CITY SUSPENDS EFFORTS TO PURCHASE 2.5 ACRES OF PARK LAND NEAR MURRAY BLVD AND SEXTON MOUNTAIN DRIVE
News Release from City of Beaverton
Posted on FlashAlert: February 23rd, 2015 2:37 PM
BEAVERTON, Ore. -The city has suspended plans to purchase 2.5 acres of Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD) land to facilitate an intergenerational housing development. The city and the park district came to the decision after hosting numerous community outreach efforts where residents expressed their concerns.
"Thanks to everyone who reached out to us regarding the proposed zoning change on the former Cobb property," said Mayor Denny Doyle. "It's clear that our residents strongly believe the park site should remain a park site and that no portion of it should be developed."
The city had been in discussions with THPRD to sell a surplus portion of the park property to the city in exchange for an easement on city-owned property adjacent to the park, which is better suited for active park uses such as a ball field. This partnership would have resulted in a similarly sized park and the construction of 40 affordable housing units serving seniors and families in the process of adopting foster children.
The city facilitated a series of tours and open houses to garner community feedback to the proposed affordable housing project.
"After personally meeting with many nearby residents, touring the property, as well as hearing about the excellent testimony at the two community meetings the city held, I have asked city staff to redouble their efforts to find another Beaverton location for the Bridge Meadows intergenerational affordable housing," said Mayor Doyle.
"I have reached out to leaders at Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District and we are in complete agreement that the former Cobb property is not a viable option for development," said Mayor Doyle.
"The city worked really well to solve the problem once they were aware of the neighborhood concerns and they inserted additional public involvement steps. We appreciate the mayor's insistence that more be done to work with the neighbors and ultimately the city listened," said area resident Ted Forgeron.
The city will continue to work with Bridge Meadows to bring affordable senior housing to Beaverton as well as housing for families that are in the process of adopting foster children. "In Beaverton, we are committed to listening to the concerns of our residents," said Mayor Doyle. "We will regroup and continue to work with Bridge Meadows to find a good site for this important nonprofit. We must create more affordable housing here and we will find a way to accomplish this critical goal."
BRIDGE MEADOWS
Bridge Meadows creates intergenerational neighborhoods for adop�tive families of foster children that promotes permanency, communi�ty and caring relationships. The model draws on the strengths of three generations towards a singular purpose--that all three generations may live full, meaning�ful and connected lives. The success of its intentional whole-family approach, the public cost-savings of its permanence-focused family and community support model, and its age- and environmentally-friendly accommodations represent a new paradigm for creative solutions to vexing societal challenges. For more information, visit www.bridgemeadows.org.
ABOUT BEAVERTON
Beaverton is a welcoming and responsible city that enjoys one of the most diverse populations in Oregon. In 2014, Beaverton was recognized as the safest city in the Pacific Northwest (according to CQ Press for cities more than 75,000). Recently, the city's award-winning finance department received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award as well as the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. In 2012, the city was awarded the Mayors' Climate Protection Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. It was named one of the 100 Best Places to Live in America by Money magazine and recognized as one of the best places to raise kids by BusinessWeek magazine. The city was named one of the top 25 Suburbs for Retirement by Forbes.com and one of the 100 Best Walking Cities in America by Prevention magazine. The city also received the Recycler of the Year award from the Association of Oregon Recyclers, named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, recei ved a Bronze Award Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists, and recognized as one of the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Communities. Lastly, the city's nationally acclaimed visioning program was named Public Involvement Project of the Year--Best Planning Project by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Cascade Chapter and also received the prestigious 3CMA Award of Excellence.
For more information, reminders and community news, visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov. Also follow Beaverton on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofBeaverton, or Twitter at www.twitter.com/CityofBeaverton.
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"Thanks to everyone who reached out to us regarding the proposed zoning change on the former Cobb property," said Mayor Denny Doyle. "It's clear that our residents strongly believe the park site should remain a park site and that no portion of it should be developed."
The city had been in discussions with THPRD to sell a surplus portion of the park property to the city in exchange for an easement on city-owned property adjacent to the park, which is better suited for active park uses such as a ball field. This partnership would have resulted in a similarly sized park and the construction of 40 affordable housing units serving seniors and families in the process of adopting foster children.
The city facilitated a series of tours and open houses to garner community feedback to the proposed affordable housing project.
"After personally meeting with many nearby residents, touring the property, as well as hearing about the excellent testimony at the two community meetings the city held, I have asked city staff to redouble their efforts to find another Beaverton location for the Bridge Meadows intergenerational affordable housing," said Mayor Doyle.
"I have reached out to leaders at Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District and we are in complete agreement that the former Cobb property is not a viable option for development," said Mayor Doyle.
"The city worked really well to solve the problem once they were aware of the neighborhood concerns and they inserted additional public involvement steps. We appreciate the mayor's insistence that more be done to work with the neighbors and ultimately the city listened," said area resident Ted Forgeron.
The city will continue to work with Bridge Meadows to bring affordable senior housing to Beaverton as well as housing for families that are in the process of adopting foster children. "In Beaverton, we are committed to listening to the concerns of our residents," said Mayor Doyle. "We will regroup and continue to work with Bridge Meadows to find a good site for this important nonprofit. We must create more affordable housing here and we will find a way to accomplish this critical goal."
BRIDGE MEADOWS
Bridge Meadows creates intergenerational neighborhoods for adop�tive families of foster children that promotes permanency, communi�ty and caring relationships. The model draws on the strengths of three generations towards a singular purpose--that all three generations may live full, meaning�ful and connected lives. The success of its intentional whole-family approach, the public cost-savings of its permanence-focused family and community support model, and its age- and environmentally-friendly accommodations represent a new paradigm for creative solutions to vexing societal challenges. For more information, visit www.bridgemeadows.org.
ABOUT BEAVERTON
Beaverton is a welcoming and responsible city that enjoys one of the most diverse populations in Oregon. In 2014, Beaverton was recognized as the safest city in the Pacific Northwest (according to CQ Press for cities more than 75,000). Recently, the city's award-winning finance department received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award as well as the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. In 2012, the city was awarded the Mayors' Climate Protection Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. It was named one of the 100 Best Places to Live in America by Money magazine and recognized as one of the best places to raise kids by BusinessWeek magazine. The city was named one of the top 25 Suburbs for Retirement by Forbes.com and one of the 100 Best Walking Cities in America by Prevention magazine. The city also received the Recycler of the Year award from the Association of Oregon Recyclers, named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, recei ved a Bronze Award Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists, and recognized as one of the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Communities. Lastly, the city's nationally acclaimed visioning program was named Public Involvement Project of the Year--Best Planning Project by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Cascade Chapter and also received the prestigious 3CMA Award of Excellence.
For more information, reminders and community news, visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov. Also follow Beaverton on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofBeaverton, or Twitter at www.twitter.com/CityofBeaverton.
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