2 • The Southwest Portland Post
EDITORIAL
May 2016
New construction should automatically trigger creation of a local improvement district
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
By Don Snedecor
The Southwest Portland Post
In a local improvement district, the
majority of property owners on the
block or street agree to pitch in for
curbs, sidewalks, pavement, and other
street improvements—often where
none had existed before. A new fund
earmarked for these districts, and not
nearby arterials, could actually begin to
improve Portland’s local streets.
In Southwest Portland alone, some
63 percent of all streets don’t have
sidewalks. There are many unimproved
dirt, gravel or partially paved streets
that need to be completely rebuilt.
Erosion and flooding are constant
concerns by property owners, reminded
every time it rains.
C u r re n t l y c i t y c o d e re q u i re s
developers to make half-street
improvements along the property’s
street frontage whenever there is new
adjacent residential construction. But
developers argue that this doesn’t work
on unimproved streets, simply creating
what Commissioner Steve Novick
refers to as “sidewalk islands.”
The solution to this problem for the
past 25 years has been “waivers of
remonstrance.” That simply means that
the city is adding a caveat to the deed
of the property in question that waives
the owner’s right to object to future
street assessments and improvements.
That property owner is a YES when it
comes time for residents of that street
to vote up or down.
The problem with waivers, of course,
is that nothing seems to trigger these
local improvement districts from ever
being built. Developers are happy
Celebrating
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Editor & Publisher .........Don Snedecor
Reporters/Writers ...........KC Cowan, Jack Rubinger
.............. Erik Vidstrand
Copy Editor ......................Rich Riegel
Advertising Sales ...........Rich Riegel, Don Snedecor
Graphic Design ..............Leslie Baird Design
Printing ............................Oregon Lithoprint
Circulation .......................Rick Hepper
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not to have to build
sidewalks and other
improvements, and that
cost isn’t passed on to
the property owners.
But developers don’t
have to live with the
aftermath. When do
improvements ever
kick in? Rarely or never.
It’s been widely
reported in the media
that some $375 million
i n w a i v e r s a re o n
the books. But even
on blocks where
every single property
owner has a waiver
on the books, these
improvements are not
being made. Why not?
The reason is the cost.
According to the LARKE
Report, a study of Sidewalk islands could be a thing of the past if LTIC funds
unimproved roadways are earmarked for local improvement districts.
i n t h e Wo o d s t o c k (Post photo by Don Snedecor)
neighborhood by
streets, nothing should change.
Portland State University graduate
Developers should be required to build
students, the average citywide cost per
curbs, sidewalks and other half-street
linear foot is $1500. So for 50 linear feet
improvements along the property lines.
of frontage that means $75,000. Ouch!
But for new residential development
Novick’s most recent innovation
on sub-standard streets, City Council
is called the Local Transportation
should create a local improvement
Infrastructure Charge or LTIC. This
district which automatically is triggered
ordinance, recently passed by the city
by new construction.
council, would create a fund when
Neighbors on the block, or perhaps
developers for a variety of reasons
within a linear quarter mile, depending
sought to avoid building sidewalks.
on needed improvements, would be
Let’s say the actual construction
notified there was money set aside for
cost to a single-family residence for
street improvements.
half-street improvements was $75,000.
A trust fund would be created, with
This money would be pooled into a
seed money from the new development.
fund which would pay instead for
Those with waivers of remonstrance on
improvements needed on nearby
their deeds could not object, which
arterials and thoroughfares.
would speed up the process.
According to a spokesman for
An advisory committee to oversee
the transportation bureau, federal
improvements would be established
and regional funds can only be used
and all stake holders would be invited
for improvements to arterials and
to serve on that committee.
collectors— and I assume that would
A technical advisory committee,
include the proposed 10 percent gas
including engineers from the
tax that appears on the primary ballot
environmental and transportation
May 17.
bureaus, would be consulted for dealing
But since this fund could not be used
with landslides, stormwater runoff and
for side streets, when would those
other related issues.
badly needed improvements ever be
The city would pay half of the cost of
built?
the project. The property owners would
Here’s the answer. On fully improved
split up the cost of the other half, based
on street frontage.
After all, the city is already paying 100
percent of the cost of improvements to
arterials and collectors. This is only fair.
Low interest loans, currently available
to property owners to pay for sidewalks
and other street assessments would
continue.
Once the street is improved to
city standards, the city takes over
maintenance. Erosion is eliminated.
Children and seniors have a safe
place to walk. Police, fire and medical
personnel are able to access the street
in an emergency. Justice has prevailed.
And yes, you still have to pay to
repair cracks the roots to your maple
tree made in the sidewalk along your
property line.
Bowman’s Hillsdale
well
be
…
and well informed
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Correction
In the article, “Boys and Girls Aid
offers free seminar for foster parents
in Southwest,” (The Post, April 2016)
reporter Jack Rubinger mistakenly
referred to Londo Ramos as “her” and
“she.” Ramos is actually a male. We
apologize for the confusion and regret
the errors.