Latest news with #PortlandPermitting&Development
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents appeal Oaks Amusement Park's plan to install 135-foot Drop Tower ride
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Some Portlanders are pushing back on Oaks Amusement Park's plan to install a ride they worry would hinder the surrounding neighborhood and animal habitats. The City's Hearings Office heard an appeal on the proposed 135-foot and 5-inch 'Drop Tower' on Wednesday. Portland Permitting & Development tentatively approved the plan on March 25, but the Bird Alliance of Oregon, Urban Greenspaces Institute and Friends of Oaks Bottom challenged the decision with an appeal the following month. New COVID variant detected in Washington, around the world The the proposal violates city regulations against structures that are more than 30 feet tall within residential farm zones, although Oaks Park Association Marketing & Events Director Emily MacKay that rule predates the 120-year-old park. But according to appellants, the high-intensity lights and historic light poles proposed along with the Drop Tower would also violate the city's rules against exterior lights that aren't shielded on top or on the sides. Both the Bird Alliance and Friends of Oak Bottom claim the lights could disorient birds, in addition to being an '. 'Wild birds are in trouble, with a third of North American migrants destroyed over the last 50 years, yet the City has decided to put essential habitat, migratory airspace, and the many special status species of Oaks Bottom and surrounding areas at risk,' Portland resident Eileen Stark wrote in testimony to the Hearing's Office. 'Oaks Park Association must curtail — or at the very least — drastically modify its Drop Tower lighting design and provide a biological opinion and photometric plan that realistically evaluates impact to vulnerable wildlife.' On the contrary, Jesse Roper — the biologist that Oaks Park tapped to conduct an analysis of the proposal — claimed wildlife in the surrounding area is 'too far away' to be negatively impacted by the Drop Tower. 'In general, the effects from ALAN on migrating birds are a legitimate concern,' Roper's presentation read at the hearing. 'However, these specific lights in this specific location are outside of typical migration flight paths.' Sleeping woman sexually assaulted at TriMet MAX station in Hillsboro City Planner Andy Gulizia further noted that officials accepted the proposal with conditions that are stricter than what is typically expected of an amusement park. Oaks Park Association CEO Brandon Roben added that the proposed ride's lights would only be illuminated during the park's limited daytime operating hours. Portland Hearings Officer David Doughman is expected to issue a decision on the appeal in early July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Forest Park conservationists challenge Portland's approval of PGE project
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Less than two weeks after city leaders to remove a portion of trees from Forest Park, an organization has challenged the decision. submitted its appeal to Portland Permitting & Development on March 20, one day ahead of the deadline. The conservation nonprofit has alleged that phase three of PGE's — which would cut 376 trees from five acres of the city park — fails to comply with the natural resources management plan established in 1995. Moms march to Oregon Capitol over childcare The the site's natural resources amid an uptick in factors like the number of visitors, spread of English ivy and the homeless population. PGE has stated that its 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. But Forest Park Conservancy claimed the utility company's proposal is unnecessary. 'PGE cannot fully mitigate the damage from the proposed project, there are alternatives to their proposal, and this proposed project disrupts the forest's trajectory to becoming an ancient forest,' FPC said in a . 'Little bandwidth': Portland's small businesses outline economic struggles in new survey The company's proposal received support from several people who weighed in at the . One individual said the project appears to be the 'least-impact solution' in offering reliable power to the area, while another said it could actually benefit the environment. This was after Permitting and Development issued a staff report that opposed the proposal, expressing concerns on whether it would minimize impacts to Forest Park. The City of Portland's Hearings Office proceeded to approve the electric utility's land use review application on March 7. The decision 'reflected the most substantial analysis of the evidence against the permitting criteria,' according to PGE's Vice President of Policy and Resource Planning Kristen Sheeran. Mayor Wilson pauses demolition of Columbia Pool to explore funding options '…in other words: the process working as it should,' Sheeran added in a statement to KOIN 6 News. 'PGE urges the Council to exercise the same careful review of facts and evidence to similarly find that the project is needed, meets the stringent requirements for work within an existing utility easement, and includes extensive plans to improve forest health and wildfire safety.' Portland City Council is slated to review the appeal at a later date. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
