1) Patton Square Park Community Party (July 28)
2) Heritage tree on Overlook Bluff
3) What’s your small project idea for Overlook?
4) Neighborhood notification requirements for developers
5) I-5 tolling
1) Patton Square Park Community Party (July 28)
Friends of Patton Square Park  (5272 N Interstate Ave.) will host a community party at the park on July 28, 11-2, and you’re invited. Join your neighbors as we to enjoy music provided by Friends of Noise Youth Showcase, collaborate on an art piece, go on a scavenger hunt to win a prize, meet MAX Station artists and learn about community plans for playground improvements.
In addition, the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center will be open, providing an opportunity to tour a valuable historical resource for North and Northeast Portland. Food from Gracie’s Pizza and other vendors will be available for purchase.
Many thanks to sponsors Aprende con Amigos Preschool Academy, Firelight Yoga, Frank’s 76, and the Overlook Neighborhood Association as well as to adidas, New Seasons Market and Ruby Jewel Ice Cream for donating raffle items.
This event is free, open to the public and fun for all ages. Contact Cynthia at info@overlookneighborhood.org with questions.
2) Heritage tree on Overlook Bluff
The Overlook Neighborhood Association Board voted on Tuesday to comment on a proposed subdivision of property on N Overlook Terrace. The land includes a well-known heritage oak tree. OKNA is urging the city to require maximum protection for the tree as set out by the city Urban Forestry Department so that it survives building of residences around it.
Read the full letter to the city.
3) What’s your small project idea for Overlook?
The Overlook Neighborhood Association seeks ideas for neighborhood projects that could be partially funded with small grants from OKNA. What would you do to make Overlook better? Send your ideas to info@overlookneighborhood.org.
You don’t need a fully fleshed out idea now. If the grants committee likes what it sees, you’ll have a chance to submit more details later.
Also, if you’re interested in helping choose the projects that receive funding, we still have room for a few residents on the grants committee. Send an email expressing your interest and sharing some information about yourself to info@overlookneighborhood.org.
4) Neighborhood notification requirements for developers
The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has proposed new neighborhood notification rules for developers. Under the new system, developers no longer would be required to present at neighborhood meetings but instead may hold their own meetings within two miles of the development site. For Overlook, that means the meeting could be on the west side of the river.
We’ll have a fuller presentation of what the rules mean for Overlook at OKNA’s July 17 General Meeting. In the meantime, you can read the new rules and comment online. BPS will hold a public hearing on the rules on Aug. 14, 12:30 p.m.
5) I-5 tolling
The committee studying tolling on Portland-area highways has sent its formal recommendations to the state. The committee recommended that the first phase of tolls include I-5 starting somewhere in North Portland, though Going/Alberta is the top contender. Although several committee members noted concerns about safety when traffic diverts onto neighborhood streets, the full report minimizes the concerns and offers no mitigation plans.
The full recommendation report is available online. You can submit comments to the Oregon Transportation Commission about the proposal online or at a public hearing on Thursday, July 12. Sign up to testify starting at 3 p.m. with the meeting running 4-8. More details are on the agenda.