By Allen Field
Richmond Neighborhood Association (RNA) held its monthly meeting Monday, October 13, at Waverly Heights Church at SE 33rd & Woodward St.
The annual Richmond/HAND/Buckman Friends of Trees planting will be December 6. Street trees are available at the fantastic price of $25. The deadline to signup is November 3, signup at www.friendsoftrees.org.
Rhetta Drennan, Bureau of Environmental Services, announced the October 24 Division “OpenFest”; a celebration of the end of Division Streetscape project. She explained the new bioswales will be planted after the rainy season starts, street trees will be planted in December and January, and art installations are TBD. She noted that Clinton St. improvements are about 6 months away from completion. To be added to the update emails, contact her at rhetta.drennan@portlandoregon.gov.
Marty Stockton, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS), gave an overview of the 2035 Comprehensive Plan Draft now in a public comment period. View the proposed changes and provide testimony via the city’s Map App: www.portlandmaps.com/bps/cpmapp2/. The Com Plan website is www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/57352. Contact Marty at 503.823.2041 or via email at marty.stockton@portlandoregon.gov for questions. A hard copy of the draft Plan Draft is at 1900 SW 4th to review. Testimony can be given via email, letter, testimony during Planning & Sustainability Commission hearings, or the Map App. The city wants your feedback, and it does matter.
A proposed Comp Plan re-designation and zone change for 3322 SE Cesar E. Chavez Blvd was discussed. A developer/owner of the property sought to rezone the property from R2.5 to R1. A neighbor to the site, Dee Dee Remington, requested the RNA board to oppose the zone change; or, in the alternative, to support three conditions recommended by the planning staff report (but rejected by the city’s hearings examiner). After much discussion from neighbors, the developer, and the RNA board, the Board voted to support the zone change, but with the conditions recommended by the staff report (35’ height restriction, design review, and deconstruction of the existing house). October 15, when the matter went before City Council, it voted unanimously to deny the Com Plan re-designation and the zone change.
The next RNA meeting is November 10, 7 – 9 pm. Meetings are 7-9 pm, the 2nd Monday of each month in the basement (use the side door near the parking lot). The RNA website is www.richmondpdx.org. Email richmondna@yahoo.com to be added to the RNA’s monthly email.