October 2012 NEWS The Southwest Portland Post • 7 City of Portland approves naturopathic college’s 10-year master plan By Lee Perlman The Southwest Portland Post In the face of zero public opposition or concern, Hearings Officer Gregory Frank last month approved the Na- tional College of Natural Medicine’s 10-year master plan for its campus. The plan covers a 5.4-acre area bounded by Southwest Naito Park- way, Woods Street, and Corbett and Kelly avenues. Within this area the college currently owns 80 percent of the land. It also includes some single family homes owned by others. Several of these property owners attended the hearing. In testimony obviously aimed at these owners rather than Frank, NCNM consultant Beverly Bookin said that the designa- tion merely “an alert to the City and owners of the College’s ultimate intent.” To do otherwise, Bookin said, would require the college to go through a costly plan amendment process in order to acquire any such property. However, Bookin added, “We want to assure you that this is based on acquisition over time between a will- ing buyer and seller. We don’t have power of eminent domain, and we wouldn’t use it even if we did.” In the meantime, she said, owners could continue to use the property for any use allowed by the zoning. “There are advantages to being in the boundary,” Bookin said. “You can expect your property to increase in value. Also, if you ever want to sell your home you know that you have a potential willing partner.” The master plan calls for new de- velopment in four phases, based on the school’s most pressing needs. Phase I calls for using a recently acquired house for “academic sup- port,” a second site for a new class- room building with underground parking, and a third for a mixture of uses that will include student hous- ing. Phase II calls for using four more houses for offices, another classroom building, the vacation of Southwest Meade and Hooker streets in the cam- pus, and a new surface parking lot. Phase III would include the expan- sion of an existing outpatient clinic, and creation of a two-story parking structure. In Phase IV, the college would redo its main building. Originally built as Failing School in 1913, the building was later used by Portland Commu- nity College until being acquired by NCNM in 1995. Although NCNM has worked extensively with the South Portland Neighborhood Association in creat- ing its plan, that group gave no of- ficial input on the final document; neither did anyone else prior to the hearing. At the hearing itself there was no public testimony offered. Frank asked Bookin if the college was satis- fied with the conditions of approval recommended by planner Sylvia Cate. “We’re comfortable with the condi- tions; they’re all fair and reasonable,” she replied. Frank then took the unusual step of announcing that he would approve the plan with Cate’s conditions, unchanged. An aerial view facing north of the proposed National College of Naturopathic Medicine's campus. Downtown Portland is in the background. (Illustration courtesy of Jenny Bowdlin, NCNM) PoSt a to Z BuSineSS CaRd diReCtoRy 503-244-6933 YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HANDYMAN Family & Cosmetic Dentistry 20 years in Multnomah Village! “Call Kenny!” Kenneth S. Morse CCB License #195820 503-246-2564 503-939-5452 www.mvdentalcare.com morseks@aol.com Excellent SW Portland references 7717SW34thAvenue•Portland,OR97219 (MultnomahVillage•SWCapitolHighway&34thAve.) PRECISION HOME REPAIR & DRYWALL JON A. GOSCH Phone: 503-643-3517 Cell: 503-781-8792 E-mail: precision17@frontier.com Quality work at affordable rates! Mention this ad and receive 10% off your next job! Licensed•Bonded•Insured•CCB#77073 The IDEA Today … The SIGN Tomorrow! •SIGNS •BANNERS •GRAPHICS •MAGNETICS •LETTERING •LOGOS&MORE 503.244.0980 9220 SW Barbur Blvd. #111 - Portland - OR - 97219 Your Ad Here Just $69/month for a year! Call Don or Harry today at 503-244-6933