Southwest Hills Residential League (SWHRL)
Viewpoints Newsletter - May 2019
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SWHRL Quarterly Member/Neighborhood Meeting
Wednesday 15 May 2019, 6:30-8:30pm
Ainsworth Elementary School – Auditorium
Agenda includes:
- SWHRL Elections - Open Board seats and officers
- Tangent Village - Development proposal update
- Transportation - PedPDX and SWIM initiatives update
- Protecting Vista Bridge Views - Vista Bridge fence update
- Public Safety - Public safety activity update
- More Zoo Concerts - Notice about more zoo concerts this summer
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1. URGENT NEED FOR BOARD MEMBERS & OFFICERS
Please come to the annual SWHRL Neighborhood/Membership meeting May 15, 2019 and volunteer to serve on the SWHRL Board or as an officer. Both Nancy Seton and John Neumann are retiring as Co-Presidents, and we urgently need someone to step in to help if SWHRL is to continue to be a strong advocate for our neighborhood interests. We also need a Secretary, Communications & Outreach lead, Land Use Chair, and more Board members to monitor the interests of the neighborhood and share the decision-making. Will you fill one of the 8 open Board positions? We invite those interested in transportation, land use, public safety, schools, and parks issues are urged to join us. Come to the May 15 meeting, or email us to get on the ballot. Be proactive to improve your neighborhood!
NOTE FROM NANCY SETON
"What stands out most in my memory of the past 5 years as your SWHRL President and Co-President are the amazing dedicated volunteers I’ve been fortunate to work with. It’s been challenging at times but I’ve been blown away by the talented, generous neighbors who stepped up when they were urgently needed. That ranges from the Historic Trolley walks (high schooler Daniel Carr), film nights at documentarian Art Wright’s, neighborhood storytelling by Jim Thayer, Michael Munk, Tom McAlister and Owen Cramer, Vista Spring Restoration Project weeders and planters, transportation, land use, public safety, parks activists. So many have contributed to the quality of life in our neighborhood. Thank you!"
2. LAND USE
“Tangent Village”
Adjacent to 1315 SW Broadway Drive (LU 18-119056 LD PD EN) propose a 20-unit townhome development on a steep wooded slope with environmental and landslide hazard overlays accessed via SW Tangent St.
Report on April 29 Public Hearing: SWHRL and neighbor representatives attended and testified at the well-attended April 29 hearing before the City Hearings Officer. The Guenther/Phillips family, including several of their consultants, were there in support of their proposal.The City has already responded in great detail to the development, and we want to encourage them to continue to carefully monitor compliance with regulations on project design and safe construction.
The Hearings Officer (HO), Greg Frank, has been doing this for many years. He spoke at length at the beginning of the hearing, and also at the end, and set a good and fair tone. At the beginning of the hearing he made a point of saying that he reads EVERYTHING submitted to him—all letters—and he read the list of letters/documents already in the record. He mentioned several letters he’s already received from residents. Thank you to all you who submitted a comment.
He seemed conscientious and quickly understood the crux of the issues and listened intently to the neighbors who spoke, even though—and perhaps because—they were not making legal or policy arguments, just stating how this was affecting them.
Lisa Caballero read a SWHRL comment focused on inadequate description of the required pedestrian walkways, and Board Member Chris Kopca directly followed with briefer, non-scripted comments which emphasized the key points of the SWHRL position.
At the end of the hearing, the HO asked the Staff (Castleberry and Burgett) if the City Engineer process was open to public comment. They indicated it wasn’t. And that really is the heart of our argument. The public was not involved in the Alternative Review decisions which allowed improvement on the South side shoulder, nor will we be able to comment on the City Engineer’s plan and implementation.
The HO understood that, and it seemed an important point to him. When Lisa mentioned that “we were having to read between the lines to figure out what was in the Alternative Review,” his expression suggested that point really landed with him.
He outlined a timeline (witching hours he called them) for a three-week period for the “record to remain open.” This was requested by Daniel Kearns, lawyer for the Davenport neighbors. Our request for a “continuance” was rejected, and the HO carefully explained why.
This is a specific instance of the larger problem, namely a city policy which requires new or expanded development to build sidewalks, in a city with many roads—especially in the SW—which suffer from decades-long deferred infrastructure improvement, and challenging terrain. This lack of infrastructure makes “improvements" expensive (and developers argue disproportionate to the development). Neighborhood advocates argue that this leads to the city not requiring many improvements, with the cost ultimately being born by pedestrians who end up having to struggle with unsafe walkways.
Subsequent to the hearing, representatives from PBOT met with SWHRL Board reps, the Applicant & his/her Project Engineer to walk the property’s section of SW Broadway Drive to discuss shoulder improvements and possibilities for making a safe walking space for pedestrians. There are multiple challenges. The negotiated proposal between PBOT and Applicant is still just talking about 3-6’ wide gravel walkway along the south shoulder, without barriers.
Next steps & timeline:
May 20, 4pm - new evidence from any party
May 28 - responsive evidence from any party
June 4 - applicant's rebuttal
The Hearings Officer’s decision will come out sometime after June 4. If we find it unacceptable, we can appeal to City Council.
Narrow shoulders with obstacles on south side of Broadway Dr near proposed Tangent Village
3. SWHRL Neighborhood Design Guidelines
Let us know if you are interested in working on aspirational neighborhood design guidelines that we could show developers with proposals for the SW Hills. contact@swhrl.org
Check out some ideas from the Division Street Design Guidelines group:
https://divisiondesigninitiative.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/main-st-design-guidelines-99-6-18-18-all-pages.pdf
4. Public Safety Update
Criminal activity in the Gander Ridge area of SWHRL is intensifying. Livability issues and property crimes are now mixed with threats and actual acts of violence against SWHRL residents. The City promises the trailer, portable toilets and illegal camp near SW 14th and Montgomery will be removed by the end of the day Friday, May 10th. At this point, it is unclear what, if any, physical measures the City will use (if any) to prevent re-encampment. Neighborhood advocates have formally "adopted" a nearby ODOT property and intend to maintain the 80 rose bushes planted there. There is safety in numbers. Residents are encouraged to travel to the location in groups and to call 9-1-1 if they witness a crime in progress. Illegal campsites can be reported to the City's One Point of Contact System at https://pdxreporter.org or by calling 503-823-4000.
5. Transportation
Public comments for Southwest in Motion close on May 24:
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/index.cfm?&c=72017
6. Vista Bridge fence replacement
Bill Failing reports that Restore the Vista Bridge volunteers continue to pressure the City to replace the ugly chain link fence on the historic Vista Bridge, and replace it with a better alternative, a non-obtrusive net like the Golden Gate Bridge's, for instance. Brandon Spencer-Hartle, City Historic Resources Chair, has agreed to give guidance on how to fund and install a replacement. An April 13 Oregonian article featured the Vista Bridge:
https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2019/04/after-5-years-with-no-suicides-from-vista-bridge-portland-is-considering-permanent-barriers.html
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We continue to seek feedback on topics and your communication preferences, including format and channels. Please send comments to contact@swhrl.org
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