2 • The Southwest Portland Post EDITORIAL July 2012 Reader’s questions help shed light on Walgreens development By Jillian Daley The Southwest Portland Post Many area residents have been keeping an eye on the Walgreens development at Southwest Capitol Highway and Barbur Boulevard – including Michael Ossar. Ossar isn’t sure the layout is ap- propriate, and he shared his con- cerns in a letter to The Post, which was published in the June 2012 edi- tion. A city planner and Walgreens spokesman addressed issues Ossar raised about the future retail store and pharmacy. “The footprint of the new Wal- greens and its parking lot seems to take up almost the entire lot, coming within about a foot or so of the side- walks,” Ossar said. “I’m wondering whether this leaves any room at all for landscaping.” Ossar asked what landscaping is required for such a structure? At least 15 percent of the 36,000-square foot lot located at 9855 SW Capitol Hwy must be set aside for landscaping, said Margue- rite Feuersanger, a planner with the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. The building plans complied with city regulations, Feuersanger said. The 17,610 square-foot building’s walls must be close to the street along Taylors Ferry Road and Capitol Highway, which are transit streets, Feuersanger said. Buildings developed along transit streets are set near the road to make entrances convenient for people get- ting off of the bus. Ossar said the city should look to the future when reviewing permits, paying attention to the Barbur Con- cept Plan, a city project intended to create a long-term vision to improve Barbur Boulevard, from central Portland to Tigard. “It seems paradoxical that at a time when we have a Barbur Concept Plan looking into what to do about one of the ugliest streets in the city we should be allowing new outrages that we will have to live with for a long time,” Ossar said. “Or am I unaware of planned improvements?” Robert Elfinger, a Walgreens spokesman said the building will have lots of attractive foliage. “The plan calls for street trees, trees along the perimeter wall, smaller accent trees, shrubs, and ground cover,” Elfinger said. “Ma- ples, cypress, crabapple, rhododen- dron, and blue fescue are among the plants planned.” City officials say the new Walgreens building plans comply with setback and landscaping regulations. (Post photo by Jillian Daley) Deeper Sedation Dentistry... Dr. Little at West Hills Family Dental Center now offers DEEP SEDATION DENTISTRY. It’s MORE EFFECTIVE than just a pill. Residential & Intermediate Alzheimer’s Care Its about what we can do, not what we can’t. Call and find out why West Hills Family Dental Center is different. 503-291-0000 • www.fearfreedental.com 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206 Phone: (503) 244-6933; Fax: (866) 727-5336 general email: news@multnomahpost.com web address: www.swportlandpost.com Editor & Publisher: Don Snedecor Reporters/Writers: Jillian Daley, Stephanie Lodromanean, Lee Perlman Retail Advertising Manager: Harry Blythe Graphic Design: Leslie Baird Design Printing: Oregon Lithoprint © 2012 by The Southwest Portland Post. All rights reserved. The opinions of the artists and authors contained herein are not necessarily shared by the publisher. Deadline for news and advertising is generally the 20th of the month prior to publication. Please call for current deadline information. Advertising rates are available upon request. The Post has a circulation of 7,000 in Multnomah Village and the surrounding neighborhood business districts including Burlingame, Capitol Hill, Garden Home, Glen Cullen, Hillsdale, South Portland, Raleigh Hills, West Portland and Vermont Hills. The Post is published on or about the 1st of every month. Subscriptions are $14 per year. Back issues are $2.50 each when available. All major credit cards accepted. The Post is printed on recycled newsprint using soy-based inks. The Southwest Portland Post 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd #509 Portland, OR 97206 Fax: (866) 727-5336 email: editor@multnomahpost.com Cutting down 800 trees damaged the forest canopy I am enclosing this photo of myself standing near a tree cut down near the west end of the Sellwood Bridge. Eight hundred trees, including old growth trees like this one, were killed by Multnomah County crews working at night during the month of April (2012). The photo shows a fresh Douglas fir stump. As it grew, it would’ve sup- ported many wildlife species. The cutting [of the 800 trees] opened the forest canopy, which will allow more drying and erosion stress on the remaining trees. Leaving the trees to grow bigger would’ve resulted in more, bigger, healthier trees (due to better survival success)-- meeting our human needs for a healthy forest. Please-- save our forests for all of us! (503) 292-7874 6630 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy. Portland, Oregon 97225 www.marquiscompanies.com Paul Gleason Southwest First Avenue