The October meeting of the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighbors for Responsible Growth featured attorney Ty Wyman of the downtown firm Dunn, Carney, Allen, Higgins & Tongue. Wyman gave members a rundown on filing an appeal with the state’s Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA), detailing the niche legal field of land use, the members of the appeal board, and how the process works. He has been retained by neighbors elsewhere on the East Side over similar buildings in the Richmond and Kerns neighborhoods.
The members of Beaumont-Wilshire Neighbors for Responsible Growth continue to take issue with the 50-unit apartment project proposed for NE Fremont between 44th and 45th avenues, including traffic, public safety (Fremont is a city-designated emergency response route), building scale and height, and the parking exemption, among others.
Beaumont Village businessman Will Price gave an update on the legal defense fund, which has received enough contributions for a legal review of our case, specifically comparing the building’s plans against city code, to see if any discretionary (therefore, debatable) decisions were made by city staff. Once the permit is issued—check the address of 4423 NE Fremont on portlandmaps.com to keep tabs on the developments at the various bureaus—Neighbors for Responsible Growth will have 21 days to file an appeal with LUBA.
Wyman encouraged continued political pressure, so concerned neighbors and business owners are being urged to keep letters, e-mails, and phone calls directed at City Hall and the various bureaus. The city planner to contact is Jean Hester, jean.hester@portlandoregon.gov or 503.823.7783.
Neighbor Matt Carter, who was involved with a successful LUBA appeal some years ago regarding another building project in the neighborhood, described his experience with the process. He also encouraged political pressure and strident requests for mitigation to reduce the safety impacts.
The next meeting of the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighbors for Responsible Growth is set for 7:00pm on Thursday, November 8th. Attendees are directed to meet shortly beforehand at the apartment building site on Fremont, after which the group will relocate to a neighboring home.
The city will unveil the results of its parking studies and a transit review at a hearing beginning at 12:30pm on Tuesday, November 13th, at 1900 SW Fourth Avenue, Room 2500A. Public comment and questions will be taken.
To learn more and to donate to the legal fund, visit the websites tinyurl.com/savebeaumont and http://bwnrg.blogspot.com.