The Keep Colwood Green Coalition met last night. Please join us for our next strategy meeting on Thursday, September 4, 7 pm - 8:30 pm at [1] Grace Presbyterian Church, 6025 NE Prescott, Portland, OR 97218. [2] Central Northeast Neighbors, 4415 NE 87th Avenue.

The Keep Colwood Green Coalition is working on a two key things: 1) opposing the rezoning of Colwood from open space to industrial; and 2) supporting acquisition of the property for a new regional park.

Keep Colwood Zoned Open Space!

We support the [3] Hearings Officer’s findings on the rezoning proposal, namely that the rezoning request should be denied by the Portland City Council. Colwood is one of the last parts of the environmentally sensitive and diverse Columbia Slough area that has not been lost to development. Our region cannot afford to lose another inch of open space in this unique natural area.

The Hearings Officer outlined many reasons why the existing open space zoning should be maintained. In addition, there are a myriad of other issues that need to be addressed before the Council could ever seriously entertain a reversal of the Hearings Officer’s recommendation.

For instance, no environmental impact analysis has been done for the site but there are significant health questions related to industrial development in this area due to increased air pollution, noise pollution, and storm run-off. The neighborhoods in the Colwood area are already being impacted with some of the highest levels of carcinogen-laden air pollution in Portland. Adding this area which as never been part of the city’s industrial land inventory to the pollution mix, will further jeopardize the health of residents in Northeast Portland. These health concerns are in addition to the impact that industrial development would have on the local habitat and environment - such as affecting threatened native species that reside in this area and losing the nearly 500 mature trees that are on the property now.

Finally, the area surrounding Colwood is extremely deficient in parkland, natural areas, and other open space. The Cully neighborhood access rate is 2,780 people per park acre, compared with a citywide average of 40 people per park acre. Loss of this last significant open space in the neighborhood would mean that this deficiency could never be adequately addressed.

Create a “Colwood Regional Park”!

Following Council action upholding the open space zoning for Colwood, the Keep Colwood Green Coalition supports acquisition of the area for a regional park. Without permanent public ownership we believe there will always a chance that this unique area could be permanently lost.

Given the landowner’s desire to sell the property, the overwhelming need for public open space in this area, and the regional goals related to environmental stewardship and enhancement of livability, the creation of a “Colwood Regional Park” seems like a logical outcome.

Possible funding sources for acquisition include Metro’s Natural Areas Bond and the City’s parks system development charges. It is important to note that both of these funding sources may only be used for park and open space acquisition. Use of these funds would not affect the funding of other pressing needs in Portland or the region.

What would you find at Colwood Regional Park? There are a lot of ideas out there: a canoe launch and interpretive trails like those found at Smith and Bybee Lakes, a learning farm similar to the Sauvie Island Center, new bike and pedestrian access to the Columbia Slough Trail and 40-mile Loop Trail System, more play fields and playground space, a state of the art driving range, cultural and sustainable industries educational facilities, and so on.

These are just some of the ideas out there. What is YOUR vision for a new 140 acre regional park?

Who is in favor of rezoning Colwood?

The Port of Portland has been the primary proponent for the rezoning. Their support is rooted in plans for possible expansion of the airport. However, a Port representative stated at the Citywide Land Use Group meeting on July 28th that the Port is not planning on providing any further testimony in favor of the rezoning.

Further, the Port’s primary impetus for supporting the rezoning was the possible development of a third runway. [4] As reported in the Portland Tribune, the horizon for development of a third runway has been significantly pushed out.

Who wants to Keep Colwood Green?

People like Y-O-U! Some of the organizations who oppose rezoning Colwood:

• [5] Youth and Elders Council of the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA)
• Urban Greenspaces Institute
• Audubon Society
• Sierra Club
• Oregon Recreation and Park Association
• Friends of Smith and Bybee Lakes
• Cully Association of Neighbors
• Concordia Neighborhood Association
• Wilkes Community Group
• Parkrose Neighborhood Association
• Central Northeast Neighbors
• Northeast Coalition of Neighbors
• Fox Chase Business Association
• North Northeast Business Association

How can I help Keep Colwood Green?

Contact [6] the Mayor and Commissioners and tell them to Keep Colwood Green! Be sure to do this no later than September 17th!

Other things you can do:

• Talk to your neighbors, co-workers, and friends about this issue. Ask them to provide written or in-person comment the Portland City Council Members to Keep Colwood Green!
• Contact your neighborhood association. Ask them to adopt a formal resolution asking that the City Council deny the request to rezone Colwood and to let the Council know about it! Many neighborhood associations have already done this, including Concordia, Cully, Parkrose, the Central Northeast Neighbors Coalition, and the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods.
• Contact your local businesses and business associations and ask them to join the North Northeast Business Association, Fox Chase Business Association, and many local businesses in supporting the livability and health of Portland’s residents!
• Contact the environmental organizations you are part of, ask them to join the Audubon Society and others in opposing the rezoning of Colwood!
• Tell the press. Comment on articles related to the rezoning and send letters to the editor showing your support to Keep Colwood Green!