Mt. Tabor's public meeting on local traffic

Traffic and transportation issues of all kinds are at the top of many Mt. Tabor neighbors’ lists of "things the City needs to work on."  But, who in the City works on which issue, and when?  The Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association (MTNA) has invited staff from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) to a special public meeting about transportation and traffic issues specific to our neighborhood. 

Monday, February 29

7:00 – 8:45 pm

basement dining hall of the Presbyterian Church at the corner of 
SE 55th and Belmont 

(use the main entrance off Belmont)

At this meeting…

• Learn how to report traffic complaints and issues via a PBOT online tool.
• Look at the issues of our neighborhood.
• Hear about projects with solutions, already underway.
• Learn about funded, long-range improvement plans that will provide local solutions, and learn how to advocate for other long-range improvement plans not yet funded.

Post-meeting summary: Zoning

This is the promised follow-up from the zoning meeting the Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association (MTNA) hosted on November 19.  The powerpoint used by City staff at this meeting is available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwjTV06zgxKYMzZfc3VwQ3dfaEE/view?usp=sharing

Summary of Deadlines

• If you are concerned with the veracity of the zoning projections made in the Comprehensive Plan Map (which was made 35 years ago, by a different population), then you need to "comment" now, during the comment period for the Comprehensive Plan Map.  Hearings on the Comp Plan Map are underway NOW, and there are two hearings left: December 10 (6-9 pm, info here: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/548451 ) and January 7th (6-9pm, info here: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/554921).  You must arrive 45 minutes before the hearing start time to sign up for a testimony slot; not everyone will be able to testify as there are only 3 hours worth of slots. 

• If you are concerned about the new Commercial zoning definition proposals, or where they will be applied in our neighborhood, then you need to "comment" on the Mixed Use Zoning Project.  The public comment period to the planning staff has closed, but another public comment period will open again once the draft proposal is published on February 1st.  Hearings are expected to be in March.  You can get sign up for email notifications about the draft when it is published, and updates on the hearing dates on the Mixed Used Zoning Project's webpage: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/63621

• If you are concerned about the criteria being used by the City when responding to the mismatch between existing zoning, and zoning projections made in the Comprehensive Plan Map, you need to "comment" on the Residential and Open Space Zoning Map Update Project, and you need to do so BEFORE December 21 at noon.  If you have suggestions for the criteria to be used, send those to:  tabitha.Boschetti@portlandoregon.gov , or you can comment via the Map App (linked below).  For your reference, the webpage for this project is here: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/69041

Map App

Reportedly, all of the significant planning projects that are happening to make this generation's update to the Comprehensive Plan, can be seen and commented on from the Map App dashboard which is here:  https://www.portlandmaps.com/bps/mapapp/

Zoning changes coming to a lot near you!

Zoning changes are coming to properties in the Mt. Tabor Neighborhood.  

These changes are happening as part of the Comprehensive Plan process, and the Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association is hosting a presentation for Mt. Tabor neighbors, by a staffer with the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.

Thursday, November 19

7:00 – 8:30 pm

basement dining hall of the Presbyterian Church at the corner of SE 55th and Belmont 

(use the main entrance off Belmont)

At this meeting…

Staffers will lay out how each of the following two Comp Plan projects will change zoning in our area:

The Residential/ Open Space Zoning Project –

·      We’ll see a map of the properties where the Comp Plan "Designation" doesn't match the site's zoning, and we’ll learn how the zoning will be changed so that the two parts match up.  Click here for a sneak peak at this map.

·      We’ll learn the metrics by which the City will make zoning-up and zoning-down decisions, as they make the "Designations" and zoning match.  The staffers will take feedback on these metrics, and suggestions for new metrics.

·      There will be time for Q & A, and you will leave with instructions on how to provide feedback to the City about these changes.

The Mixed Use Zoning Project –

·      These changes are especially relevant to SE 50^th Avenue, as they are relevant to any lot currently zoned anything that starts with a “C” (or, Commercial).  (That would include CS, CN, CO, and CG in the neighborhood.)

·      We’ll learn the new names for “Commercial” zones, and how trimming down the number of Commercial zones will impact what is allowed in each of the remaining Commercial zones.

·      We should hear specific examples of how these changes will effect SE 50^th Ave.

·      There will be time for Q & A, and you will leave with instructions on how to provide feedback to the City about these changes.

Tabor Disconnect Newsflash: Settlement

Today MTNA representatives finalized a settlement with the Portland Water Bureau in the Tabor Reservoir land use appeal (LU 14-218444 HREN).  

These are the terms:  

• We agree to eliminate Condition E from the land use Decision's Conditions of Approval (this Condition mandated spending on the preservation work called out in the Historic Structures Report).  
• We agree to modify Condition B in the land use Decision's Conditions of Approval (this Condition deals with water).  
• We co-wrote a Council Resolution, which carries the binding force of law, which covers several community concerns and mandates $4 million in spending for the preservation work called out in the Historic Structures Report.  
• At the hearing on July 15, Council will be asked to adopt this Resolution, and in turn MTNA will pledge not to appeal the land use Decision to LUBA. Then Council will approve the modified Decision for this land use case.  If any of these steps go awry, the deal will also.  

The documents

Click here for the modified Condition B.

Click here for the new Council Resolution.
Concerned about the binding nature of the Resolution?  We are too.  Read this.

It's taken 18 months, what have we achieved?
commentary coming soon...

Tabor Disconnect Appeal News

Appeal Date
Thursday, May 28th at 2 pm
Council Chambers, City Hall

Media
Op Ed in the Oregonian on Sunday, May 17.  Click here.
Op Ed in the SE Examiner on May 1; written by Eileen Brady.  Click here.

Important Documents
MTNA's Appeal Report, April 29th -- Click here.  MTNA submitted a substantive appeal report to each City Commissioner and the Mayor.  This document lays out our case.  In short, we support the February 9th Historic Landmarks Commission Decision and seek to strengthen their work.  

SHPO's rebuttal, March 20 --  Click here.  The State Historic Preservation Office responded to Water Bureau's appeal.  They openly reject two assertions made by Water Bureau, undermining that appeal.

MTNA's initial appeal filing, Feb 27 --  Click here. Our first formal paperwork for the appeal; this makes us Appellant #2 in this case and gives us equal footing to Water Bureau in the appeal proceedings.  This form briefly cite's specific code failures.

Water Bureau's appeal filing, Feb 26 --  Click here. Water Bureau challenges essential elements of the approval conditions stipulated by the Historic Landmarks Commission; this move opened the appeal process and made Water Bureau Appellant #1.

Appeal Hearing Facts

• Expect oral testimony to be strictly limited to 2 minutes.
• Written testimony can be emailed into the record until May 27: CCTestimony@portlandoregon.gov