River plan draws groans

Business owners in area say new regs in plan will be costly

By Jim Redden

The Portland Tribune, Jul 2, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (8 Reader comments)

L.E. BASKOW / TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

A new city plan to regulate and redevelop the area around the Willamette River in North and Northwest Portland is drawing flack from many large employers, including manufacturing and petroleum storage complanies.

Mayor Sam Adams is trying to soften opposition to an ambitious plan for the Willamette River north of the Broadway Bridge before it comes before the City Council later this year.

The plan calls for rezoning and reregulating portions of the land along the river, and raising funds for infrastructure projects and other public improvements in the area.

It was approved by the Portland Planning Commission on June 23 to enhance the natural, residential and industrial areas from downtown to the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers.

The proposed plan is drawing mixed reviews from area residents. Ed Jones, the land- use chairman of the Linnton Neighborhood Association, is disappointed it does not allow a mixed use development to be built along the river – a long-sought neighborhood goal. At the same time, Jones is pleased the plan does guarantee at least some neighborhood access to the waterfront.

“For us, it’s a mixed bag,” said Jones, a Multnomah County circuit judge.

But the plan is opposed by virtually every business and business-related organization located in the Portland harbor, which makes up a large portion of the area covered by the plan. They fear it will increase their business costs and complicate future expansion and redevelopment plans.

Many of the largest employers belong to the Working Waterfront Coalition, an advocacy group specifically formed to work with the city on the plan. The coalition sent a letter protesting the proposed plan to the commission on June 17, six days before it was approved.

“Why would a company invest in the harbor if permitting and fees are so much more complex and costly than they would be elsewhere? They would not. The proposed plan also reduces our ability to compete globally and react quickly to changing market opportunities. The result is lost jobs for the city and the region,” according to the letter, which was signed by representatives of the Port of Portland, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Kindred Morgan Liquid Terminals and other harbor-based businesses. Separate letters of opposition were also sent by coalition members Gunderson Inc. and Vigor Industrial.

Adams is concerned the opposition could result in a confrontation between residents, environmentalists and businesses when the plan reaches the council, perhaps as early as this fall. He has asked the staff of the city’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to continue working with the coalition to address its issues. A round of meetings will be scheduled later this summer.

At the same time, Adams said the plan is necessary for the long-term prosperity of the waterfront.

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