Walking tour 2/21 3pm – StrongTownPDX, L&C Students
MLK Grant exists – upgrading crosswalks. Was at city council recently
Discuss the Lloyd Center Master Plan – there’s been some opposition to demolishing the mall. Do we want to take a position on the project and send a letter to the city?
Motion 3-0 – Anders will send a letter supporting redevelopment
Update on Parking District
City Council has this on their radar after we sent a letter
Current parking price of $5/hr is not reducing on-street occupancy the way we want
The city is doing parking studies
Any other topics you are interested in
Dawson Park street closure or parking removal- why no action from the city. Individuals will follow up
Anders (Chair) Andrew (Vice Chair) Allan (Recorder) Mike W – accepted continued LUTC membership Mike Faden – non-member
Minutes – started 6:02 at the Albina Library (NE Russell or NE Knott entrance)- upstairs room 2A
1 – Updates on Allan’s I-405 project – 3 tracks – community vision, starter project, restitution
2 – Updates on the NE 7th diverter effort – couple with MLK prosperity and health project
3 – Updates on the leaf blower letter we sent to the city – Parks bureau is working on getting new electric equipment
Other discussions:
– What is happening to traffic while the Broadway bridge is closed? There was a question about whether anyone studying the traffic impacts?
– Development in Eliot – not much happening – townhouses on Sacramento St rented – didn’t sell.
History discussion – RUNT house – ( renewable urban neighborhood team ). Former Eliot activist house. ENDA (now ENA) kind of came out of that. Was renamed to Eliot Energy House.
Former (long ago) LUTC member Wes Ayers wants to join – We will wait for him to show up in person
Allan Rudwick – Chair Andrew Champion – Recorder Anders Hart
Guests
Steve Cole – Irvington Community Association (ICA) President Mike Faden Liz Zenger
Traffic Calming on NE 7th Avenue
Allan presented a slide deck about the Lloyd-to-Woodlawn Greenway, a PBOT project that stalled in 2017.
Leaf Blowers in Portland Parks
Anders wrote a letter urging the Parks bureau to complete its transition from gasoline to electric outdoor power equipment. Steve indicated that ICA may be willing to co-sign.
Motion to approve letter: Allan | Second: Anders | Approved (one abstention)
LUTC Elections
Committee Members
Andrew Champion
Anders Hart
Allan Rudwick
Officers
Chair: Anders Hart
Vice Chair: Andrew Champion
Recorder: Allan Rudwick
Motion to approve slate: Allan | Second: Andrew: | Approved (unanimous)
Updates & Announcements
Fremont Bridgehead – Allan
Allan held the first citizen meeting about this land reclamation project. Members of PBOT, Russell & Williams, Boise NA, ODOT, and others attended.
Parking – Allan
Zone V enforcement changes (from 2-hour to meters) have been delayed until 12/31.
Parking continues to not be allowed on the N Flint overpass. ODOT says that it needs these spaces for construction.
An area planner (Valeria) from the Bureau of Planning & Sustainability will be invited to join in the upcoming months.
Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS)
Kevin Bond
Nicholas Starin
Guests
Mike Faden – Resident
BPS – Kevin & Nicholas
The Central City Code Amendments project (CCCAP) is adapting the 2035 Central City plan, initially adopted in 2018, to post-COVID realities.
Encouraging housing is an overarching goal. One specific goal is to migrate some industrial zoning to general employment and mixed use, including the Lower Albina region. Another is to increase the number of streets where ground floor dwellings are allowed.
Economic recovery is another overarching goal. Use allowances would allow manufacturing, production, and small warehouses in CX zones, as well as retail in the Central Eastside.New surface parking areas may also be opened up on ODOT property and for five years on sites slated for future development. Consolidation and simplification of zoning regs for food carts, no longer classified as vehicles requiring parking spaces. Stretch consideration: all retail, not food carts.
Increased building heights and floor area ratios (FAR) with consideration of viewsheds, are being considered for both housing and recovery.
Allan asked if ground floor retail could be rented out for residential purposes. Nicholas confirmed that it already can be.
LUTC Meeting Schedule
Agreed to new schedule: 2nd Wednesday of the month
Other Updates
Parking Zone V (Rose Quarter)
Allan has verified that the N Flint overpass of I5 can support parked vehicles and is writing a letter to PBOT in support of allowing it with a Zone V permit.
Max says that painting the curb at 7th & Russell has shown moderate success and that parking in the area is tight. She asked ENA to write a letter to Russell Apartments management requesting lower rates for the building’s off-street parking spaces.
Fremont Bridgehead Update
Allan is trying to assemble a committee for the project.
Zone V Parking Update
Allan reports that PBOT found parking enforcement difficult in its first year, and is converting the zone to meters. Delivery for new signage about the meters is behind schedule.
Walking Tour of 7th Avenue
The group walked NE 7th and discussed multiple approaches to traffic calming for the proposed greenway alignment.
The Russell & Williams Community Development Corporation is hosting a ‘Warm the Block’ coat and food drive at Dishman this coming Saturday from 1-4pm. Details below
This meeting will be in person at the Albina Library (NE Russell or NE Knott entrance)- upstairs room 2A
Agenda
1 – Public Comment & Agenda Additions 2 – Discussion of traffic calming on NE 7th Ave. This is a citizen-led initiative. Presentation & Discussion (Allan) 3 – Leaf Blowers in Portland Parks letter (Anders) 4 – LUTC elections – committee and officers 5 – Updates & Announcements – Fremont Bridgehead update – first citizen meeting happened – Parking update – Zone V enforcement changes delayed until 12/31 – also ODOT blocking parking on N Flint for questionable reasons – Will invite our area planner to join in upcoming months – Nov 13 6:30pm (day after the meeting) – ABC’s of land use – Board meeting next Monday
The Eliot Parking Task Force met with Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) over the summer and they talked about a number of changes. As you may know, last year’s permit program for Zone V was not very effective at discouraging Moda Center event-goers from parking in our neighborhood. However, this year the City proposed a new plan, we made some tweaks and it is just taking a little bit longer to implement. We’re seeing December 31st as the implementation date.
One issue that we worked with the City on was trying to add the missing link on N Flint avenue between N Tillamook and N Hancock to the permit area. ODOT engineers say the N Flint bridge across I-5 is strong enough to support parked cars and we have lots of pictures documenting cars parked on the bridge. ODOT has denied this request saying that “because construction staging space is very limited in this area, it needs to be reserved and available for the contractor to use during project construction”.
From ODOT’s project website, it looks like “phase 1A” has started construction. This project appears to be bridge maintenance and stormwater facility construction only- unrelated to the main part of the Rose Quarter project that we have been fighting against. These two pieces of the project are 0.8 miles and 0.5 miles away from the project site on the shortest routes to these two projects. Storing materials on bridges is not always the best idea since some previous bridge collapses have been connected with extra materials and weight being stored on them, but I’m sure ODOT’s engineers know this and are taking precautions.
We are disappointed to see ODOT unwilling to take simple action to free up parking near the first 2 residential buildings downhill from I-5 in 50 years. ‘Albina One’, which just opened, and ‘Analog’ which has been open only a few years. We urge ODOT to reconsider this decision.
For more information on the parking zone changes, see this from PBOT or visit their webpage:
Zone V Permit Changes Coming Soon
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is expanding the Zone V permit area in the Eliot neighborhood with some changes. Permits make it easier for those who live and work in Eliot to find on-street parking during large events in and around the Rose Quarter. See map below. PBOT will begin installing new pay stations and “Pay to Park” signs soon. The Zone V expanded area and new rules go into effect Dec. 31. Here’s what’s new for visitors without a Zone V permit when the Lloyd Event District is active: – Pay-to-park for on-street spaces (up to $5/hour) – 5-hour time limit – Rules apply year-round For Zone V permit holders when the Lloyd Event District is active: – No payment required – No time restrictions
PBOT is installing new pay stations and “Pay to Park” signs soon. The Zone V expanded area and new rules go into effect Dec. 31
Sign up now Residents in the areas of the map—plus businesses, nonprofits, and their employees—may sign up for Zone V permits. PBOT uses a license plate-based system and does not issue physical permits. Apply, submit documents, pay, and manage permits through our online system. Visit Portland.gov/EliotParking to get started. Resident permits The cost of an annual Zone V permit is $135 with two discounted rates of $50 or $105 depending on income. Households can purchase one annual guest permit for $100 and up to 100 daily guest permits in packs of 10 for $22. Income-based discounts have been changed. Percentage thresholds have been adjusted to help ensure the Zone V program is self-sustaining. Employee permits Employees in the shaded areas of the map who need to park for work may purchase an annual Zone V permit for $135. Two discounted rates of $50 or $105 are also available, depending on income. Employees may not purchase guest permits. Business and nonprofit permits Businesses and nonprofits operating in the shaded areas of the map are eligible to purchase guest permits for vendors or visitors. Businesses and non-profits can purchase one annual guest permit for $100 and up to 100 daily guest permits in packs of 10 for $22.
Need Assistance Applying for Your Permit? PBOT Parking Permits PBOTParkingPermits@portlandoregon.gov503-823-2777 Stay informed For more information, including permit details or schedule, or to sign up for our email list that will notify you when the Lloyd Event District is active, visit Portland.gov/EliotParking
Friends of Trees is planting FREE street and yard trees in Eliot! We have a wide variety of species for you to select from, and provide planting support, tree care education, and free watering for street trees. Sign up here for your trees today: friendsoftrees.org/get-a-treeIf you’d like to participate in our Eliot neighborhood planting event on January 17 but not receive a tree, please sign up here: friendsoftrees.org/event-calendar
This meeting will be online – we’ll be using google meet:
Agenda
1 – Public Comment & Agenda Additions 2 – [Kevin Bond and Nicholas Starin from BPS] – the Central City Code Amendments project 3 – General discussion with BPS staff about any topics of interest. (see the bottom for a list of projects they have been working on) 4 – Discussion of next steps for getting the city’s attention about diverter on NE 7th. Draft letter here 5 – What day of the week should we meet? Arguments: The newly opened Albina Library has nice rooms that are open later Tuesday and Wednesday. Boise NA has its board meetings on the 2nd Monday of the month so we can’t attend it if we don’t cancel this meeting. We have been meeting on Mondays for years 6 – other updates – Fremont Bridgehead update – Allan is dragging his feet – Parking update – Zone V enforcement season coming again in October, new signs with paid parking are coming but haven’t arrived yet. Link to more details
General update from City planning staff: In case you or other interested folks in Eliot aren’t already subscribers, you can sign up for email notifications for when we publish the monthly long-range planning project updates. The September newsletter is available here.
This monthly newsletter is a handy way to get the current status of BPS’s active land use planning work, including upcoming events and hearings, opportunities to engage with the projects, find out when new materials are published, and how to comment or testify.
Out of all the current BPS planning projects besides CCCAP and RAPP happening in your part of town, I would point out:
The Affordable Housing Opportunities Project, which is a continuation of a targeted series of zoning map amendments intended to help encourage affordable housing production. This latest project is focused on non-profit affordable housing providers. You can view where zoning map changes are proposed on the Map App. There are two sites near your part of town. This project was just recommended for approval by the Planning Commission and heads to City Council for a public hearing next.
The Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub Policy Project, while not directly impacting Eliot may be of interest to folks in your part of town. The project is intended to update City policies that regulate bulk fuel facilities in northwest Portland along the Willamette River. There are several virtual and in person outreach events happening while the project is inviting public comments through Oct. 17 on a proposed set of preliminary alternatives.
There are also a number of active planning projects with citywide applicability, such as:
The Code Alignment Project was just approved by City Council and is intended to streamline permitting and help with housing production and economic recovery.
The Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA) is a project to forecast growth in Portland’s industrial and other business districts, then designate an adequate 20-year supply of developable land for businesses and jobs. A related project is the Columbia Corridor and Industrial Lands Environmental Overlay Zone Project. These two projects just published Discussion Drafts, have outreach events scheduled, and are taking public comments until Nov. 10.
The Legacy Business Preservation Study is exploring policy options to better support the long-term viability of local independently owned businesses. The study has a questionnaire open until Oct. 31.
The Public Infrastructure Environmental Code Project will facilitate needed improvements to public infrastructure and allow for management of trees, vegetation, and other natural resources in publicly owned and maintained natural areas. This project had a Planning Commission hearing and recommendation in the summer and goes to City Council for a public hearing next.
Regulatory Improvement Code Amendment Package 11 (RICAP 11) is part of an ongoing series of projects that make minor updates to Portland’s zoning regulations to remove barriers to development. This project had a Planning Commission hearing next month and is scheduled for a work session and recommendation this month.
If you ever want to hear from a BPS planner at your committee meetings or any time, feel free to reach out to the individual project staff contacts or contact the district liaison for the area.
This month, ODOT issued a press release claiming the agency intends to start construction in the summer of 2025 on the proposed Rose Quarter Freeway Expansion Project despite ODOT only possessing 40% of the needed funding for the entire project and numerous legal hurdles in their way. The press release is designed to give this project as currently designed an air of inevitability, with ODOT issuing statements like “The I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project was created by the local community, City of Portland and ODOT working together to plan for changes coming in the future of inner north and northeast Portland. By building new separated bike lanes and wider sidewalks, improving the highway and creating new roadway connections, the project will create a better connected community, a more reliable I-5 and support economic growth.” (ODOT press release, 2018).
In a presentation to the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) this month, ODOT admitted that with their current available funding, they are limiting the scope of the project. Their ‘phase one’ would be minimal changes from the current I-5 travel patterns, but they would almost entirely to double the width of I-5. They hope additional funding arrives from the 2025 legislature to build the community components desired by the Eliot Neighborhood and others, but there is no guarantee that funding for these elements will be delivered any time soon (or ever).
Let’s be clear – thanks to the advocacy of Albina Vision Trust and other local partners to win a historic $450 million grant from the federal government, ODOT already has enough funding to build the caps over the freeway without the expansion. But ODOT is cynically spending this money upfront on their freeway expansion plans with the intent to beg for an additional influx of hundreds of millions of dollars in the upcoming 2025 legislative session, a tall order considering the legislature’s need to prioritize finding billions of new dollars of revenue to invest in basic maintenance and preservation of ODOT’s existing deteriorating roads statewide. This prioritization of investment in freeway capacity over the highway caps at a time in which the state legislature is clearly not capable of promising this additional influx of revenue jeopardizes the likelihood our neighborhood receives the positive transformative changes we were promised. We will, however, get the years of construction impacts of this project, the increased vehicle emissions, and the additional cars on our streets making the neighborhood more hostile to local residents for years to come.
In my testimony to the OTC this month, I reminded the Commission that the Eliot Neighborhood has consistently asked for a few basic things in this project: – Change traffic patterns to help businesses thrive – Reduce car traffic on local streets – Improve transit – Reconnect the urban fabric around the area – See usable pedestrian-scale buildings in and around the project area – Have walkable and bikeable routes to cross the highway without interacting with cars – Reduce air pollution
Meanwhile, the funded project will:
Widen I-5 south of the Rose Quarter
Ignore all ramp reconfigurations the community asked for and keep the status quo
Remove the hancock overcrossing
Remove the clackamas overcrossing
Keep the overbuilt freeway cap width, leading to the need to lower the roadbed and cause major disruptions to traffic
Remove the most desirable building locations from the caps
Widen I-5 north of the rose quarter
Widen I-5 in both directions through the rose quarter
The Eliot Neighborhood Association has therefore continued to serve as co-plaintiffs on multiple state and federal level lawsuits to stop this project as currently designed. We, along with advocates from No More Freeways and other groups believe that ODOT didn’t fully comply with federal environmental law that demands they look at alternatives to freeway expansion in our neighborhood.
Even if ODOT hosts a ceremonial “groundbreaking” ceremony next year to commence construction, the agency still faces numerous financial and legal hurdles to completing this project, and the Eliot Neighborhood will continue to use the tools at our disposal to demand that ODOT deliver a project that in line with our communities needs and values. Any Eliot resident who wishes to get more involved with opportunities to talk to our elected officials and legislators should reach out to me at lutcchair@eliotneighborhood.org; the upcoming year represents a critical opportunity for us to organize and stand up for our neighborhood, and we’ll need all the help we can get.
This isn’t over, but ODOT wants you to believe that it is.
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Welcome & Introductions Update on Zone V parking permit program (PBOT) Upcoming program evaluation (PBOT) Boise Parking Management Plan and evolution of the Zone V parking permit (PBOT)
Eliot Neighborhood 