Date: 1/14/03
From: Becky Shoup
To:    SGNA Board

The east end neighbors (NE 28th to NE 32nd, Weidler Street) of the
Sullivan's Gulch Neighborhood have grave concerns regarding the proposed zone
change in the areas of livability, traffic, size and scale of the proposed
development. Support for our position is addressed in the Sullivan's Gulch
Neighborhood Action Plan, July, 1987, Sullivan's Gulch By Laws, November,
2002 and the City of Portland's Comprehensive Plan.

Livability: i.e., Density, Traffic, Safety, Noise, Pollution,
SGNA Action Plan pg. 4
" Purpose of the Plan: Neighborhood Plans are intended to promote patters
of...social and physical health, safety and welfare of both the neighborhood
and the city."

SGNA ByLaws, "Section 2: Purpose of SGNA: The purposes for which SGNA is
organized are:
a)To enhance the livability of the area by establishing and maintaining an
open line of communication and liaison within the neighborhood and between
government agencies and other neighborhoods.".....

*It is our strong opinion that issues of livability and concerns for
people should be the first priority for the neighborhood over other goals
such as mixed use, more housing or density, or "traffic forcing".

Land Use Committee Mtg. minutes, 12/30/2002- "We accept that some degree of
congestion will be needed to encourage the development of these modes and to
motivate drivers to seek alternatives. This issue can be discussed endlessly
and depending on perspectives, we'd come out differently. From my experience
the existence of significant development slows traffic, increases the
proportion of pedestrians and begins to civilize the area. To be sure, such
environment is urban in nature and if that is not what one wishes--then I
understand where you are coming from. Broadway is not inviting to
pedestrians in that area....."

e-mail reply to Becky Shoup on 1/7/2003 -"Doesn't it come down to whether we
see a suburban or urban model for our neighborhood?"

*It is our opinion that "traffic forcing" doesn't work, it has been tried
for many years in Portland, people still continue to use their cars. As for
" civilizing" this area, we question whether "forcing more congestion" will
lead to "civilizing" the traffic at NE 33rd and Broadway, especially if large
scale development is allowed to enter into the picture. SANG is already
" urban" in nature and the East end doesn't have much room for more in the
area of traffic/traffic patterns for more "urban" density without
jeopardizing the livability of the current residents and area.

SGNA Action Plan: Pg 5 "Conformance with City's Comprehensive Plan:....
2) an objective to support a possible future zone change for the Albina Fuel
Property at NE 33rd and Broadway to reflect the city's policy and present
uses along NE Broadway which allow for nonindustiral uses and
3) an objective to consider and support future rezoning in areas along the
gulch at a time when access problems can be resolved and uses compatible with
adjacent housing are proposed.

pg. 8 "Neighborhood Goal
Strengthen Sullivan's Gulch as a desirable inner-city neighborhood by
enhancing the quality of life for those who live and work in the neighborhood
while providing opportunities for business and housing that are consistent
with existent densities and land uses."

City of Portland Comprehensive Plan 2.9 objective: "Allow for a range of
housing types to accommodate increased population growth while improving and
protecting the city's residential neighborhoods."

*The livability of the east end residents has nearly been destroyed by
the poor planning of the Fred Meyer Store and it impacts of noise, traffic
and pollution. In addition, it has affected the whole traffic pattern of
this inner NE section of the city-from Lloyd Center to neighborhoods north
and south and east,(ie.Irvington and Grant). The rezoning of Albina Fuel
site with the scope of the planned huge redevelopment will open the door to
additional commercial and residential expansion on a scale that will over
run and smother the current residential homes on Weidler St. and cause a
destabilization of the entire neighborhood.

City of Portland Comprehensive Plan: Objective 4.14A states: "Promote and
maintain home ownership options within neighborhoods."

*The SGN reports that approximately 27% of the housing in the
neighborhood is owner occupied. It is interesting to note that 65% of the
homes on Weidler between 28th 32nd are owner occupied. Many of us have been
here as long time residents, some over 20 years. Another high intensity
development in the area accompanied by more noise and pollution, would
fatally degrade the remaining livability of established neighbors. The
predominantly owner occupied homes on Weidler act as an anchor and are a
stabilizing force in the area and need to be respected, retained and
preserved.

Traffic:
SGNA Action Plan, Goal 6, pgs 6 &7"Transportation Goal and Policies....
Comment-Transportation problems have been identified by the neighborhood in
order to look at lessening traffic impacts on residential areas improving
pedestrian movement and improving access to industrial areas...."

SGNA Action Plan Area 4: "Neighborhood Core-East pg 14
Findings
-There is heavy traffic bordering this area on NE 28th, NE 21st, NE Weidler
and NE Multnomah.
-New development on the Hyster property could adversly impact this area if
not managed. *[It did adversely impact this area, residents west of the Fred
Meyer had protection, residents north of the area had protection, what about
the residents closest to Fred Meyer, and now livability will be compounded by
another huge development.]
-The traffic on NE Weidler threatens the continued maintenance of housing in
this area.
-The housing stock is of very good quality."

Policy 5: East End
" Encourage redevelopment east of 28th which is compatible with nearby
residential areas and will not cause significant detriment to them.
Objective 5a
Require large scale development in this area to assess their traffic impacts
on the neighborhood and provide mitigation where appropriate...."
SGNA Action Plan pgs ll &12 "4. c.Discourage through traffic in adjacent resid
ential areas.
5. Support requests for street vacations or partial closures which help carry
out the goals of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan and Neighborhood
Design
Guidelines. ..."

SGNA Action Plan pg 23,"Traffic
Finding
-Traffic volumes and speed of cut-through traffic are threats to neighborhood
safety and livability.
-New developments in the surrounding areas will increase the amount of
traffic in the neighborhood if not managed.
-Lack of pedestrian amenities and traffic speed and volume contribute to an
unpleasant and [unsafe] pedestrian environment....."

*Traffic is our biggest concern. With minimal choices for ingress/egress
for the proposed redevelopment, indication by the city that NE Broadway will
not be allowed for use as an ingress/egress, the fact that the site is
bordered by the freeway, Fred Meyer, 33rd and 32nd. That leaves only NE
Weidler as an access. NE Broadway is already rated at the highest level of
congestion and traffic. We are determined that the east end at 32nd will get
protection, we intend to maintain our exit only protection. How will this
redevelopment be accessed, a helicopter pad? The traffic study by Lancaster
Engineering for the Albina Fuel site indicates that they intend to dump the
traffic onto NE Weidler in complete disregard for the established residents.

Here are some relevant statements for the traffic study:

pg 16 "The directionally distributed trips were then assigned to streets
based on the routes most likely to be used by drivers. For example, the trips
to 28th avenue to the south are expected to use Weidler Street and not
Broadway to exit the site, because Weidler is a more direct route from the
site to 28th avenue. Weidler street between 28th and 30th avenues is destined
to become a one-way street west bound. Therefore, traffic will not be able to
use Weidler Street to enter the site directly from 28th avenue. Entering
traffic will detour to 30th and Broadway and then to Weidler Street, or use
32nd and Broadway to access the site from the west."
pg 37 "Rather than waiting a long time in a northbound queue to turn left
onto Broadway, it is more likely that motorists will choose to turn either
left or right onto Broadway from the signal on 30th avenue, if they desire to
travel west on Broadway. Another choice would be to use Weidler Street to
reach the signal on 28th avenue, if they desire to travel west on Broadway."

* These statements show the clear intent to use NE Weidler as a major
access to the redevelopment. It is interesting that the traffic study
blithely assumes to use Weidler Street but doesn't report what the current
traffic situation is on Weidler, or what the impacts might be on an already
high traffic street.

*Needless to say, we are gravely concerned that all of our hard earned
traffic mitigation battles may become worthless. Where is our guarantee that
the residents and livability will be protected? This massive proposed
development is too large, we certainly don't need another grocery store and
the traffic impacts will be disastrous. Unfortunately we have learned from a
very long ten + years of experience and trying to get mitigation and
livability issues worked out with Fred Meyer, of trying to gain support from
SGNA when all other areas of the neighborhood were protected, when our
patience for "trust" has been stretched to the nth degree, we believe that
promises made are too easily broken and the bottom line is we would like a
bit of peace and quiet after all of these years. We were not in favor of Fred
Meyer being built, this was not something that was under our control, when it
was clear that Fred Meyer was going to happen, the SGNA made every effort to
protect residents west of 28th, residents north of Broadway, even far
reaching neighbors such as 21st, North of Broadway received protection, SGNA
reacted and that is all that we have been able to do in order to get some
peace.

-Are our blocks between 28th and 32nd "throw away blocks", are we "toast" as
one board member told one of our neighbors.
-Is our exit only request/approval an "aberration" as another board member
said to one of our neighbors.
-Are we a part of the SGN and the city of Portland, or just those trouble
makers at the other end of the neighborhood?
-Who says which City Comprehensive Plan goals and SGNA Action Plan goals have
the highest priority?
-Will our neighborhood association support us or support a "Pie in the Sky"
vision for a huge scale development, too large for the space and the
traffic.?
-Will the west end of the neighborhood at 28th give up their protection
(vacations and partial closures) in order to alleviate the traffic flow to
make room for this new redevelopment and the traffic impact that it will have
on the neighborhood?
-Will Grant Park Neighborhood give up their protection (vacations and partial
closures) in order to alleviate the traffic flow and to make more room for
this new redevelopment and the traffic impact that it will have on the
neighborhood?

-We request that any communication presented at the Albina zone change
hearing in either verbal or written form and that is on behalf of SGN
reflect our interpretations of the City Comprehensive Plan and SGNA Action
Plan and views and concerns and that the promise to "protect" be a promise
that is kept by the board.

Becky Shoup
SGNA Resident
Portland, Oregon