1. Williams Street Improvement Project/Cook Intersection

Rich Newlands, planner with the Portland Bureau of Transportation, attended to meet with more than 10 residents of Cook Street.
The residents have concerns with traffic exiting the freeway, and using the street as a thoroughfare to MLK Blvd, often at high speeds.  With the redevelopment of Williams and Vancouver, there is an opportunity to keep traffic from crossing Williams and continuing on Cook.

Contingent on federal grants, the city could put a permanent semi-diverter, that would only allow traffic to exit Cook onto Williams, but would not permit traffic to cross through on Cook.  The funding, if granted, would not come through until 2013, when Rich would reconvene with residents to plug into the actual design process.  Prior to the grant, Rich offered to take the suggestion back to PBOT that would put a temporary semi-diverter in place and to collect data on traffic patterns.  Rich will be in touch with Mike Warwick in January with updates.

2.  Neighborhood notice for “Wonder Bread” site apts/New Seasons plans

Guy Altman, representative of KRS

The Wonder Bread site is currently in process with the City of Portland for development of a 196 market rate apartment building with retail on the bottom floor.  140 parking places are planned with the development, which recently went through a preliminary design review with the City.  There will be 3 different facades for each street facing side, and two courtyards at the corners of Williams and Cook, and Vancouver and Cook.  The proposed timeline is 5-7 months to complete the design review and to obtain the necessary permits.

3. 1222 Building Proposal, assuming Ben Kaiser is available

Ben Kaiser and Jason Riffle, representatives from Kaiser Group

Discussed the proposed 5 story, approximately 36,000 square foot commercial building with ground floor retail.  Ben discussed the history of the site, and how it would work to integrate the sit’s history and integrate the neighboring church. The proposed site is also being considered for geothermal for heating and cooling.

4. Campus/Institutional Plans in Comp Plan process

John Cole, representative from the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

John wanted to give an early heads up to the proposed updates to the Campus Institutional Policy, which may have implications in land use regulation in the Eliot neighborhood (especially in regards to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center).  Campus Institutions, for the purpose of the Comprehensive Plan Update, are defined as campuses 10 acres in size or greater, and employs more than 100 employees.  Next steps in the process will be the release of Comprehensive Plan working drafts in January 2013.

5. 8:30 adjourn