Comprehensive Plan Review Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, June 1, 2004

Estacada City Hall

7:00 pm

 

Attendees:

Randy Ealy, City of Estacada (minutes)

Cliff Atkinson (Citizen Workgroup Chair)

John Morgan (Planning Consultant)

Alan Rademacher, (member) 30735 SE River Mill Road, Estacada

Danny Scott, (member) 20664 Norse Avenue, Eagle Creek

Don McGregor, (member) 30999 SE Ely Road, Estacada

Jerry Polzin, (member) 450 NE Carol Street, Estacada

Steve Mueller, PO Box 339, Estacada

DJ Bleu, 43900 SE Music Camp Road, Sandy, 97055

Jane Troeh, 250 SE Ginseng, Estacada

Bill Hilands, 2698 SW Ravensview Drive, Portland, 97201-1788

Judy Eckhard, 27497 S Skinner Road, Estacada

Michael Park, PO Box 369, Estacada

Stephen Shibley, PO Box 1608, Estacada

Pete Giordano, PO Box 1671, Estacada

Bob Veley Jr., 33700 SE Duus Road, Estacada

George & Diane Cawthon, 29677 SE Sunview Lane, Estacada

John Nieder, 24082 S Day Hill Road, Estacada

Carol Elwood, 215 NW 1st Avenue, Estacada

Tamara & Orval Long, 18580 S Redland Road, Oregon City

Robert Austin, Mayor, City of Estacada

 

The Comp Plan Citizen Workgroup chairman, Cliff Atkinson called the meeting to order at 7:05pm.  Everyone in attendance (see above) then introduced themselves.

 

Atkinson gave a brief introduction on the Estacada Comprehensive Plan Review history and status.  Atkinson introduced John Morgan, who spoke to the current work item task known as the Urbanization plan (zoning, patterns) as fundamental to the entire process:

  1. Population projections
  2. Employment Character

 

Mr. Morgan stated that the City is only 12 miles from Metro UGB (Damascus) and appears to be going through resource based economic change.  One of the fundamental questions to address in this process is to what extent does the City want to promote growth?  Projections have been run showing 2 to 5 percent growth rate options.  (Morgan stated that the County already commented that they would not tend to support a plan that projects to outpace statewide growth rates.  The Committee is considering 3%, which means 800 additional people in 20 years.)  Morgan clarified the distinction of the Estacada Urban Growth Boundary line, as a planning line for growth (inside) and virtually no growth (outside) the boundary.

 

Morgan referenced two ultimate constraints to our work; one being DLCD and the other is Clackamas County.  Both agencies will comment on our final recommendations.  Morgan has heard from both already that there is a sentiment that our Estacada UGB is relatively large.

 

John explained 3 maps on the wall and spent time on the existing comp plan map.  It appears that there is more land than a 20-year demand within the existing UGB.  Morgan stated that this is the point in the process where these maps (3 maps were on the wall) are nothing more than ideas put forth by the Committee to stimulate thoughts:

1.     Taking airport land out of UGB

2.     Bring in land (Park) for industrial use

3.     Convert some existing industrial land to R-2 (mostly along Eagle Creek Highway)

4.     Creating commercial land at River Mill intersection

5.     Convert mill site piece to industrial

 

At this point in the meeting Chair Atkinson opened up the meeting for questions.

 

§*                       Bill Hilands asked about the current water and sewer capacity.  Staff explained they are roughly at 50% each.  Mr. Hilands feels Estacada is incredibly affordable as compared to west-Portland.

 

§*                       Carol Elwood asked if there was a 143 home subdivision – 34 homes per year – being developed?  Staff responded that is what the Whitesell developers anticipate.

 

§*                       Tami Long is happy to see commercial proposal at River Mill intersection.  She feels it will open up consumable opportunities.

 

§*                       Judy Eckhard asked if there were any specifics on the large companies that are looking at Estacada.  Examples were put forth that Safeway, McDonalds, Alpha Engineering, and Cardinal Glass have each expressed interest at one time or another. 

 

§*                       John Morgan stated that it is like playing devils’ advocate – the last thing you want to see is a bunch of vacant storefronts downtown. It could be very damaging.

 

§*                       DJ Bleu stated he is working on a conversion to R2 for Til Forman, which has multiple low-cost homes.  He would like to develop the property and sees 130 homes and 60 fourplexes. 

 

§*                       John Morgan stated that Estacada is, or is likely to be, more than a one grocery store town.  The question is where will it be located.

 

§*                       Orval Long stated that Estacada is more of a walking, tourist, café, and solid downtown core town.  He stated it is not a loss, it is a comfortable change.

 

§*                       Bob Veley is trying to understand the logic of converting existing industrial land to commercial.  John Morgan tried to clarify that these options are put forth at this point in the process to stimulate thought for a 20-year plan; meaning this is the way, ideally (whatever the final product is) that citizens would like to see the land zoned as it is brought into the city in the future.  The land that is proposed to be converted (for the most part) is industrial land that is currently used as a residential.

 

§*                       George Cawthon asked what the population of Estacada was in 1980?  Staff stated it was 1,750.

 

§*                       Stephen Shibley is trying to make sense of open space and park linkages as part of this plan.  He doesn’t understand why school land is not designated as public.  John Morgan stated he would encourage designating it as public.

 

*      Jane Troeh asked what mistake did we make in zoning the industrial parks20 years ago?  Cliff Atkinson said the lots were too small.  John Morgan said zoning needs “anchors.” She added that this type of shift will change the whole balance of the town, and this if fine, if this is truly the wish of the citizens.  She stated Thriftway and True Value would be the first applicants for commercial property along Highway 224, which means we will lose our downtown anchors.

 

§*                       Judy Eckhard stated that the “old downtown Gresham” is vacant and asked what the Committee’s perspective is on that? 

 

§*                       Alan Rademacher doesn’t feel it’s the Committee’s job to control who does what and where.  He feels that the business will target where they want to go and that is the point where staff and business can engage. 

 

§*                       Mayor Austin stated the initial plan for the existing industrial park with small lots was for expanding existing businesses and attracting smaller start-up businesses.  It attempts to grow jobs locally, and attract smaller businesses.

 

§*                       DJ Bleu recited 20-year school population projections.

 

§*                       Several people asked if the schools could handle the growth, or would citizens be asked to support building even more school facilities?  Danny Scott discussed capacity at each facility.  He felt confident that there was ample room for the growth, and stated that the bond was passed for building safety issues rather than capacity issues.

 

§*                       Stephen Shibley discussed quality of life issues.  He lives here and likes the small town.  He feels we need open space to link people to core areas of downtown and we need new linkages to connect people to the open spaces.

 

§*                       Tami Long feels both development on the highway and the downtown is not mutually exclusive.  Downtown can become stronger, not weaker.  She also feels heavy truck traffic should stay on the highway.

 

§*                       John Nieder stated you have to be very careful of how you let/design growth.  He doesn’t want to see the town killed.  He asked for clarification on low-income housing.  DJ Blue stated he means low-cost (or affordable) housing.

 

§*                       DJ Bleu stated it is up to the people/city to set standards.  He stated Fred Meyer was told to downsize when they first submitted plans in Sandy.  He stated there should be more moderate cost housing, not low-income housing.

 

§*                       Jerry Polzin asked what we do next to navigate with the state on these proposed changes?

 

§*                       John Morgan discussed Mike Park’s land.  He stated we need to make the argument based on the value of its’ inclusion.

 

§*                       Carol Elwood asked if we have a strong tourism base?  Bob Austin stated that how to best cater to tourists is the topic of a June 21st Tourism meeting here at City Hall.  He stated it would be nice to have a comparison of “net change acres.” 

 

§*                       Someone asked why there is a cluster of commercial land around River Mill Road.  John Morgan stated it is due to ODOT access – tough to obtain.  One signalized interchange is best.

 

*      Bob Austin asked John Morgan if he had numbers of acres by land classification, e.g. commercial vs industrial vs residential, for the existing Comp Plan as well as for the proposed Plan.  John said he did not have these tonight for comparison but said these figures would soon be available.   Bob pointed out the importance of having these figures to determine the relative or “net change” for these land designations from the existing to the proposed draft plan.   

 

§*                       Carol Elwood asked why the mill property is being proposed as industrial?  Cliff Atkinson said the mill would like it zoned that way for future expansion of like uses.

 

§*                       Alan Rademacher stated ODOT has blocked the River Mill corner for 24years.  Bob Austin feels that ODOT could move, it would take time and someone needs to approach them.

 

§*                       Stephen Shibley reiterated:  the question is how are the new developments linked? 

 

§*                       Bob Austin stated the PGE right-of-way trail needs to be linked from Boring to Barton first.  Barton to Estacada would happen second and would provide bike and walking –non-motorized- opportunities.

 

 

§*                       Steve Muller asked what the next steps are?

 

§*                       John Morgan:

1.     Committee meets again

2.     Draft document over summer

3.     Fall 2004:  finalize document

4.     Planning Commission (several public hearings)

5.     City Council (several public hearings)

 

§*           Pete Giordano (rafting business) discussed tourism needs:

ü*                       Need to capture people going up and down river

ü*                       50% of his clients are out of state

ü*                       High money clients

ü*                        Need lodging, food, shopping

ü*                       Guided rafting tours expanded from 200 to 3,000 in the last 5 years.

ü*                       Does Estacada want to capture these people?

 

Stephen Shibley stated the highway severs this community.  He asked if there is any hope in “pinching” the highway by Timber Park?  Staff commented on the Highway 224 beautification grant  (Les Schwab to the bridge) application.

 

Chair Atkinson stated the group is trying to give opportunities for growth.  Growth is needed.  It is very difficult and there needs to be options.  John Morgan said there would be lots of opportunities for input.  Tonight was about stimulating discussion and ideas.

 

The next meeting of the Comp Plan Workgroup will be Tuesday, June 15th, :6:307 pm at City Hall.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.