What You Need to Know From Around the Region.

Metro

Legislative Agenda

Two-year UGB Extension Bill

HB2051, Metro’s 2-year extension bill passed out of the House Energy and Environment Committee by a 7-0 unanimous vote.  HBA and OHBA opposed the bill based on the recommendations of HBA’s GALA committee and backed by the Executive Board of HBA.  This passed the full House with a floor vote of 55-0 due partially to being placed on the consent agenda. The bill limits the 2-year extension in UGB expansion to a one-time only process. The full Senate is expected to pass the bill as well once it makes its way through the committee process.

 

Rural/Urban reserves

HBA is supporting Metro’s efforts to establish rural reserves and clarify the use of urban reserves as part of the UGB process.  Once in place these overlays by design are expected to improve the UGB process and perhaps move away from 5-year cycles for expansions to a more measured/metered process that may be annual.

 

Infrastructure finance

No bill at this time, but still engaged in conversations over improving methods and opportunities for better financial models capable of funding infrastructure.

 

Regional transportation planning 2008-2011 MTIP funds

Metro staff evaluated over 60 projects from the region to decide on an appropriate allocation of an estimated $45.4 million in available funding.  These projects had funding needs in excess of $132 million so the final cut list was narrowed substantially.  Efforts are in play by the business community to focus funding efforts on projects that are freight friendly and improve on the transfer of products through the metro region.

 

 Washington County -

Clean Water Services

The process for making revisions to the Clean Water Services Design & Construction standards is ongoing.  Draft language for the entire document will be considered by Clean Water Services Advisory Commission on March 21, and is scheduled to go to the Board of Commissioners on April 17.  Proposed effective date is June 1.  The draft does include some improvements in the process for determining intermittent stream status, plant requirements for wetland mitigation and the criteria for partial fill of an isolated wetland.

 

 City of Hillsboro

The City of Hillsboro is working on updates to their water CIP.  They are now proposing an increase in the water SDC to $5,586, in order to develop significant additional supplies of water.( This amount is $1,872 less than previously announced).  Hearing will be May 8, and  the effective date will be July 1, 2007. Their policy on the receipt of plans for review in order to preserve the existing fees will be to require the builder to pick up the permit within 2 weeks of notice that the building department has completed the plan review, or otherwise will be subject to the higher fees.

 

They are also proposing code amendments to the Planned Development section of their codes.  A GALA subcommittee, including Jerry Jones, Craig Brown, Roger Neu, Joe Keizur, Stacy Connery and Mimi Doukas are working with the city staff on the precise language of these amendments.

  

City of Tigard

The Tigard Planning Commission has put the entire package of proposed revisions of the tree committee on hold and will take them up as part of the comprehensive plan periodic review.  Alan DeHarpport, Ken Gertz, Al Jenks and Ernie Platt are all meeting with the city as this issue develops.

 

Multnomah County News

 City of Portland

 Permitting BDS –

HBA and members participated in a focus group set up by BDS to identify why their customer satisfaction ratings dropped in 2006. This effort is another example of the importance BDS is placing on customer service for the permitting process.

 

BES/PDOT –

Historically on the problem points with permitting in Portland has been with BES and PDOT.  These two agencies are collectively responsible for delays extending into months.  HBA and members are working with the bureaus to improve process, improve quality of permits submitted and consider funding options for additional staffing needs.

 

Transportation SDC –

City staff is reviewing modifications to the Transportation SDC.  An advisory committee has been set up and Jim McCauley with HBA is representing home builders.  At this time, the debate is coming down with neighborhoods fighting each other over the significance and value of their

Individual projects.

 

Parks SDC –

The Park’s Bureau will be moving forward with a Parks SDC update in the coming months.  HBA is represented on the committee by Jim McCauley, HBA staff. At this juncture, the debate is coming down to establishing the level of Parks funding.  This conversation ranges between maintaining a system that is currently below 40% of growth to options that exceed 50%.

 

Clackamas County/City of Happy Valley

Transportation SDC

Both Clackamas County and the City of Happy Valley are working on an update to their respective and joint transportation CIPs.  The fee in the joint area is proposed to increase by $2,200, to $7,206, to be effective  April 2, 2007. The fee in the unincorporated area will increase by $114, to $3,340.

 

City of Canby

The City of Canby is considering a minor increase in their sewer SDC, from $2,200 to $2,235, effective Jan 3, 2007.

 

City of Tualatin – Tree Regulation

The City of Tualatin has proposed minor revisions to their tree regulation ordinance. The Planning Advisory Board and the Parks Advisory Board have held work sessions and have not yet formulated any specific recommendation to be sent to the city council. Craig Brown, Matrix Dev. and Ernie Platt are participating in the discussions. Ernie Platt from HBA staff and Craig Brown will attend the next council meeting being held in December.

 

City of Gresham

SDC's - The SDC's for the City of Gresham including for the expansion areas of Pleasant Valley and Springwater are set to go up and be indexed as of April1st.

Development Advisory Group -

Part of the city’s DAG restructuring includes an industry driven agenda, if you encounter issues that should go before the group please let us know so they can be included. 

 

Attached Housing Design Standards -

Members are also being saught for the work group discussing new design standards for attached housing in Gresham if you build this product contact Misty at the HBA.

 

East Side Developer Builder Forum -

Keep an eye out for an invitation to the East Side Builder Developer Forum scheduled for May 17th.  This special invitation only event put on by HBA and its partners will focus in industry issues in East Multnomah County. 

 

 City of Lake Oswego

Infill Ordinance -

A new summary of draft issues is out in LO. HBA is reviewing this latest set of proposals and will continue to monitor the developments of the advisory committee.  Council will not see the final set of recommendations until summer.

 

City of West Linn

The City of West Linn Planning Commission has recommended amendments to their city code that address adequate public facilities.  The amendments are very troubling in that they create a situation whereby an existing city facility (most likely transportation) might not be adequate to serve a particular development application and the applicant would have no means to mitigate it.  In effect, they city has created the possibility for a moratorium.  HBA, along with PMAR, will be submitting testimony in opposition to the proposed amendments at the Jan. 22 City Council hearing.

 

City of Wilsonville

The City of Wilsonville is discussing a possible increase in the planning application fees on the order of 60%, and an increase in the engineering permit fees of 33%.  This is still in the discussion stages, no definite decision or effective date.  HBA will continue to press for evidence of the necessity to have an increase as well as for support for anything of the magnitude being proposed.

  

Columbia County

 Transportation & Parks SDC

Columbia County is considering implementing both a transportation and a parks SDC.  Current methodology suggests a transp. SDC of $2,250 and a parks SDC of $1,950.  Hearing date will likely be late January, and the effective date is yet to be determined.

 

Yamhill County -

Nothing to report.