Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Things to do tonight in other neighborhoods

Music

Portland Festival Symphony at 6 PM

Peninsula Park
N. Albina & Rosa Parks Way

Peter Piazza: Gut Feelings
Coleridge-Taylor: Four Characteristic Waltzes
Thara Memory , Guest-conductor

***
Leroy Anderson (b.1908): The Typewriter
Tschaikovsky : March Slave
Haydn: Toy Symphony
With children participation

Food

First Annual Kenton Cookout: 5:30-8 pm, Historic Firehouse, 8105 N. Brandon

This old-fashioned summer event is sure to be fun! Relax in the firehouse garden, meet your Kenton neighbors and taste
Po' Shines--Cafe De La Soul's delicious Bar-be-que!

Choose from Grown-up plates for $7.00, or the Kid's plate for $4.00. We'll also have a veggie option.
Non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase however if you like...bring your own "adult beverage".


More music and not tonight

Plan ahead to listen to the Portland Festival Symphony - all starting at 6 PM


Cathedral Park, Saturday, Aug. 2
Under the St. John’s Bridge
N. Lombard at the Willamette River
Michael Allen Harrison –Piano
Original Works
Remembrance
***
Johann Strauss: The Gypsy Baron
Dvorak: Symphony #8 Allegro con brio
Haydn: Toy Symphony
With children participation

Washington Park, Sunday, Aug. 3
Pre-concert performance
By Esther Shim, Violin Solo
Liszt: Gaudeamus Igitur
Kodaly: Intemezzo from Hary Janos
Bela Balogh, Guest-conductor
Bizet: L’Arlesienne Suite #2
***
Leroy Anderson (b.1908): Bugler’s Holiday
Dvorak: Symphony #8
Haydn: Toy Symphony
With children participation

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Next meeting with Trammell Crow - update

There is a special meeting with Trammell Crow about the apartment complex they are planing to build between the levee and the slough - directly west of the last row houses...

Meeting is at the Marriott on August 6th at 7PM

Come and learn and voice your opinions.


July 30th update from Leslie


Sam Rodriguez and Thomas DiChiara from TCR wish to discuss the new plans for the proposed development of a 250 unit apartment complex. They met with Portland Department of Transportation and another planning division.

One of the big issues is the city requirement of a paved connection to the end of Bridgeton Road for emergency vehicle access.


Please attend this meeting to help plan for our neighborhood’s future.


If you have questions or comments, please send an e-mail to

Leslie Sawyer, Chair, Bridgeton Neighborhood Association

parafriend@gmail.com


Direction to the North Harbor Courtyard:


1) Exit Marine Drive north onto N Anchor Way (at the Subway) and circle west to the Courtyard Marriott at North Harbor.

2) OR Walk the levee with many of us.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Meet Your Next Door Neighborhood

East Columbia Neighborhood Association is our next-door-neighbor and they have a picnic every year

It's this coming Saturday and here is the info:

East Columbia 6th Annual Neighborhood Picnic

It’s a potluck! Bring a favorite food to share, serving utensils, and a lawn chair or blanket.

Saturday, July 26th from 11:00 am-2:00 pm, at the Children’s Arboretum Park.
Enter off of 13th @ Meadow Drive
Follow the signs - golf carts will be available to shuttle you to the park.

Come spend a few hours visiting with your neighbors, and enjoy lunch in the park!

Live music presented by Providence Stage Band
Snow cones
Kid’s craft activities and games
Lots of raffle prizes! 1 ticket for $1, or 6 tickets for $5.
Guided nature walks
Musical Chairs

Sunday, July 20, 2008

BNA July minutes about the Trammell Crow complex

Here are the minutes from the July 16th meeting with Trammell Crow about the apartment complex. Another meeting is tentatively set for August 6th. If you have comments or questions - post them below where it says "comments"


Meeting notes for July 16, 2008

The Columbia Room at the Courtyard at the North Harbor Marriott

23 BNA members 8 of which are board members were present

This was a special meeting with Trammell Crow Residential to discuss their plans to build a 250+ unit apartment complex on the west end of Bridgeton Road. TCR was represented by Sam Rodriguez and Thomas DiChiara. They brought Mike Coleman to explain the results of the traffic study and Paul Jeffreys of Sera Architects to show his early rendering of designs for the site. Airanne Sperry, the North District Liaison for the Portland Planning Bureau also attended.

Sam Rodriguez started the meeting by saying that they still have not been able to meet with PDOT (Portland Department of Transportation). They hope to have a meeting with them next week to discuss their plans for a private street that has a permeable material for the connector to Bridgeton Road for emergency vehicles and a bike trail along the Bridgeton Slough. They will also learn what will be required for the access off of Marine Drive.

Mike Coleman explained that his review of the traffic study results would indicate that they will need to put in a left turn lane for east bound traffic wanting to enter the complex. They plan to have three lanes on the entrance road and block parking at the entrance which should allow vehicles making right turns the ability to exit without having to wait for cars making left turns onto Marine Drive. He worried about their being able to see west bound traffic. This study considered only the current traffic which is now that of an arterial road and not a collector road (which is what it is listed as). There is no consideration for traffic that may come from the 141 apartment complex going in on Anchor Way. Walter did say that Mr. Chiu has already agreed to pay for a stop light at the intersection of Anchor Way and Marine Drive when it is needed. We need to find out what is required to show that it is needed.

TCR is now saying that they plan to have 254 units that will be Studios (500 sq ft), one bedroom and two bedrooms (1000 sq ft) which they will charge from $1,000 to $1,400 per month. The larger buildings on the river side would be white with wood trim on long, sleek units with recessed and pop out balconies. The balcony rails would be of glass. The smaller, walk-up buildings would have a different design. They don’t think it would be feasible to make the buildings step down to the lower construction on either end because of the city requirement for fire escapes on the ends of the buildings. They would have to have many stairwells.

They have requirements from BES (Bureau of Environmental Services) to stay a certain distance from the slough. They will be looking into what plants are allowed to be planted on their land.

TCR keeps saying that the economics of the project require them to have 254 units. They are still saying that they need to add a story to the large buildings on the river going above the current zone restrictions or having three more small buildings which would cause the loss of the private road giving a public street and potential through road to Bridgeton Road. They have not explained what that economics is. They also said that they can build one square foot for every square foot of land.

TCR and Sera said that they will not be allowed to change their construction materials after it is reviewed and approved by the city design review. Several people suggested that they would like to see some angles in the design and it was suggested that they not use white because of the discoloration caused by jet fuel.

There were many questions about parking spaces for these apartments. We were reminded that the code does not require parking spaces and it was mentioned that people would probably not rent if they did not have parking provided. When the street parking within the complex is included, the complex would have 1.2 parking spaces for each unit. TCR reminded us that most complexes are not 100% full.

Someone said that Harbour Court has 1.1 parking spaces and many of the spaces are empty. However, Harbour Court charges extra for the parking causing many to choose to park on the street which might explain the parking issues on Harbour Way.

A meeting will be scheduled to continue this discussion the most likely date is August 6 at the Marriott. We hope to see more people at the meeting to get more people aware of the issues.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

To all boaters - know your buoys

We hope you enjoy the Columbia River as much as we do...and I have been asked to post a reminder about buoys and what they mean.

1 - keep green buoys and day beacons on the right when going to the sea (down river).

2- keep red buoys on the right when returning from the ocean [RRR = red right returning is a good way to remember]

At this time the submerged pilings are not visible as the river is still running higher than normal and boats are hitting the pilings, being badly damaged and having to be towed off the pilings.

Just today one neighbor sent this around:

This sailboat captain was obviously ignorant of RRR. He ran aground on the north side of the green day beacon in front of my house. I looked out the window this morning and in attendance were boats from Vessel Assist, the Sheriffs Patrol, and the Fire Bureau.

photo by B. Stipak

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Columbia Slough Regatta and other events

Sunday, July 27th from 9am-2pm

The Columbia Slough Watershed Council is gearing up for the 14th Annual Small Craft Regatta! This annual celebration of the Columbia Slough is the largest one-day paddle in Oregon. Bring your own watercraft and safety gear OR schedule a complimentary 45-minute canoe or kayak rental through CSWC. Reservations necessary for boat rentals. Rental boats are still available but they are going fast! Call or email now to request a reservation.

Visit the Regatta Webpage http://www.columbiaslough.org/news/regatta_pre_event_2008.htm

To reserve a canoe or kayak :
Call the Regatta reservation line at 503-459-7674 or email katie.meckes@columbiaslough.org. Please be sure to provide all of the following information:
* Your first and last name
* Your preference for a either a canoe or kayak
* The time you would like to reserve your trip (9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm or 1pm). Please give your 1st & 2nd choice start times.
* Phone number and email address

Location:
Portland Water Bureau Canoe Launch
16650 NE Airport Way
Portland, OR 97230

A voluntary donation of $7 per person is appreciated and helps support future CSWC programs and activities. Thank you!


More fun summer programs & events:

Summer Day at the Ponds
Friday, August 8th from 9:00 – 11:30am
Come for a summer field trip to Whitaker Ponds Nature Park! We will go on a nature hike, search for aquatic animals living in the ponds and complete a nature-themed craft. Ages 7-11 are welcome. Space is limited. Suggested donation of $8 per child. Pre-registration is required. To register contact Rachel at (503) 281-1132 or email rachel.felice@columbiaslough.org.

Subs on the Sloug
h
Friday, August 15th from 11:30am - 1:00pm
Come have lunch at a hidden gem of a canoe launch along the slough! This event is a fun way to meet Slough neighbors & friends, have a great lunch and learn more about our local groundwater resource and the Groundwater Protection Program that is underway in the Columbia Slough watershed. Pre-registration is required and space is limited, so please register early! To register contact Katie at 503-281-1132 or katie.meckes@columbiaslough.org.

Aquifer Adventure
Saturday, September 13th from 12-4pm
Join the Portland Water Bureau and the Columbia Slough Watershed Council for the Sixth Annual Aquifer Adventure, a pirate-themed day of canoe rides, treasure hunting, music and games. This event focuses on groundwater, water conservation, and groundwater protection actions that you can do at home. Hands-on activities teach kids and adults how to protect this important groundwater resource that serves as a supplemental and emergency drinking water supply to 700,000 people in the Portland Metropolitan area.
No registration necessary. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Katie at 503-281-1132 or katie.meckes@columbiaslough.org.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Special Meeting Tonight

There is a special BNA meeting tonight with Trammell Crow representatives at 7pm in the Columbia Room at the Courtyard Marriott on North harbor.

Sam Rodriguez will bring along the architect and street engineer.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Tree Update

Today the notices were posted along the road or tied on the trees that are to be cut down.

Some trees do not need city permits and some do. For those needing permits - there is a time frame in which to comment on the permit.

The tree committee and the drainage district agreed on these marked trees and signed off on the plan...so these trees are going to be gone! If one is your favorite - go take a picture soon...

Click on this sentence to read the Certification Plan.

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Minutes of meeting of June 25

Bridgeton N. A. Meeting Minutes
25 June 2008

Bridgeton Neighborhood Association
Special meeting: Alexan Columbia Waterfront
Presenter: Sam Rodriguez of Trammell Crow Residential
30 neighborhood attendees

The vacant land along the levee adjacent to Bridgeton townhouses, Blue Frog Marina, and the Muse is a 6.7-acre site that is being designed to accommodate approximately 250 apartments, wetlands, parking, and a bike/pedestrian path. It is zoned CM.

There is a no-build zone along the north boundary of the project.

Drainage District #1 surveyed a 25’ strip, measured south from the north edge of the levee, which is set aside to accommodate the bike / pedestrian path. No fencing will separate the levee path from Alexan.

There is an environmental zone on the south side of the project that contains wetlands. The west and east ends of the project will protect access to and from the levee. An additional levee access point in the center of the project was described as suitable for handicapped access.

The project will be built to attain a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED Gold rating. Apartment units are 750 SF 1-bedroom and 925 SF 2-bedroom. Rents are proposed at $1.40 / SF.

Two options were presented. Both options provide an additional connection from Harbor Dr. to Marine Dr. with a turn lane onto Harbor from Marine Dr. Note: The Muse is 65’ above the levee while the maximum height for the Alexan project is 55’ above the levee.

Option #1 contains a public road while option #2 offers a private road. Option #1: 250 apartment units in nine buildings, 200 parking spaces, 5-story total height with four stories above the levee, 52’ wide public right of way connecting from Harbor Dr. to Bridgeton Rd. The Bridgeton connection will employ a turn around and bollards to contain vehicle traffic in the apartment development. Emergency access from Bridgeton is allowed.

Option #2: 250 apartment units in six buildings, 270 parking spaces, 6-story total height with five stories above the levee, 52’ wide private street connecting Harbor Dr. to a more narrow access to Bridgeton Rd. that is limited by bollards to non-vehicle traffic. This option assures a pocket park on the east end of the project. Emergency access from Bridgeton is allowed.

Bike / pedestrian path construction will be paid for from sources including; Trammell Crow, PDC, Parks, CRC, L.I.D, Metro Greenspace.



Rich Brown Leslie Sawyer Sam Rodriguez

360-921-5501 503-314-2137 503-517-2792

BNA Secretary BNA, President Trammell Crow