Neighborhood Benefit Christmas Tree Sale

Non-Profit Home Offers Christmas Trees
Portland – L’Arche Nehalem, a non-profit community based in East Portland in which persons with developmental disability and others live together in a family atmosphere, will be holding its annual Benefit Christmas Tree Sale at two locations from December 1-18. The tree lots, at the Safeway at SE 82nd and Burnside and in the Value Village parking lot at NE 44th and Hancock, will be open from 2:30-8:30 weekdays and 10-7 on weekends. A wide selection of reasonably priced Douglas and Noble firs, fresh cut from local farms and delivered frequently, are available from lots staffed with dozens of volunteers. This is the major fundraiser for L’Arche Nehalem, responsible for over 10% of its annual budget.

L'Arche Nehalem is one of a network of over 120 communities in 30 countries in which developmentally disabled people live as equal and valued members with assistants in a mutually supportive, faith-friendly family environment. By providing a safe and nurturing home with long-term relationships, L'Arche seeks to reveal the unique value and vocation of each person, and to change society by choosing to live in community as a sign of hope and love. More information about L’Arche Nehalem is available at http://www.larche-portland.org.

L’Arche Nehalem’s Christmas Tree Sale has been a Christmas fixture in East Portland for 16 consecutive years at 82nd and East Burnside. The second lot in the Hollywood District has been a great success since its opening in 2003. The lots and many of the trees are donated, as are hundreds of hours of labor from devoted friends of the community, some of whom have been helping with the Tree Sale since its inception. 100% of the net proceeds go directly to helping the residents of the community. The atmosphere around the L’Arche Christmas Tree Sale is a very special one. After visiting the one of the lots, a journalist from the Oregonian wrote, “In a wired world of scandals and wars, grace cuts through with the fresh-air scent of Christmas trees.” (Dec. 16, 2002)

L’Arche Nehalem opened its first home in East Portland in 1986. It was the response of two then-employees of the Catholic Archdiocese of Portland to a continual stream of requests for a residential situation for developmentally disabled persons that included the values of home, community, and spirituality. Nehalem Community became a member of the International Federation of L’Arche in 1990 and built a second house in East Portland in 1994. Four core members and three assistants live in each home, and the two homes work, play, celebrate, and pray together as a single community. As the Charter of L’Arche International instructs, “L’Arche communities are open and welcoming to the world around them. They form an integral part of life in their localities and seek to foster relationships with neighbors and friends.” Core members live and work, play and shop in their local neighborhood establishments, and a vibrant extended family of friends and neighbors support and benefit from friendship with the community.

There are sixteen L’Arche communities in the United States, with four in the Pacific Northwest and another in Southern California. The L’Arche movement began in 1964 in Trosly, France, when Jean Vanier invited two men with developmental disability to live with him. It has since spread around the world and along with Vanier has been honored worldwide as a unique model of community-based residential situations for people with disability. He is also the founder of the worldwide Faith and Light movement, which helps families of persons with developmental disability network with and support each other.

For more information, call 503-251-6901.

###

Land Use Services Division to Developer 20th/Alberta

Re: Land Use Review LU 06-148142 DZM
Dear Saj Jivanjee:
The Bureau of Development Services received your application for a Design Review w/
Modifications located at on July 21, 2006. Your case has been assigned to me, Justin
Fallon Dollard. In order to continue to review your application, additional information is
needed. Once you submit this information, your application will be considered complete,
and I will proceed with a full review of your proposal. Up to this point, your application has
been reviewed only to determine if all required information has been submitted. The
application has not been fully reviewed to determine if it meets the relevant approval
criteria, however some issues you may want to consider are identified in Section II below.
I. Information Necessary to Complete Application
The following information must be submitted before your proposal can be evaluated:
1. Demonstrate compliance with the requirement stated in 33.825.025 Review
Procedures B. Neighborhood Contact Requirement.
2. Roof plan.
3. Material notes on ground floor plan [please include planting].
4. Material notes on the elevations.
5. Material palette samples [physical or digital format].
6. Design Development level drawings of typical exterior-interior wall sections.
7. Details of material connections.
8. Detail drawings of exterior stair, railings, and suspended walkways.
9. Cut sheets of standard exterior fixtures.
10. Window and door sectional profiles.
II. Issues to Consider
While not necessary to determine the application complete, additional information may be
needed to show that your proposal meets the applicable approval criteria. You are
encouraged to address the following issues regarding the approvability of your proposal:
Please consider a more fully developed analysis of how this proposal meets Community
Design Guideline D7: Blending into the Neighborhood.
It would be difficult for staff to make findings for Community Design Guideline D8:
Interest, Quality, and Composition due to the lack of architectural detail information
provided in the submittal.
Staff will likely state concerns regarding how the project meets Community Design
Guidelines E3: The Sidewalk Level of Buildings and E4: Corners the Build Active
Intersections.
Incomplete Letter for LU 06-148142 DZM Page 2
III. Time to Complete Application
The Portland Zoning Code allows you up to 180 days to complete your application. Since
the 180-day period began on the day we received the application, the deadline to make your
application complete is January 16, 2007.
IV. Determination of a Complete Application
The application will be determined complete when you have submitted:
1. All of the requested information included in Section I, above. If you cannot provide all
of the requested information at one time and intend to submit additional information,
please include a written statement with each separate submittal indicating that you
still intend to provide the additional missing information by the January 16, 2007
deadline, or
2. Some of the requested information included in Section I, above, and a written
statement that no additional information will be provided; or
3. A written statement that none of the requested information included in Section I,
above, will be provided.
Please be aware that not submitting the requested information may result in your
application being denied. The information is needed to demonstrate the approval criteria
are met. Once the application is deemed complete, review of your application can proceed
using the information you have provided.
Your application will be approved if it meets the relevant land use review approval criteria.
It is your responsibility to document how the approval criteria are met. The items listed
above will help provide that documentation.
Voiding of Application
If your application is not complete by January 16, 2007, it will be voided, and the
application fee will not be refunded. The City's land use review procedures are outlined in
Chapter 33.730 of the Portland Zoning Code.
Please contact me if you have any questions about this letter. My telephone number is
503-823-7983, and my e-mail address is JFDollard@ci.portland.or.us. You may mail
correspondence to me at the Bureau of Development Services, Suite 4500, 1900 SW Fourth
Avenue, Portland, OR 97201. If you deliver the requested material in person, please bring
it to the fourth floor receptionist at 1900 SW Fourth Avenue. Please label all
correspondence and materials you submit with the case number LU 06-148142.
Sincerely,
Justin Fallon Dollard, Planner
Land Use Services Division
cc: Application Case File

Portland's Neighborhood Association Program: A Panel Discussion, Nov. 14

Portland's Neighborhood Association Program: A Panel Discussion

Tuesday, November 14
7:00 pm
Board Room, Multnomah Building, 501 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland

The League of Women Voters of Portland will conclude its study of Portland's Neighborhood Association Program with a panel discussion, "How Portland's Neighborhood System Serves the City Today and In the Future," on Tuesday, November 14, at 7 pm in the Board Room of the Multnomah Building, 501 SE Hawthorne, Portland. The event is free, and the public is invited to attend.

Panelists will include Paul Leistner, Executive Director of Portland State University Public Participation Center; Jo Ann Bowman, Associate Director of Oregon Action; Neighborhood Activists Arlene Kimura from Hazelwood Neighborhood Association and Pat Wagner of Linnton Neighborhood Association; and Brian Hoop, Neighborhood Program Coordinator, Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement. LWV study chairman Pat Osborn will moderate the panel.

The panel discussion coincides with the release of the League's report, "Part II: How Portland's Neighborhood Program Works Today," available on the League's web site (www.lwvpdx.org) after November 1. Other documents produced by the League as part of its study, a history of the Neighborhood Program, and results of surveys of Neighborhood Associations are also accessible on the League's web site.

Direct link to the report: http://www.lwvpdx.org/leagueinfo/NAStudy-Final.pdf

Through November League members will meet to discuss what they have learned about the city's Neighborhood Program and, through a process of discussion and consensus, will develop a new advocacy position on how the Neighborhood Program should be structured in the future.

"We feel our work in this area is very well-timed in light of the reforms that are being discussed by Mayor Tom Potter's Community Connect work group," said League President Carol Cushman. "We hope the community as well as our members will benefit from our research."

League of Women Voters of Portland
310 SW 4th Ave. Suite 520
Portland, Oregon 97204
(503) 228-1675

Volunteer Resource for Neighborhood Associations

I met with Willie Brown at the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhood Associations last week to tell him about the individuals our organization serves in employment programs in your area.  Our clients are adults who have developmental disabilities and want to do some volunteer work in the community.  Our organization is funded by the Multnomah County Developmental Disabilities Program to help our clients access these types of opportunities in the community.  Our clients would be especially interested in doing clerical work, such as mailings, or doing community clean-up work.  Our clients are supervised at all times by our staff, who train them in the tasks they do and supervise the tasks to make sure that they are done to the standards required.
We would be able either to pick up the task you have for us to do (for example, folding and stapling newsletters), or for you to drop it off at our site, which is at the corner of Dekum and MLK.  We would also be able to have our clients come to your site, if needed.  There would be no charge to your association.
I will be sending this information to all on the Neighborhood Associations roster that I received from Willie Brown, so several in your particular group may get the same email.  If you have an interest in using us as a resource to do some of your association's volunteer tasks, please call me or email me.  I would like to follow up with you by telephone within a couple of weeks, if that is acceptable to you.
Thank you so much for your time.
Sue Christiance
503 292-9432

VisionPDX recruiting members for Drafting Committee

Be a part of helping craft Portland's future

Vision PDX recruiting volunteers for Drafting Committee
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WHAT IS THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE?

During the Spring and Summer of 2006, over 12,000 Portlanders have shared their hopes and dreams for Portland through the visionPDX questionnaire! Their comments have been entered into a database and coded into categories such as "Environment" and "Health".

What's next?
visionPDX will convene a Drafting Committee of 25-30 volunteers to read and summarize the ideas within the different categories of the data.  This Drafting Committee will have two key responsibilities:
• To read the coded questionnaire data and draft directional statements that capture the data's main ideas; and
• To identify main themes, areas of strong agreement/disagreement, and possible trade-offs and choices emerging in the data. 


If you want to learn first hand what your fellow Portlanders had to say during the Engagement phase, this committee is for you!

WHO CAN JOIN THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE?

We are looking for 25-30 volunteers who:
• have had previous involvement with visionPDX as a volunteer, grantee, or staff member
• can commit to attending all three meetings listed below in the timeline
• can commit to an additional 4-8 hours of independent work between the December 2nd and December 14th meetings
• are motivated to read hundreds of pages of data - Portlanders' comments about their city - and capture the main ideas in that data, regardless of whether they agree or disagree with particular ideas
• understand that their role is not to make decisions or exercise personal preference, but to organize the data for Vision Committee members 



DRAFTING COMMITTEE TIMELINE
• Monday, November 20th

11:30am - 1:00pm
ORIENTATION LUNCH:  orient members to the project and review expectations
• Saturday December 2nd

9:00am - 2:00 pm, Portland Building, Room C
WORK SESSION:  read data and begin drafting vision statements
• Between December 2nd and December 14th

On their own, members continue to read data and draft vision statements
• Thursday December 14th

3:00pm - 7:00pm
Backup Date: Sat. December 16th City Hall, Rose Room
WORK SESSION:  Identify areas of agreements and disagreement, trade-offs, and choices


HOW CAN I JOIN THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE?

If you are interested in joining, please fill out the attached application form and e-mail, mail, or drop it off by November 14th:

plvision@ci.portland.or.us
Office of Mayor Tom Potter
1221 SW 4th Ave, Ste. 340,
Portland, OR 97204

We encouarge you to get your applications in sooner than later.  All Drafting Committee members will be selected and notified by November 15th.


Thanks for your interest!  While the above tasks may sound time consuming and rather daunting, Vision Committee members and staff will provide a thorough training and orientation prior to the work sessions.  In addition, it's an excellent chance to see preliminary data up close and is a key step toward crafting Portland's future. 

For more information about visionPDX
log onto www.portlandonline.com/mayor/vision
or contact Bronwyn Buckle, 503.823.6947, bbuckle@ci.portland.or.us.

In response to: Saj Jivanjee (20th & Alberta Development)

October 3, 2006


Saj Jivanjee, AIA
9055 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy.
Portland, OR. 97225

Dear Mr. Jivanjee,

We at the Vernon and Concordia Neighborhood Associations have received a copy of the Design Review Application for the proposed development at NE 20th and Alberta. We have formed an ad-hoc committee in order to facilitate neighbor and community concerns regarding the proposal. The following memo is a summation of comments generated in over three months of meetings and in two community workshops held on September 21 and 23 in which community members and residents were asked to outline concerns and desires for development along Alberta Street. We have grouped the comments into the Community Design Guideline format for you to most easily incorporate into your proposal.

It is important to note that we believe infill along Alberta Street is an appropriate goal and we are not opposed to more density along these arterial streets.

The primary concern expressed by a majority of workshop participants is the overall scale of this development, particularly the height. In Zoning Code Section 33.140.030, the characteristics of the Central Employment (Ex) zone are described as:

‘The intent of the zone is to allow industrial and commercial uses which need a central location. Residential uses are allowed, but are not intended to predominate or set development standards. The development standards are intended to allow new development which is similar in character to existing development.‘

The final sentence, “The development standards are intended to allow new development which is similar in character to existing development.”, raises even more concerns from the neighborhood about the development and height of the proposal. There are no developments along Alberta, or the adjacent communities, that are of similar height or character of the proposed development. The height of the adjacent commercial spaces and homes range from 15’-30’. There are a couple of existing and recently developed multi-story buildings within a few blocks. Given the 3:1 FAR, adjustments to the massing of the proposal can achieve a lower height without losing the desired density of the development. This would be closer to the existing development character.

We would like to see a 3-story building on this site and believe that this is what will best compliment our neighborhood’s character. Because this will likely be the largest building within several blocks, it is even more vital that the design and materials are given even more consideration then they might a project of smaller design or impact.

The proposed development is primarily residential with a few commercial spaces on Alberta. The language of the zoning code suggests that the zone is intended to create centrally located employment opportunities encouraging mixed-use with wider height and FAR allowances. With only three ground floor retail type spaces proposed, we feel this development does not meet the standards set forth by the zoning code and does not provide enough of a mixed-use allowing for more jobs at this location.

P1 Community Plan Area Character: Enhance the sense of place and identity by incorporating site and building design features that respond to the area’s desired characteristics and traditions.

Albina Plan Community Guidelines

Guideline 3: Incorporate landscaping as an integral element of design. Use landscaping to enhance the urban environment and to make good transitions to adjacent and nearby natural areas. Use landscape materials which provide shape, soften edges, create screens, provide habitat and add life and color to the environment.

Stormwater management should be considered as a response to this guideline such as a bio-swale or storm filtration planter. The community voiced concerns about the impact this development would have on stormwater management.


Guideline 6: Use building placement, orientation, and landscaping to create a safe environment for pedestrians, bicyclists and those arriving to the site by car.

Neighbors expressed concern about the status of the open courtyard. It seemed to be open to the public, but not visible from the street which caused security concerns.

Pedestrian Emphasis Guidelines

E1 The Pedestrian Network: Create an efficient, pleasant, and safe network of sidewalks and paths for pedestrians that link destination points and nearby residential areas while visually and physically buffering pedestrians from vehicle areas.

The plans suggest an 8’ wide sidewalk. Alberta Street has a ‘Neighborhood Collector’ pedestrian classification which calls for a 12’ wide sidewalk standard. 12’ would be more friendly and safe.

E2 Stopping Places: New large-scale projects should provide comfortable places along pedestrian circulation routes where people may stop, visit, meet and rest.

A 12’ wide sidewalk will help create areas for pedestrians to stop and rest. We would also like to see the proposed courtyard as an opportunity to function as a place to ‘stop, visit, meet and rest.’ We feel it important that this courtyard be included as part of, and not excluded from, the pedestrian’s experience along Alberta.


E3 The Sidewalk Level of Buildings: Create a sense of enclosure and visual interest to buildings sidewalks and pedestrian areas by incorporating small scale building design features, creating effective gathering places, and differentiating street façade levels.

There seems to be very little modulation of the ground level retail facades and nowhere for someone to duck in out of the weather or have a seat. The retail spaces could have windows that slide open to the sidewalk and court, increasing the inside/outside connection.

E4 Corners That Build Active Intersections: Create intersections that are active, unified, and have a clear identity through careful scaling details and location of buildings, outdoor areas and entrances.

The ground level corner at NE 20th and Alberta does not appear to address this guideline. There is no corner entrance or even a window. Many buildings in the district have cut away corners which provide both entry and shelter.

Project Design Guidelines

D1 Outdoor Areas: When sites are not fully built on, place buildings to create sizable, usable outdoor areas. Design these areas to be accessible, pleasant, and safe. Connect outdoor areas to the circulation system used by pedestrians.

While there is a large outdoor court, it does not engage the pedestrian system and therefore may not be a safe element. Allowing more or less openness and orientation to the street from the courtyard could help address this guideline better. If there is a large security gate, this might detract from the “front porch” language that is being developed.

D4 Parking Areas and Garages: Integrate parking in a manner that is attractive and complementary to the site and its surroundings.

Locate parking in a manner that minimizes negative impacts on the community and its pedestrians.

There is a lot of concern and comment about the lack of parking in the neighborhood and the impact of so many new residences as a result of this development. During the meeting, there was a request from the neighborhood for the development team to communicate any traffic mitigation planning. We have heard nothing in response to this concern. Ultimately we would like to see at least one on-site parking space for each residence, although we realize the limitations of providing this. The issue of safety as it relates to increased traffic near an elementary school has also been raised.

Design parking garage exteriors to visually respect and integrate with adjacent buildings and the environment.

Little to no detail has been provided on the design of the parking garage entrance. Will there be lights or sirens to warn pedestrians of vehicles exiting the building?

D5 Crime Prevention: Use site design and building orientation to reduce the likelihood of crime through the design and placement of windows, entries, active ground level uses, and outdoor areas.

This issue has been raised in guideline D1. The courtyard as an element that could increase crime is of great concern.

D6 Architectural Integrity: Respect the original character of buildings when making modifications that affect the exterior. Make additions compatible in scale, color, details, material proportion, and character with the existing building.

There is concern about the color of exterior materials being too bland, form being too uniform for such a large development and there not being enough variation of ornamentation or interest in detail. Darker colors tend to show wear and dirt less. Dividing the development into smaller parts, as has been done, is necessary to make the development compatible with the neighborhood.

We would like confirmation on the square footages of the retail areas. There is concern about the two western-most spaces being combined into a large space Many neighbors do not want a national franchise store on the street. which is not wanted on the street. Is there a leasing agent involved in the project who could be contacted?

D7 Blending into the Neighborhood: Reduce the impact of new development on established neighborhoods by incorporating elements of nearby, quality buildings such as building details, massing, proportions, and materials.

As is pointed out in the 4th paragraph of this memo, the community does not believe that a 6-story residential development meets the intended and zoned use of the site. Many comments have been made about the sheer height of the building and ultimately, we would like to see a 3-story building proposed that implements the allowed 3:1. This would allow more light to reach the adjacent residential properties and to better compliment existing development on the street.

The design has been commented on as lacking variation, which may have to do with the proposed cement panels, and lack of modulation in the façade. The large shed roof along NE 20th is designed to reduce the sightline of the 6th story however has no architectural relation to the rest of the design, or any nearby architecture. There are a variety of unrelated architectural styles and elements being used such as the large shed roof, brace between buildings, trellises and arched canopies. It is important to understand that there is distinct storefront character along N Alberta.

The massing of the building whole might step back from the north and west edges.

D8 Interest, Quality and Composition: All parts of a building should be interesting to view, of long lasting quality, and designed to form a cohesive composition.

There is concern about the durability of materials and detailing. The material proposed is a cement panel with stone impressions. It is of our utmost concern that materials used be of great integrity. Instead of fake stone, real stone should be considered. Many of the new buildings on the street use metal siding which is not of quality to last and already shows signs of aging.

There are some concerns which fall outside of the guidelines. Community input also includes requests for Emerald Engineering and Construction’s commitment to elements that would reduce the development’s ecological footprint, improve the appearance of the development, and promote local employment and business. These are as follows:

• Greenroof
• Use of salvaged materials
• 1% for art to be associated with the project
• Locate a non-profit art studio in one of the retail spaces
• A commitment to leasing to only locally owned businesses
• Local minority firms and individuals hired for the construction phase

As said at the beginning of this memo, we look forward to new development on Alberta and see it as an important part of continuing to develop a future for our communities. We would like to suggest an additional meeting to discuss how these concerns can be integrated into the project.

Sincerely,

Vernon and Concordia Neighborhood Associations, Ad-hoc Land Use

CC: Justin Fallon Dollard, planner

gd

Panel discussion on Lessons from Hurricane Katrina

COMMUNITY PLANNING DAY PANEL DISCUSSION:
LESSONS FROM HURRICANE KATRINA

The community is invited to attend a panel discussion about the lessons taught by the Gulf Coast Hurricane Katrina experience. The event is sponsored by the City of Portland with assistance from the American Planning Association (APA). Dave Siegel, an Oregon resident and current national president of APA will present a slide show documenting his experience in post-Katrina New Orleans. Other panelist that volunteered on relief efforts will discuss their experience in Gulf Coast communities directly following Hurricane Katrina. The event will take place, Thursday, November 2nd from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the Portland Building Auditorium, 1120 SW 5th Avenue. Doors will open at 5:30pm.

"This dialog is a chance for people who worked on the Gulf Coast response effort to share their experiences and to prompt questions about how prepared we are to deal with an emergency," according to event organizer and Angelo Planning Group project manager, D.J. Hefffernan. Topics for the panel will include observations about the effectiveness of technology-based systems, delivery of vital services, the role public agencies should play in rebuilding decisions, and assessing how the Katrina response can help Portland's disaster preparedness. The November 2nd event is part of Oregon Community Planning Day and in conjunction with the World Town Planning Day. 

Other contributors to this event include Harrang Long Gary Rudnick, P.C., Parametrix, Inc., Mercy Corps, North West Medical Teams, the Oregon Ecumenical Center, The Rebuilding Center, and Portland State University.

Contact and questions:
D.J. Heffernan
Angelo Planning Group
533-227-3488
dheffernan@angeloeaton.com
620 SW Main Street, Suite 201,
Portland, OR 97205-3026
www.angeloplanning.com

Neighborhood Roundtable on evolution of Martin Luther King Jr. Bl vd., Nov. 16

:
Neighborhood Roundtable
Change on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. - One street's evolution, its change, growth and impact on the people and neighborhoods it connects


Thursday November 16, 2006
Studio A, Portland Community Media
2766 NE MLK Jr. Blvd
Portland, OR 97212
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Portland Community Media (PCM) and its community partners present a roundtable discussion of the uses of community media in addressing neighborhood issues. 

During a live television program, members of Neighborhood Associations, the Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Advisory Committee, Portland Development Commission, the North/Northeast Business Association, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement and others will reflect on the evolution of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd--its change and growth and the impact on the people and neighborhoods it connects. 

Doors open with refreshments at 6:15 pm, program begins at 7 pm. RSVP requested.  Admission is free.

Its part of a week-long series of events celebrating the 25th anniversary of Portland Community Media, formerly Portland Cable Access.

For event information, to RSVP contact:
Portland Community Media
Phone (503) 288-1515 ext. 12
2766 N.E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Portland, Oregon 97212
http://www.pcmtv.org/

Envision Oregon

FROM: Envision Oregon
RE: Envision Oregon Portland Town Hall Forum, August 3, 2006
DATE: August 11, 2006
On August 3rd, Envision Oregon organized a town hall forum in Portland, the third in a
series of forums scheduled around Oregon. The event was well attended and sponsored
by a wide array of organizations, including:
• Active Living by Design
• Audubon Society of Portland
• Bicycle Transportation Alliance
• Bus Project
• City Club of Portland
• Coalition for a Livable Future
• Community Development Network
• Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland
• Housing Alliance
• League of Women Voters® of Oregon
• Oregon Action
• Oregon Business Association
• Portland Business Alliance
• Portland Habitat for Humanity®
• SOLV
• The Neighborhood Partnership Fund
• visionPDX
• 1000 Friends of Oregon
Approximately 500 Oregonians participated in the forum, with registration completely
full prior to the event. The majority of participants were from the Portland metropolitan
area, but the event also attracted Oregonians from other areas around the state, including
Madras, Eugene, and Salem. Among the attendees were several local political officials:
State Representative Jeff Merkley, Metro Councilors Rex Burkholder and Robert Liberty,
Damascus Mayor Dee Westcott, Happy Valley Mayor Gene Grant, Tigard Mayor Craig
Dirksen, Lake Oswego City Councilor Jack Hoffman, and Damascus Councilor John
Hartsock. Task force members Steve Clark and Judie Hammerstad were also on hand at
the event.
As the Task Force begins further analysis and evaluation of the six issues you’ve
identified to guide your review of our statewide land use planning program, we hope you
will consider the opinions, ideas, and input put forth by over 500 Oregonians at this
Envision Oregon event.
The town hall forum was participant-driven. The majority of the three-hour event
was devoted to participants assessing and discussing with each other their values and
vision for Oregon’s future. Although Envision Oregon provided an opportunity for
Oregonians to talk about their ideas and find common ground, sponsoring
organizations did not interfere or intervene in their discussions. Participants
submitted answers at three levels: each participant wrote down his or her individual
answer, participants agreed on a common answer for their table, and table captains
(designated by the participants at the table) gathered in groups and synthesized input
from the individual tables.
What did Oregonians say about their values and vision
for our state?
The following reflects the collective responses of the more than 500 people who
shared their values and vision for Oregon at the August 3 Envision Oregon event.
These responses were synthesized by groups at tables and later collectively agreed
upon by groups of table captains. Each of these six groups was composed of
approximately nine table captains and represented by a distinct color (Blue, Buff,
Green, Orange, White, and Yellow). Although we have sorted the following
responses under common categories, the values and vision statements are taken
directly from the table captain group worksheets, with no additional edits or
interpretation by us. For responses from individual participants, as well as summary
reports from each table, please see the appendix to this report.
Question One: What three things do you value most about living
in Oregon today?
Oregon’s Natural Environment and Landscape
• “Access to and protection of natural environment” (Orange Group)
• “Diversity of natural environments and access to these environments” (Green
Group)
• “Public access to diverse and protected natural areas” (White Group)
• “Landscape: deserts, forests, rivers, coast, agriculture, mountains, rural/urban
diversity” (Buff Group)
• “Natural beauty, diversity of landscapes, access to nature” (Blue Group)
• “Access to open spaces: high quality options” (Yellow Group)
Oregonians’ Culture of Civic Engagement
• “People: can-do attitude, civic engagement, creative, independent, involved”
(Buff Group)
• “Civic mindedness, intentionality” (Blue Group)
• “Civic engagement and shared sense of community” (Orange Group)
• “Culture of participation and openness of institutions” (Green Group)
• “Community of engaged, involved, grassroots citizens” (Yellow Group)
Oregon’s Communities
• “Community-economic opportunity, access to nearby goods and services, urban
livability/sustainability, sense of place” (Buff Group)
• “Appreciation of diversity and community” (Green Group)
• “Human scale, density of towns and cities, livability of neighborhoods” (Blue
Group)
Land Use Planning:
• “Legacy of land use planning creates distinct urban and rural environments”
(Green Group)
• “Commitment to sustainability and livability, transportation options, agricultural
protection, and creative solutions to shared problems.” (Orange Group)
• “Innovative urban planning - non conformist, out-of-box thinking” (Yellow
Group)
• “Public will to protect land from urban sprawl and to protect farms and forests.”
(White Group)
Innovative and Open Government:
• “Fosters creative, innovative solutions: transportation choices, locally-owned
businesses, food, housing” (Yellow Group)
• “Open and accessible government that allows citizens to make a difference”
(White Group)
Question Two: What is your vision for Oregon thirty years from
now?
Citizen Participation in Effective, Open Government:
• “Collaborative government: less partisan, break deadlocks, get things done,
increase public grassroots participation, no out of state election financing” (Blue
Group)
• “Equitable public finance system designed to provide excellent public institutions
and services that support the values of Oregon, especially education, public
transportation, and health care.” (White Group)
• “Leadership-renewed participation in politics, responsive government” (Buff
Group)
• “A well-educated, informed citizenry that is engaged in community and civic
issues” (Yellow Group)
• “Willingness to pay taxes to achieve these goals, taxes by individuals and
corporations” (Blue Group)
• “Engaged and active citizens and responsive government” (Orange Group)
Social and Economic Vision:
• “Social equity for all: education, housing, healthcare, jobs, etc.” (Yellow Group)
• “Social visions: continue to enhance the diversity of people, adequate health care,
education, equity of opportunity” (Green Group)
• “Great education for all” (Buff Group)
• “People (all ages, all ethnic groups) enjoy access to jobs, housing, opportunity,
education, all are integrated” (Blue Group)
• “Economic visions: jobs (livable wage), locally-owned businesses, sustainable
industry” (Green Group)
• “Livability-access to health, education, housing, etc, affordability, community,
protection of natural environment, fossil-free, equitable transportation” (Buff
Group)
Land Use Planning:
• “Balanced land use planning for common good and individuals, continue
dialogue” (Yellow Group)
• “Natural areas preserved, growth is concentrated, growth as an engine for renewal
and repair, transit does not equal cars” (Blue Group)
• “Continued leadership in policies that protect agriculture, natural beauty and
strong communities, sustainability” (Orange Group)
• “Planning-retain compact cities, resource lands, green spaces between cities, and
planning well for infrastructure” (White Group)
Sustainability:
• “Sustainability: We can provide for our essential needs locally” (White Group)
• “Culture of sustainability” (Buff Group)
• “Environmental visions: better public transportation (including rail), smart
growth, natural resources (access to, preservation, and protection)” (Green Group)
• “New and revitalized small and medium urban centers that are human-scale, ecovibrant,
and sustainable throughout Oregon” (Yellow Group)
Next Steps?
Between the three town hall forums in Corvallis, Hood River, and Portland, Envision
Oregon efforts have directly engaged approximately eight hundred Oregonians in
neighbor-to-neighbor dialogue about the future of our state. These forums are the first
step in forging a vision for what Oregonians would like our state to become in the coming
years. What we learn about Oregonians’ values and visions for our state will serve to
inform the objectives and policies of a rejuvenated land use planning program.
The next Envision Oregon town hall forums will be held October 12 in La Grande and
October 26 in Medford. Future forums are also planned elsewhere around Oregon,
including Bend and Bandon.
Our experience suggests that many Oregonians can find agreement on what they feel is
important and what they would like for Oregon’s future. It is apparent that Oregonians
care deeply about our communities and want to be involved in helping to shape the future
of our state. We were pleased to have a diverse audience in Portland, with our varied cosponsors
helping to attract a crowd with many different points of view. We hope that
dialogue spurred with open-ended questions will encourage people to think “outside the
box” as a step toward synthesizing people’s concerns and good ideas into specific
recommendations for policy changes.
Like other interested organizations, we want to assist the Oregon Task Force on Land
Use Planning in its work. As we move forward, we welcome suggestions from you as to
how we can improve our efforts.
Envision Oregon August 3, 2006 Portland Town Hall Forum
hosted by
Envision Oregon is supported by generous grants from
The Gray Family Fund at The Oregon Community Foundation
The Bullitt Foundation
The Surdna Foundation

Vancouver BC planners to speak on Neighbourhood Centres, Nov. 8th

Noted Canadian planning author and Vancouver BC planners to speak in Portland on "Neighbourhood Centres: The Vancouver, BC Planning Experience"

Wednesday, November 8th
7:00 PM
Multnomah Arts Center
7688 SW Capitol Highway, Room 34


Noted Canadian author and planner, Lance Berelowitz, will speak in Portland on Wednesday, November 8th with two other Vancouver, BC planners, Anthony Pearl and David Ramslie.  Their free and public presentation will be on "Neighbourhood Centres: The Vancouver, BC Planning Experience" exploring the efforts in Vancouver to develop compact housing, public transit, and commercial development around defined neighborhood nodes or centers.  Their talk is relevant to Portland's efforts to develop similarly compact Town Centers throughout the metro region.  Neighborhood leaders interested in how the Vancouver experience can be a lesson for developing compact neighborhood business districts and town centers in Portland are encouraged to attend.

Who are the speakers:
Lance Berlowitz, Principal at Urban Forum Associates in Vancouver, BC, is author of "Dream City: Vancouver and the Global Imagination."  Berlowitz will speak about his work redeveloping a transit station and the surrounding area in one of Greater Vancouver's regional town centres.  He will address what some of the effective strategies have been achieved, where more work needs to be done and some notions about what the future holds.

http://www.douglas-mcintyre.com/book_details.asp?b=951

Anthony Pearl, Director and Professor of planning and geography with the Urban Studies Program at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC will speak about the challenges and benefits of linking our network of regional town centres with rapid public transport.  Pearl will discuss the success that has been achieved, where more work needs to be done and what the future holds.

http://www.sfu.ca/urban/
http://www.sfu.ca/polysci/contact/perl.html

Dave Ramslie, an urban designer and planner working for the Green Buildings Planner, City of Vancouver, BC, will speak about Vancouver's Neighbourhood Centres program mentioned above.  Ramslie will explore how these endeavors offer greater housing choice, improved retail options, and public realm treatments as well as limited community development support.


Sponsored by:
Southwest Hills Residential League (SWHRL), Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. (SWNI) and the City of Portland, Office of Neighborhood Involvement.  Their visit to Portland has been organized by the Canadian Consulate General in Seattle, WA as part of Canada Week, an outreach effort in Oregon to raise awareness about the connections between Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest states.

Accessibility:
Trimet bus:  Capitol Hwy, #44
The event is wheelchair accessible. 

For more information on this event contact:
Jim Thayer, President, SW Hills Residential League, 503-823-3309
Don Baack, President, Hillsdale Neighborhood Association, 503-246-2088
Brian Hoop, Office of Neighborhood Involvement, 503-823-3075, bhoop@ci.portland.or.us