Cell tower public comment session on Wednesday, October 26th

Courtesy of Representative Michael Dembrow's newsletter:

"Proposed T-Mobile Wireless Installation—Good Thing Or Bad?
Neighborhood opposition to cell towers is not a new issue in Portland.  The City Council recently created a new public process for proposed wireless installations, including a requirement that the cell company hold a public community meeting where neighbors can provide input and suggestions for changes to any proposed installation.  One of these meetings is coming up on Wednesday, October 26th, regarding a proposed installation in the Alameda-Concordia neighborhood.  T-Mobile is proposing a wireless installation on top of a utility pole on NE Prescott and 31st.  We’ve been hearing a lot from constituents about this proposed installation, with strong feelings on both sides of the issue.  I’ll be attending myself to hear first-hand what people have to say.  I hope you’ll join me.

What: Community Meeting on T-Mobile Wireless Installation
When: Wednesday, October 26th from 7:00-8:30 PM
Where: The Little Church (5138 NE 23rd Ave.)"

Mark your Calendars: Monday May 9th --- SCA Plant Exchange and General Meeting

The SCA Plant Exchange and Bi-Annual General Meeting is Monday, May 9th!!!

This year we are hosting our first of many plant exchanges and presenting some fantastic designs for the remodel of Sabin Triangle (SW corner of 15th and Prescott). All of the events listed below take place at Sabin School on Monday, May 9th.

Childcare will be provided.

6-7pm--- We will host Sabin’s free neighborhood plant exchange where neighbors/friends who love gardening get together and swap seedlings, cuttings, bulbs, potted plants, bagged plants, or other terms for easily planted flora. Please make sure all items are properly labeled (to the best of your knowledge), and potted/bagged (to the best of your ability- see Neighborhood Beets article in May edition of our printed newsletter). Our local Ariadne Garden will have a few starts for sale

as well. Tables will be setup outside on the basketball courts at Sabin Elementary (SE entrance).

7-8pm---The SCA will be presenting some concepts for how to repurpose the Sabin Triangle. Architects will be on hand to present their designs and Sabin will be asking for your input so please join us! The presentation will take place in the Sabin School auditorium and Whole Foods will provide delicious refreshments.

8-9pm--- If you want to help make your neighborhood a better place for everyone, this is your chance. We will be hosting elections to the Sabin Community Association board. Board members for July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012. The SCA and this community need your help!

If you’re interested in serving on the SCA Board for 2011-2012, please contact Austin Peterson, President, 503-519-6447 or sabinpresident@gmail.com, or Barbara Conable, Secretary, 503-283-9636 or barbconable@hevanet.com.

Designing the Heart of Sabin: Sabin Makes the News!

Designing the Heart of Sabin
By David Sweet


There is a triangle of land on the corner of 15th and Prescott. A Century ago it was the terminus for the Irvington-Jefferson Streetcar Line that ran all the way from SW 18th and Jefferson. Now it’s a slab of concrete with no particular use. What could it become? Please join us as we dream together about the future of this public space.

The Sabin Community Association’s general meeting, Monday, May 9, at Sabin School, will be devoted to a discussion of design options for the “Sabin Triangle.” There will be a social hour and plant exchange at 6:00, and the meeting begins at 7:00. Architect, Mark Nye will bring drawings of some design options for this space. Please come and help us create a community place that could become the heart of Sabin.

The Oregonian posted the following article about our community design project:
Portland neighborhood's efforts to re-imagine Sabin Triangle show how city should work

http://mobile.oregonlive.com/advorg/pm_100844/contentdetail.htm;jsessionid=8C83D86F36CB64B96C447B66A43ED192?contentguid=3HCxs1xI

Letter to the Editor: Stop the CRC!

The CRC or Columbia River Crossing project as it now stands is fiscally wasteful, environmentally degrading and has manifested into a 10 billion dollar monstrosity. We, as Portlanders, have long stood fast against highway projects that cripple our budgets and diminish our quality of life. This bridge will carry 12 lanes and encourage sprawl and further pollution and nothing for us.


There are proposals to seismically retro fit the current bridge and bring light rail and pedestrian/bike lanes and this would be a far more sensible alternative. A retro fit would cost less than 100 million and create a great number of jobs. Large scale new projects have been shown repeatedly to create fewer jobs for our investment because of start up costs and consulting fees.

Imagine 100 million versus 10 billion. Imagine that much more money to invest in education, social services, public transit and other socially conscious endeavors. Only 9% of bridge traffic is commercial; the bulk of drivers are commuters who live in Vancouver and drive to work in Portland. A better use of those funds would be to encourage light rail and bus use with fare subsidies and park and ride stations.

We do not need a new boondoggle bridge. We need to preserve and protect our region from sprawl and pollution. Visit the website Stop the CRC for more info.

By William Youngren

Oct 2009 SCA Land Use and Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes

Sabin Community Association, Land Use and Transportation Committee

Meeting Notes October 12, 2009; 3739 NE 16th Ave.

Present: Jeff Strang, Trent Thelan, David Sweet, Clay Veka, Ric Alexander, Rachel Studer, Elise Scolnick, Kirke Wolfe

Bike corral/pedestrian crossing at 13th/14th and Fremont—We discussed the City’s Traffic Investigation reports for Fremont. For some years now, Sabin residents have asked the City to install crosswalks, and the City has said that:

1. Crosswalks do not increase pedestrian safety

2. Crosswalks serve primarily to show pedestrians where to cross at complex crossings.

3. Every corner is legally a crosswalk under state law.

Trent says that in his discussions, the City favors 13th over 14th for a crosswalk. David suggests that rather than asking for a specific design (crosswalk) we should ask for increased safety and see what they suggest. He will call Mark Lear, head of Traffic Safety Programs and ask him to meet with us to discuss.

Green Streets/pedestrian crossing at 9th or 10th & Fremont—Trent has package of preferred design details and will request bids from contractors. We still don’t know how much money will be in our Green Streets grant. If it is not enough, we can ask the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District for a matching grant under their Partners in Conservation Program.

Mason Street Fruit Tree Project—Jeff reports that he met with a City Forester at the site, and was told that we would not be allowed to plant fruit trees in the right-of-way. This contradicts what David was told by the Mayor’s Office, and the latter is more likely correct. Jeff and Rosemarie are seeking funding for this project through the Neighborhood Small Grants program, and intend to plant trees by Spring 2010.

Bicycle Plan 2030—David reports that the City has released a comment draft of it’s new 20-year plan for bicycles. Read it online at: http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=44597&a=265909 Public comments are due by November 8. David suggests that we write a letter suggesting that the proposed 9th Avenue bicycle boulevard should run on NE 11th between NE Schuyler and NE Beech. This would avoid the exposed aggregate surface on 9th as well as skirting Irving Park. There is consensus. David will draft a letter.

RICAP-5—The Planning Commission is considering a code change that would ease the rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Currently, an ADU can be 33% the size of the primary dwelling or 800 square feet, whichever is smaller. The proposal would make it 800 square feet maximum regardless of the size of the primary. David proposes that we support the change. Elise and others are opposed. No action taken.

Respectfully submitted,

David Sweet