minutes of June 13th
Vernon Neighborhood Association
June 13th, 2006
Minutes
Introductions
Oma announces correspondence
Introduce Guest Saj Jivanjee, Architect for OTAK Inc.
The proposal by OTAK, INC to develop a 59 unit, 6 story condominium project with 3 commercial spaces on 20,000sf at the corner of NE 20th and Alberta was presented by Saj Jivanjee. Since then efforts to assess the opinions of neighborhood residents have moved forward. 3 neighborhood associations (Concordia, Vernon, and King) are involved in what happens on Alberta so they are working together and once they have a clear mandate from the people, they can take action if that is warranted.
About 35 people from all 3 neighborhoods were present and discussion was intense.
The project’s site is part of a 2 block area on Alberta between 20th and 22nd that is zoned EXdh, very different from the rest of the street. EX zoning allows residential, commercial, and industrial uses of the properties. d means that there will be a design review by the City and h indicates a height limit of 65 feet which translates roughly to a 6 story structure. This zoning came about during the development of the 1993 Albina Community Plan and the Concordia and Vernon Neighborhood Plans, a year’s worth of resident participation and visioning as to what folks wanted their neighborhoods to look like. Probably because at the time Alberta Street was a deteriorating area, they wanted to reserve space for larger businesses or developments that would increase employment or be an economic boon to the street. The idea made sense at the time when few saw today’s art galleries and restaurants.
When the architect said that “This is the zoning you folks wanted and this is what I was working with” there was a major disconnect with the audience of local residents and business people. Very few attending were around in 1993 to be part of that public input, and fewer still knew the history of the zoning or understood zoning implications. Likewise, current association land use committee chairs are all resident-volunteers who are not experienced in all the nuances of many facets of zoning. So it was the knowledgeable professionals vs. the ordinary citizen which led to much misunderstanding and frustration during the meeting.
It was clear that OTAK,INC had purchased the property with the EX zoning in place and that the zoning cannot be changed retroactively. (Zoning can be changed and modified – and there are several local efforts to do just that underway currently. Please contact Gail if you wish to get involved). Mr. Jivanjee has studied the buildings and homes in the surrounding blocks and has repeated the local front porch and store front pattern on the lower floors, he has put the garage basically undergrade, and he has broken up the building with pass-through corridors and set-backs, and there will be 5 stories instead of 6 (but still 65 feet high).
It became obvious to the audience that a lot of decisions had already been made, but by the architect and developer, and despite good intentions and close work on their parts, there seems to have been little, if any, public input or feedback.
But the development does have to pass muster with local residents and their neighborhood association land use committees before they are approved, and we have been able to form a Land Use Committee since that meeting that we will hear from at this meeting and that you can now contact the chair (and new board member) Gail Meredith @ meredith@imagina.com
Lindy introduces guest Ron Laster from NECN
We need to maintain an open communication. Development has a positive and a
negative aspect. Development is a fact of life. It is happening everywhere. At
the end of the day we have to maintain our dignity. City wide Land Use is being
organized. We need to address the our hot spots. We need to know what to tell
the commissioners.
Grant park has sent up a separate committee to set up communication
with developers and city and be kept in the loop.
Items to be added to the next agenda
Construction Contractors Board Nancy Weber
Next board meeting is July 5th Wed @ 7:00 p.m. Lindy’s and Oma’s house
Next VNA meeting July 11th (Tuesday) 7:00 p.m. @ Enterbeing
June 13th, 2006
Minutes
Introductions
Oma announces correspondence
Introduce Guest Saj Jivanjee, Architect for OTAK Inc.
The proposal by OTAK, INC to develop a 59 unit, 6 story condominium project with 3 commercial spaces on 20,000sf at the corner of NE 20th and Alberta was presented by Saj Jivanjee. Since then efforts to assess the opinions of neighborhood residents have moved forward. 3 neighborhood associations (Concordia, Vernon, and King) are involved in what happens on Alberta so they are working together and once they have a clear mandate from the people, they can take action if that is warranted.
About 35 people from all 3 neighborhoods were present and discussion was intense.
The project’s site is part of a 2 block area on Alberta between 20th and 22nd that is zoned EXdh, very different from the rest of the street. EX zoning allows residential, commercial, and industrial uses of the properties. d means that there will be a design review by the City and h indicates a height limit of 65 feet which translates roughly to a 6 story structure. This zoning came about during the development of the 1993 Albina Community Plan and the Concordia and Vernon Neighborhood Plans, a year’s worth of resident participation and visioning as to what folks wanted their neighborhoods to look like. Probably because at the time Alberta Street was a deteriorating area, they wanted to reserve space for larger businesses or developments that would increase employment or be an economic boon to the street. The idea made sense at the time when few saw today’s art galleries and restaurants.
When the architect said that “This is the zoning you folks wanted and this is what I was working with” there was a major disconnect with the audience of local residents and business people. Very few attending were around in 1993 to be part of that public input, and fewer still knew the history of the zoning or understood zoning implications. Likewise, current association land use committee chairs are all resident-volunteers who are not experienced in all the nuances of many facets of zoning. So it was the knowledgeable professionals vs. the ordinary citizen which led to much misunderstanding and frustration during the meeting.
It was clear that OTAK,INC had purchased the property with the EX zoning in place and that the zoning cannot be changed retroactively. (Zoning can be changed and modified – and there are several local efforts to do just that underway currently. Please contact Gail if you wish to get involved). Mr. Jivanjee has studied the buildings and homes in the surrounding blocks and has repeated the local front porch and store front pattern on the lower floors, he has put the garage basically undergrade, and he has broken up the building with pass-through corridors and set-backs, and there will be 5 stories instead of 6 (but still 65 feet high).
It became obvious to the audience that a lot of decisions had already been made, but by the architect and developer, and despite good intentions and close work on their parts, there seems to have been little, if any, public input or feedback.
But the development does have to pass muster with local residents and their neighborhood association land use committees before they are approved, and we have been able to form a Land Use Committee since that meeting that we will hear from at this meeting and that you can now contact the chair (and new board member) Gail Meredith @ meredith@imagina.com
Lindy introduces guest Ron Laster from NECN
We need to maintain an open communication. Development has a positive and a
negative aspect. Development is a fact of life. It is happening everywhere. At
the end of the day we have to maintain our dignity. City wide Land Use is being
organized. We need to address the our hot spots. We need to know what to tell
the commissioners.
Grant park has sent up a separate committee to set up communication
with developers and city and be kept in the loop.
Items to be added to the next agenda
Construction Contractors Board Nancy Weber
Next board meeting is July 5th Wed @ 7:00 p.m. Lindy’s and Oma’s house
Next VNA meeting July 11th (Tuesday) 7:00 p.m. @ Enterbeing
posted by Vernon Neighbors at 10:34 AM
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