to develop a design concept for the entire corridor up through Multnomah Village to SW 40th Ave for future construction phases. For more information please contact: Rich Newlands, Project Manager, (503) 823-7780 rich.newlands@portlandoregon.gov
