Latest news with #MarishaChilds
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Forest Park conservationists rally to appeal PGE's upcoming 5-acre tree removal
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – After a proposal from Portland General Electric to expand power lines in Forest Park was approved by city leaders, Portlanders are pushing back on the decision. Groups are expected to rally outside Portland City Hall on Thursday in protest of the project the says will impact nearly five acres with the removal of 397 trees, the filling of two wetlands, and the disruption of two streams. A six-figure salary might not be enough in Portland, report finds PGE's Harborton Reliability Project will install a quarter-mile transmission line, in addition to replacing some pre-existing lines. The by City of Portland Hearings Officer Marisha Childs in January 2025. 'As we've had time to review the Hearings Officer's decision, we've become even more frustrated as it repeatedly ignores key land use laws and the City's own staff report that recommended denial, and instead gives deference to a private corporation's arguments,' the conservancy said in a statement ahead of the rally. Following the decision, the group to Portland Permitting & Development. The the site's natural resources amid an uptick in factors like the number of visitors, spread of English ivy and the homeless population. Thursday's event coincides with a City Council hearing in which city leaders will consider the conservancy's appeal. The group has encouraged the public to in support of Forest Park and show up for the rally to testify during the hearing at 2 p.m. PGE has already completed the project's first two phases. The company stated that the ongoing project only entails the removal of trees that pose safety hazards for the park, as the utility works to renew the aging infrastructure that brings electricity to its customers. Oregon Senate passes bill protecting Oregonians who alert others of their rights The utility previously stated that it to identify the maximum amounts of trees that could be preserved throughout the park. The utility also said working in the proposed area would not affect 'old growth habitat.' But environmental advocates from organizations like Forest Park Conservancy and have argued the project would hinder the park's plant and animal communities — including Douglas fir and big leaf maple trees that are more than 150 years old. 'PGE cannot fully mitigate the damage from the proposed project,' the conservancy said in a previous statement. 'There are alternatives to their proposal, and this proposed project disrupts the forest's trajectory to becoming an ancient forest.' Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue our coverage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Portlanders weigh in on PGE's proposal to remove Forest Park trees for project
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Many Portlanders testified in a public hearing on whether a utility company should be permitted to remove a portion of trees from one of the nation's largest urban forests. At the four-hour public hearing on Wednesday, City of Portland Hearings Officer Marisha Childs received both sides of arguments concerning Portland General Electric's ongoing . 'Devastating': Portland native Tonya Harding sends prayers to victims of D.C. plane crash Although the company has already completed or commenced the project's first two phases, the hearing was focused on phase three — which would remove 376 trees from five acres of the 5,200-acre Forest Park. According to PGE, the plan would ensure stable electricity and prevent wildfire risks by upgrading existing transmission lines and installing new ones in the area. The utility that it hired a board-certified master arborist to identify the maximum amounts of trees that could be preserved throughout the park. The company has offered to plant 398 Oregon white oaks and 418 short stature trees as well. However, environmental advocates from organizations like and have argued the project would hinder the park's plant and animal communities — including Douglas fir and big leaf maple trees that are more than 150 years old. Portland Permitting and Development also opposed PGE's proposal in a staff report released earlier this month. The report claims the company has failed to present a construction management plan that 'minimizes impacts to resources,' and has failed to show it won't harm the 'overall scenic, recreational, and open space values of Forest Park,' . During Wednesday's hearing, Tonkon Torp attorney David Peterson — who is representing PGE — said the staff report only looked at current impacts. Striking New Seasons employees claim worker was fired for helping disabled person on break 'Since the goal is to protect natural resources not just now but in the long run, we should look at the longer term benefits of PGE mitigation proposals… and those are numerous,' Peterson added. 'It's going to improve climate resiliency, it's going to increase biodiversity, improve wildfire resistance [and] contribute to our societal goals to free ourselves of carbon-based energy.' Multiple speakers offered support for PGE's proposal. 'The primary proposal, in my view, is the least-impact solution for balancing our collective growing power needs,' one speaker said. 'I love Forest Park, and I know that the reactions from a lot of people have been emotional, but once I read the mitigation report, I realized that the PGE incursion into the park will leave it better environmentally,' another speaker added. People can listen to the full hearing Childs will accept further feedback on the proposal through Wednesday, Feb. 19. The hearings officer is expected to issue her decision 17 days later. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
