Quarterly Building Dept Report – Winter 2018/2019:

The Residential building activity for WINTER 2019 has a bit slower than normal in part due to weather, and in part due to the lack of available building lots.  But Commercial activity has been very busy.

Residential construction includes 67 current residential dwelling permits — of which 45 are Townhomes.  Palladian Group tops the list with 41 single family townhomes being constructed in Champion Village, and Tony Mills, of Edison Homes have 4 town houses under construction.   The Zion Meadows subdivision are nearly all filled.  Raze Custom Homes, D.A Gray Richard Haggerty, and Matt Stott Construction have 14 homes currently under construction, or are ready to be finaled.  And Colby Custom Construction, Levi Brotnov, Tom Orr Construction, SKS Construction, Ron Haggerty and Kelly-Speer Homes account for the other new homes being constructed in Sandy city limits.

COMPLETED COMMERCIAL PROJECTS:

The newly remodeled Sandy Fire Station has been fully occupied now for nearly a year; yet the Station still had a few unfinished items.  (The Fire Station was given a temporary occupancy but did not receive the Formal Approval for Occupancy of Station was not given.)   The Building Department is happy to report that all of the remaining mechanical and building items were completed in February, and the formal Certificate of Occupancy was signed and issued by the Building Official.  

Notable commercial projects that were completed this winter include the new PNW TATTOO SHOP at 39400 Pioneer; the 9-unit, Tupper Hill apartment building; and NEXT ADVENTURE’s 2-story addition; and the remodeled PAOLA PIZZA BARN.  Many eager skiers and snow enthusiasts were happy to see that Next Adventure was opened in time for this 2018-2019 ski season.   And all were happy to see Paola’s Pizza Barn completed and re-opened after a thorough cleaning and exhaustive remodel of the main level.  The new management reopened the doors in time for Valentine’s Day and received many positive compliments and reviews from the customers. The new manager is hoping to open the upper levels to the public later this year, after the stairs and exiting has been made compliant with Oregon’s fire/life/safety codes. 

CURRENT COMMERCIAL PROJECTS:

Other current commercial projects include the 148-unit Sandy Place Apartment Complex on Sandy Heights; and the 24-unit Cedar Ridge Apartments Project on Vista Loop.   Cedar Ridge has completed the framing, roofing, and siding.   Sandy Place Apartments are pushing hard to open the first three apartment buildings and their community center by early April. 

Planning items:

Dutch Bros:  The proposed Dutch Brothers design review (18-057 DR/CUP) was issued an incompleteness letter on 2/21/19.  This store will be built on the vacant lot next to 7-Eleven if the project moves forward.

Stowaway Mini Storage: Staff received a resubmittal from Stowaway Mini Storage (18-048 DR) and will meet with them again on 3/4/19 regarding submitted documents.

Sign Code update:  A future work session with Council and Staff shall take place in the spring of 2019 regarding proposed updates to existing sign code regulations.  Staff is meeting internally to discuss existing and additional recommendations prior to scheduling work session. 

Scenic Street snowboarding school/camp: Conditional use permit request now deemed complete; Conditional Use hearing scheduled for March 19 PC meeting.

Portland Community Church property:  The owners of this property, located between the Assembly of God Church and Avamere on McCormick Drive, have proposed a zone change from C-2 to R-2.  Pre-application meeting occurred on March 6.

Ballot Measure 3-540: Staff resubmitted the requirements needed to the Department of Revenue on 3/1/19 and are waiting for a response.  Once staff has received a response they shall submit to the Secretary of State and County as the final steps.

Bird Property (19124 Jacoby): Annexation application for this property was deemed incomplete.  Still waiting on the applicant to provide additional information.

Bloom Annexation:  Case No. 18-026 ANN, Bloom Annexation, has been granted an extension not to extend beyond May 27, 2019 (245 days).  The applicant’s representative is working with Clackamas County to remove the existing historic designation(s) associated with the property’s structure before proceeding to Planning Commission for consideration.

Sandy Community Campus (SCC) replat:  Staff has received the updated plans completed by the contracted land surveyor for the proposed final plat of the Sandy Community Campus and Sandy Grade School campus.  Staff will complete an internal review of the plans to determine if they depict the intended outcome and proceed accordingly. 

Design Review:

• McDonald’s: Final Order for their exterior remodel (18-050 DR) was issued on February 12. 
• Robert Mottice: Mr. Mottice submitted an appeal to the Planning Commission’s 1/28/19 decision to deny the requested setback variance for an RV storage structure on a residential property. Staff hopes to have this appeal on the 4/15/19 council agenda. (18-051 VAR).
• Fun Time RV: This business (18-030 DR) submitted additional information on 2/7/9 for consideration. Completeness check is planned for 3/7/19 if provided necessary payments are received by stated date. 
• Double Creek Condos modification: This 69-unit condominium complex modification is currently under Design Review.
• Jacoby Heights subdivision:  Continuation of the February 25 Planning Commission hearing will occur at the April 8^th PC meeting (18-025 SUB/VAR/FSH/TREE/INT).
• Center City Townhouses: An application for a tree variance has been submitted to move a required detention tree due to root damage.  Will be heard at the January 28^th Planning Commission meeting.
• Sandy Vault Storage: Staff has deemed this complete and has scheduled a Design Review hearing for the March 19^th PC meeting.

Parks & Trails Advisory Board:

Parks & Trails Advisory Board:

• The Sandy Parks Board and the Sandy City Council had a joint meeting on February 27 to discuss a myriad of different issues including fees-in-lieu, SDCs, and future policy.

Internal projects: 

Internal changes continue here at City Hall on the Planning side of the building. 

• Bull Run Electric’s work is completed and paid for, both for the Development Services side of the building and downstairs for IT.  Next project: plumbing at City Hall. Also, the repairs to the building’s south wall (including a paint job for the entire building) will begin in March and hopefully end by May 31^st.

Economic Development items:

Econ Devl – Commercial Properties (vacancies, new businesses, etc.):

• Mt. Hood Impact Jiu Jitsu:  This martial arts studio has moved into the space that the hot tub store used to be in.  This studio is currently owned and operated by Jose Rodriguez and will be the eastern-most franchise associated with Impact Jiu Jitsu of Beaverton.  Jose is converting the space now, and they should be open in a matter of weeks.
• Destination hotel discussion: Economic Development and Planning will be meeting with Patrick Nofeld of Escape Lodging on March 7^th for a general discussion.  This is the same hotel group that was looking at the land behind Johnson RV a few years ago.  They are currently assessing the possibility of building a small hotel on the larger available lot next to Mt. Hood Athletic Club.

Econ Devl – Internal Projects:

• Special Service Contract Program: Letters to go out shortly to the three recipients of this revolving grant.  Data collection reporting is required from these non-profits in order to get their final payment for year 2 of this program.
  
  
• Downtown maintenance:
  
  
  • AntFarm downtown maintenance crew:  This is in flux at the moment.  Their Outdoor Programs Manager is no longer with the organization, and the first candidate to replace didn’t make it through his first week.  Nunpa is assuming responsibilities for this right now, but fortunately there won’t be much to do until spring anyway.  Also, we have signed a new contract with AntFarm for flower basket maintenance.
  • Derelict buildings – residential:  We received the final report from Dean Hoque of Axis for the maintenance needed on the Pendergrass properties and asked them to suggest some deadlines for us; should receive an answer in a week or two.  Also waiting on the property owner to decide if she wants to rehab or demo the little garage.  Owner of Lamb properties is standing by until we figure that part out.  Next step: putting the demolitions out to bid.
  • Derelict buildings – Smith Building:  Work continues, but we have not heard from the owners in a while.  I am currently scheduling calls to see where they are at about finding a design professional to work with.  Also:

• Waiting for input from Parks Super/PW Super to see if they can remove the old light post out front or if we should hire a contractor to do it.  Either is fine, but the former would be faster and cheaper.
• We have ordered a decorative waste receptacle like the ones in front of City Hall to install outside the Smith Building at the building owern’s request.  Should be installed in March.

• Clackamas County Tourism’s Community Partnership Program grant projects:
  
  
  • Jonsrud Viewpoint 2018:  Complete! 
  • Jonsrud Viewpoint 2019:  Parks Board Chair Kathleen Walker has submitted for a 2019 CPP grant to complete the transformation of Jonsrud.  She proposes to replace the interpretive signage and broken telescope, as well as make a number of needed cosmetic repairs.
  • Sandy Tourism Board: The STB will meet in March to discuss 2019 CPP applications and decide on what projects they would like to see move forward this year.

Econ Devl – Conferences/training:

• Clackamas County Destination Sustainability Assessment Review and Action Planning Workshop (Feb 21):  This day-long event was an outgrowth of the east Clackamas County tourism studio I requested about a year ago.  ClackCo Tourism gathered a bunch of stakeholders from this side of the county, including Timberline Lodge and some of the outdoor recreation retailers out here to discuss issues surrounding tourism and how to improve/increase tourism out here without overloading ourselves.  A good discussion all around, and a consensus that tourism is going to continue to grow out here for the foreseeable future.