Hillsdale Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

 

Action Items

2011.11.1

John Gould moved that the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association President write a letter to Greta Pass of Chase Bank stating that the membership supports a multi-story and/or multi-tenant building at the site the Bank is proposing to construct in the Town Center and that the building itself, without benefit of canopy, constitute at least 50% of the site.  The letter should request that Greta Pass forward it to Chase Bank senior management who have the authority to approve such a project and to request a meeting to agree upon a branch with the design as well as functional features which will make it mutually acceptable to Chase Bank, Hillsdale, Wardin Investments, and the City of Portland’s Town Center code. The motion passed unanimously.

 

2011.11.2

Don Baack made a motion that Home Forward provide pedestrian connections along SW California and along SW 26^th Avenue to make them connect.  Further, that Home Forward provide a curb to prevent storm water from flowing down to the wall of the housing units located well below the street; boulders demarcating the side of the street are not acceptable.  And further that Home Forward and the Bureau of Environmental Services work together to make the recently acquired headwaters area into an environment useable by residents of the Hillsdale Terrace for reflection and contact with nature, similar to the work which they did on the headwaters at the end of SW Texas Street.  The motion was seconded and passed 9 to 1.

 

2011.11.3

Don Baack moved that unless identical signage is provided on Bertha Boulevard and Capitol Hill Road separately marking “Stephens Creek Natural Area” and the “Raz-Baack Crossing” that the HNA request that the word “Crossing” be dropped in re-naming Hillsdale Terrace “Stephens Creek Crossing.”  The motion was seconded and passed 10 to 4.

 

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BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA

7:00 p.m.  Business Meeting

President Mikal Apenes opened the meeting at 7:04 p.m.  Over 40 members and guests were in attendance and were asked to introduce themselves when first addressing an issue—and identify which fruit pie is their favorite.

 

Chase Bank

Greg Hathaway, an attorney with Hathaway Koback Connors, LLP, and Grant J. Seaman and Michael Riggs of Callison Architects presented new designs for the front elevation of the proposed Chase Bank branch at the Hillsdale site owned by Wardin Investments.  These were in response to recommendations made in October by the “working group” appointed by President Apenes as well as those resulting from a public meeting of the Hillsdale Main Street Design Committee (co-chaired by Dr. Richard Garfinkle and Richard Stein).  A one-hour discussion followed with the Chase Bank representatives answering numerous questions regarding both the design and land-use features of the proposed building.  The members generally felt that the design was an improvement over the previous one, expressed appreciation for the “Community Room” now expanded to 1,800 square feet, but questioned the use of over 3,000 square feet of exterior canopy to bring the total footprint to more than 50% of the total area (more than 18,000 square feet) and thus comply with City of Portland code requirements.

 

John Gould moved that the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association President write a letter to Greta Pass of Chase Bank stating that the membership supports a multi-story and/or multi-tenant building at the site the Bank is proposing to construct in the Town Center and that the building itself, without benefit of canopy, constitute at least 50% of the site.  The letter should request that Greta Pass forward it to Chase Bank senior management who have the authority to approve such a project and to request a meeting to agree upon a branch with the design as well as functional features which will make it mutually acceptable to Chase Bank, Hillsdale, Wardin Investments, and the City of Portland’s Town Center code. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Food Carts

Richard Stein has leased a small piece of the property adjacent to The Pacific Ballet at the entrance to the Wilson High School and Rieke Elementary School campuses.  He plans to place food carts there and will meet city zoning code requirements regarding parking space, a toilet, and trash pickup. 

 

Hillsdale Terrace Citizens Advisory Council

Don Baack reported on his attendance at a recent Hillsdale Terrace CAC meeting which our official representative, Sheila Greenlaw-Fink, was unable to attend.  Home Forward (formerly the Housing Authority of Portland) is proposing a new name for the housing complex, located at SW 26^th Avenue and Capitol Highway:  “Stephens Creek Crossing.”  Don proposed two motions and the discussion included Pamela Kambur of Home Forward answering members’ questions.

 

Don Baack made a motion that Home Forward provide pedestrian connections along SW California and along SW 26^th Avenue to make them connect.  Further, that Home Forward provide a curb to prevent storm water from flowing down to the wall of the housing units located well below the street; boulders demarcating the side of the street are not acceptable.  And further that Home Forward and the Bureau of Environmental Services work together to make the recently acquired headwaters area into an environment useable by residents of the Hillsdale Terrace for reflection and contact with nature, similar to the work which they did on the headwaters at the end of SW Texas Street.  The motion was seconded and passed 9 to 1.

 

Don Baack moved that unless identical signage is provided on Bertha Boulevard and Capitol Hill Road separately marking “Stephens Creek Natural Area” and the “Raz-Baack Crossing” that the HNA request that the word “Crossing” be dropped in re-naming Hillsdale Terrace “Stephens Creek Crossing.”  The motion was seconded and passed 10 to 4.

 

Ms. Kambur provided a copy of a letter sent to Trudi Raz Frengle and Don Baack explaining the process used to determine the name “Stephens Creek Crossing.”  The letter will be posted at the HNA Web site.

 

Transportation Committee

Glenn Bridger announced that because of questions regarding the process used in the selection of Sunset Boulevard, from 18^th Avenue to De Witt Park, as a Tier 2 candidate for sidewalk construction, he will convene a meeting of the Transportation Committee to explain the process and answer the questions of residents who maintain that they were never informed and did not have an opportunity to express their opposition.  The time and date of the meeting, open to the public, has not been determined but will be extensively advertised.  Representatives of home owners on the northeast side of Sunset were present and submitted a letter to the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association requesting a meeting with the HNA and the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

 

Hillsdale Main Street

HMS executive director Megan Braunsten reported that forthcoming sidewalk improvements on Capitol Highway, the replacement of current trees, will require a lane closure.

 

Schools Committee

Michael Reunert reported that his written report will be appended to the minutes at the HNA Web site.

 

SW Trails PDX

Don Baack reported that Portland Parks will erect a monument at 7^th Avenue and Terwilliger.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 p.m.

 

Submitted by Robert Hamilton