West Hayden Island (WHI) has suddenly become the
center of Portland.
This undeveloped portion of the
island is owned by the
Port of Portland, which has been considering developing it for a marine terminal for a number of years. The same area, however, is a critical wildlife habitat, vital for the survival of threatened trees, birds and fish. Last year, the Portland City Council formed a
Community Working Group (CWG) and charged it with developing a plan that would meet both important goals:
marine industrial use and habitat preservation. The CWG was unable to draft a satisfactory plan, highlighting the difficulty of merging both needs.
The city needs waterfront industrial land, according to several studies. At the same time, the habitat on WHI is a
fragile and valuable resource the City and region want to protect. Since the CWG could not find a solution, Mayor Sam Adams is presenting a resolution to the council that, if passed, will instruct the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to come up with an annexation and development plan by July 2011.
The major features of this plan would be a single riverfront terminal, situated on approximately 300 acres of land already in partial industrial use, and the protection and enhancement of around 500 acres of wild habitat.
The Mayor’s
resolution will not be a final decision, but it
will set the city’s course for the future of West Hayden Island. The resolution will require a significant public participation process, and Thursday evening is the time for that to start.
Portland’s best decisions are those informed by input from its citizens. Help the city make the best decision on West Hayden Island by attending and speaking out this Thursday.
Or, if you cannot attend the meeting, submit your written comments to City Councilor Amanda Fritz at her
website.
Onward,
The Team at Onward Oregon
