By Susan Lindsay
Proposed adjustments to current parking code regarding new multi-unit construction come before City Council on Thursday, April 4th. Residents of Buckman with concerns/opinions of any sort about several new apartment buildings currently being built (and several others planned) with zero parking within 500 feet (2.5 blocks) of a transit street are urged contact the Council members or attend the Council hearing. Adjustments proposed would still allow for new buildings up to 40 units to be built without any parking and any required parking on larger developments can be limited with certain added measures. Also, no restriction exist regarding the number of new parking-free developments that can be built along any particular street or area. Recent Portland Planning Bureau studies show about 3/4 of all residents in these parking free developments own cars. See full proposal: www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/434428
The Buckman/KERNS Cleanup is upon us!! Plan to bring your unwanted “stuff” to 20th and SE Salmon (1315 SE 20th), Saturday, April 20th, 9-12pm. Volunteers and inquiries, please contact Eric O’Connor ateric@magnetichealthfactory.com The requested donation is $10-30, depending on how much you’re dropping off. Accepted materials include bulky waste, yard debris, metal, batteries (no lithium or car batteries), tires, e-waste (including computers, cell phones, LCD monitors, printers and others), styrofoam (no peanuts) and fluorescent bulbs. No hazardous waste, paint, dirt of concrete.
All of St. Francis Park and an adjacent house will be demolished and a 154 unit, 4-5 story residential structure built on the block if plans recently submitted by St Francis Church are approved and permitted. No onsite loading areas are planned. The BCA has invited representatives from St Francis and the developers (Gerding Edlen) to attend and present at the April 11th BCA meeting, 7-9pm, at the Multnomah County Board Room, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd.  All are invited to attend.
Is East Burnside too dangerous? Should changes be made to make it safer for cars and pedestrians? Representatives from PBOT will attend the April 11th BCA to discuss this important traffic corridor.
Car breakins, car theft and residential burglaries have risen dramatically in Buckman. Portland Police are aware of this, and residents and visitors are once again urged to leave nothing in your car. Please be sure to report all cases of crime and damage to property, as civic resources are allocated based on reports. You can check out the current state of crime in Buckman and compare to other neighborhoods view the Portland Maps tool. www.portlandmaps.com
Mark your calendar now for the May 9th, 2013 BCA Forum on Fluoridation!! We’ll have speakers from both sides of the issue so you can make an informed choice for the special election May 21st. The forum will be in our regular meeting space at 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 7pm. Refreshments will be available.
Finally, we want to build a splash pad for Colonel Summers Park!! Kids love summer fun, and having a new splash pad in the park will provide hours of playtime and refreshing relief for the little ones right in the heart of Buckman. A fundraising and organizing effort has been launched. Please sign up to help begin this process! www.oregonunlimited.org/public/sites/11052/workspaces/1450489  Contact Brian Sanders (Brandon@thesanders.com) or the BCA Board (buckmanboard@googlegroups.com) for more information.