The Colwood Golf Course hearing on Monday, March 24, 2008 had 13 neighbors who testified against the zoning proposal to change the 138 acre Open Space area to Industrial, (with a couple of others submitting letters, I would guess about 40+ people attended) A couple of business people testified in support of the zone change. Thanks to all those who came to the hearing. There were many great points made, creating more issues that needed to be explored by the staff and others.
The record is now being held open until April 14th, 4:30 pm for additional comments. You can mail letters to the Hearings Officer Gregory Frank, 1900 SW 4th, Room 3100, Portland, OR 97201 or fax 503-823-4347. No e-mails will be accepted. Be sure to include the case file number LU 05-138386 CP ZC on your letter. Do not wait til the last day to send comments in. The City Staff recommendations can be viewed at www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=186648.
The Hearings Officer will make a recommendation to the City Council to approve or deny the zone change. This case will then go to the City Council probably in May. This is where the final decision will be made. We are hoping that even more residents attend the City Council hearing. Check the CAN website for updates in May www.cullyneighbors.org, click on Colwood Hearing in the blue scroll section on the home page.
It was great that different aspects were covered in everyone's testimony, I tried to basically make comments on statements made in the 66 page BDS staff report. Others commented on Colwood located in a flooding zone area, airport noise and pollution, quality of life, habitiat and open space, transportation issues, and comphrensive plan codes not met. Great job to everyone, who sent in comments, who testified and everyone else who made concerns known just by being present at the hearing.
The applicants feel we have plenty of Open Space (OS) with Sacajawea Park and eventually Thomas Cully Park. They feel that their property is a private space and is not Open Space now other than the OS designation since people cannot freely come on their property now(even though they have a public golf course, and people use the public waterway of the Columbia Slough). The applicants were not happy that the BDS staff recommended that an additional 13.5 acres (property in between the slough arms) be added to their 22.5 acres proposal as Open Space, making 36 acres of OS. Stay tuned for more to come.
Thanks again for your support,
Kathy Fuerstenau
503-252-0749
