Monday, August 25, 2008

Tree Cutting Has Started

This morning the tree cutting started at the school end of the road so they can be done with that before students return to classes.

It was sad watching large old trees disappear in moments. I shot some video but will not get it edited and uploaded til later tonight.

The cutting will continue westward as the weeks go on....
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Saturday, August 23, 2008

Tree Removal Update

Tree removal begins Monday along the Bridgeton Levee

in northeast Portland

Where: Columbia School, 716 NE Marine Drive
When: 10 a.m., Monday, August 25, 2008
Who: Representatives of the Peninsula Drainage District No. 2 Board, Bridgeton Neighborhood Association, Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, landscape architect Bo Nevue and area residents

At 10 a.m. on Monday, August 25, crews will begin the removal of 68 trees along the Bridgeton levee in northeast Portland. The first trees to be removed will be those located at Columbia School along Marine Drive.

Representatives from the neighborhood and the public agencies involved in the project will be on hand to answer questions.

The tree removal is required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in order to recertify the Bridgeton levee, thereby also protecting flood insurance coverage for area residents.

Portland Parks & Recreation City Nature helped facilitate an agreement between the Peninsula Drainage District No. 2 and the Bridgeton Neighborhood Association to study the specific requirements and to remove the required trees, but which also guaranteed a mitigation plan which will replant more trees while still ensuring the integrity of the levee. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, and Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman all played invaluable roles in making the process successful.

The mitigation plan, designed by landscape architect Bo Nevue, involves planting as many as 304 trees over the next three years as a replacement for the 68 trees being removed.

The Process will take several weeks to complete. There will be street closures as the trees and roots are removed. Thank you for your understanding on this.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The Bridge is Coming! Pollution is Coming!

On Monday, the Oregonian had an article about the possible pollution runoff into the Columbia from the construction and ultimate urban sprawl that a new bridge could bring to the region.

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218947109273750.xml&coll=7

I had always wondered why the task force, from what I understood, worked on the assumptions that driving habits would remain the same, as would gas prices and there would be no new businesses or housing added in the area.

In any place I have ever lived, new or wider roads or bigger bridges always resulted in more traffic, more businesses and more housing...So why did this task force assume Portland would be different than other cities? Beats me!

And of late, one need not even contemplate the reality of what a new bridge might bring - that reality is here already. Every buildable spot in the Bridgeton area is for sale! Many of those sale signs have gone up in the last few weeks...

So even if the new bridge is never built - the focus on this area and a possible bridge, has already resulted in the planing for more apartments, more disappearing green, more disappearing bird nesting areas along the slough, and ultimately more cement, more roofs and more dirty rain running off into the Columbia... some because there will be no "land" left to absorb the rain.

Build it and they will use it to sell it and move it to the area! © That's my new slogan for Bridgeton!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Minutes of Aug. 6 inclding tree update


These are the "draft" minutes - so if there are changes I'll post them later this week - but as they contain tree update [bolded] info - I wanted to post it now


Leslie began meeting at 7:04 PM. at Marriott Residences, a last minute change of venue from the planned site at Marriott Courtyard.

Walter provided a "tree" update. Drainage District #2, Corps of Engineers, and BNA have signed a "cut and re-plant" agreement. August 25 at 10 AM the cutting begins with the Columbia School trees at the east end of Bridgeton. All are invited to witness the procedure. Tree cutting and stump grinding are expected to proceed for 3-4 weeks. The 22 affected property owners have received a packet of information. Hardwood trees will go to re-use and other trees will be recycled in some fashion. Residents are warned to expect noise, traffic, and other impacts. Replanting will commence during the fall.

Trammell Crow (TC) and Portland Department of Transportation (PDOT) have held a series of meetings over the west end connector road and multi-use esplanade. PDOT was reported to be pushing the idea of connectivity via a through street. TC has offered concessions fostering an esplanade limited to emergency vehicle traffic. A Harbour Ct. resident questioned why BNA argues against Bridgeton as a through street while BNA is indifferent to Harbour Ct. as a through street.

TC reported that PDOT does not plan to include a traffic light at the intersection of the new street and Marine Dr. instead preferring lane widening and turn lanes.

TC presented new elevations from all sides that demonstrate considerable change from the earlier sketches. The softer lines reduce the "bulk" of the planned complex. With these design changes the two, 5-story buildings fronting the river appear to be four buildings with deep center setbacks.

Overall, the two largest buildings will be set back 25' from the south edge of the "flat" part at the top of the dike. As presented by TC, there will be a 4-story apartment section with 5th story penthouses. Materials include cedar lap or cedar shiplap panels along with stucco in multi colored hues. There is to be a 50' break between Brian's townhouse at the west end of Bridgeton and a 25' break heading east from the Mews. Further south will be three 3-story walk-ups. The final two, single-story buildings will front Marine Dr. and include the clubhouse and rental office.

ADA accessibility from Bridgeton via the esplanade to Marine Dr. is assured. ADA access to the path along the dike is to be provided via public elevator from the center of the planned project.

TC is preparing the formal application that will be ready in about a month. The formal application will result in a Type 2 Design Review process involving many city bureaus. The meetings with PDOT and BNA were designed to vet issues that are likely to come up in design review.

The members present seemed to come away with general appreciation of the re-designed apartments.

Meteor Showers

The Perseid meteor showers start tonight - but the air in Portland proper has been pretty dirty of late - and it is a city! so if you want to see the meteor showers you need to get way to a spot with no city lights...

OMSI is doing a meteor watch tonight - 9PM at Rooster Rock info here

Last year I could not see nay from my deck - but having seen these showers in the past when I was in "cleaner sky areas" - if you can get away do so - it can be awe inspiring!

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Tree Updates

Many have asked when the trees will be cut - I don't know. Some trees had city permits and the appeal deadline has passed for those needing permits....

I am guessing it depends on DD2 getting the permits in hand for all trees so they can hire the crew and remove all the trees in short order. We'll know when they start - it will be noisy here!


And a reminder - there is a meeting about the Trammell Crow apartment complex Wednesday August 6th at the Marriott - 7 PM