Development Services – Monthly Report – April 2019

Planning items:

Sandy Vault Self Storage (18-047 DR/VAR/ADJ): This project has received final approval – final order dated April 4, 2019.  Construction should begin shortly.

Ballot Measure 3-540: Staff is working with Firwood Design to confirm the legal descriptions associated with the annexed parcels after receiving comments from the Department of Revenue.

Sign code: A future work session with Council and Staff shall take place (autumn potentially) regarding proposed updates to the existing sign code regulations. Staff has met several times to discuss existing and additional recommendations and will pass the recommendations to City attorney prior to scheduling a work session. 

Eagle Park improvements (19-009 DR):  Have been deemed incomplete.

New City of Sandy tree code: We are working on updates to tree regulations in the development code because our existing regulations are not working as intended.  The existing regulations are not adequately protecting existing trees identified for retention and mitigation trees on individual properties are having high mortality rates. The code modifications will hopefully create a balanced approach between ecological preservation while maintaining development rights.

USFS Building: This property will be undergoing a renovation of its secure parking lots in the coming weeks per new GSA requirements.

Mt. Hood Cigar (19-008 DR): This proposal for a smoking shed in the parking lot has been deemed incomplete.

Bloom Annexation (18-026 ANN): This project has been granted an extension not to extend past May 27, 2019.  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: Jordan Wheeler to speak with OTSD representative regarding the placement of the fence, potential easements and land exchanges prior to final plat.

Boring Brewing: Came in for a “pre” pre-app meeting looking to add outdoor seating at his business.  Combined transportation and sewer SDCs determined to be $3,600 ($1,800 apiece).  We determined that we could waive sewer SDC if Mr. Schwartz was not adding any seating (which he wasn’t), but the $1,800 transportation SDC was more than he could bear.  He will most likely not pursue outdoor seating due to the SDC cost.  Quick research shows that many nearby cities do not assess SDCs for this kind of improvement, including: Gresham, Happy Valley, Canby and Estacada.

Johnson RV: Brandon Johnson is looking at an expansion of his property to include a new building, more RV display area and a section for RV overnight hookups.  More to come soon…

Design Review:

  • Space Age Fueling Station (19-012 DR): This project is back on and currently undergoing a review for completeness.
  • Dutch Bros (18-057 DR/CUP): At the 4/15 PC meeting, Design Review, Conditional Use and three variances for this project were continued to the PC meeting on 6/24.
  • Stowaway Mini Storage (18-048 DR): Design review was deemed complete on 3/21.  Planning Commission hearing date is scheduled for the 6/10 PC meeting.
  • PGE Redevelopment (19-002): This was deemed incomplete on 4/18 for the second time.  A meeting with the applicant is scheduled for 5/14. 
  • 37918 Hamilton Ridge Drive (18-058 ADJ): This request to make adjustments to the rear and side setbacks to a residential deck is still under review.
  • Robert Mottice (18-051 VAR): City Council approved the applicant’s side and rear yard setback requests at the 4/15/19 Council hearing which overturned the Planning Commission’s 1/28/19 denial. Letters sent to utility companies 4/26/19 for a two-week objection/comment period per approval conditions. 
  • Fun Time RV (18-030 DR): Deemed complete on 3/5 scheduled for the PC meeting on 5/28. 
  • Jacoby Heights subdivision (18-025 SUB/VAR/FSH/TREE/INT): This project is currently being reviewed by the city attorney.
  • Bird Property Annexation (18-034 ANN): Scheduled for the 5/28 PC meeting.

Parks & Trails Advisory Board:

  • City Council appointed new Parks Board Member Don Robertson to the Parks and Trails Advisory Board on 4/15/19.
  • The Bornstedt Park Survey captured 503 participants.  Results will be discussed at the 5/8/19 Parks and Trails Advisory Board meeting, but there was very strong support indicated for both shade structures and public restrooms.
  • Sarah Richardson, Community Services Manager, will discuss potential Sandy Bluff Dog Park upgrades at the 5/8/19 Parks and Trails Advisory Board meeting.
  • Kelly O’Neill will discuss the proposed RFP for the Parks and Trails Master Plan at the 5/8/19 Parks and Trails Advisory Board meeting.

Internal projects

City Hall is currently undergoing a series of exterior improvements to the building including the following work:

  • Repair work is now complete on the Development Services/Public Works side of the building, with new Hardi shingle and horizontal lap replacing the old siding for a sharper look and sturdier construct.  All windows and trim have been replaced with new, and wall is now properly weather-proofed.  Masonry work is complete for this side of the building as well – masons started on west side of building on 5/13.  The rock type was selected to match the rock base in the new entry arch for Meinig Park and looks a little bit better than the last type. (the yellow color is primer, not the new color of the building – all masonry work shown in the picture below is new)
  • The building will be painted with a neutral color for the base, and a deep red trim – this will tie the building in with the Library, only with the trim and body reversed.  The concrete layer at the back of the building will be painted trim color instead of body for a little extra color.
  • Siding has been removed from the Admin side of the building and the overhang for the Council Chambers entrance.  The windows on the Admin side have already been replaced.  New siding will be installed shortly.
  • The vestibules in the front of the building have had reflective tinting installed to reduce glare and heat in the summertime.
  • We are adding a window for the City Recorder.  However, the Building Official has determined that we need to get engineering for this window due to the age of the building.  City Hall was not designed with seismic activity in mind and adding another window could decrease the structural integrity of that wall.  Our contractor has a structural engineer that might be able to get to this in the next week or two, but due to the strength of the economy there are not many engineers available to do this in a timely manner.  We may need to postpone this element of the project until later.
  • We are almost ready to pick a winning bidder from the four three estimates requested for adding a skim coat of concrete to the City Hall entrance.  This should be repaired before the end of the current biennium.
  • We will be looking at bids to replace the entirety of the plumbing in the building later in the summer.   Special thanks to Jeff Newberry of NW Waterworks for assisting us with a scope of work for the project.

Economic Development items:


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

  • Sandy School of Dance (16596 362nd Ave):  A new business owned by Kelsey Smith has opened in the light industrial complex across from Fred Meyer owned by Michael Maiden. 
  • Maiden complex:  Mr. Maiden is in the process of creating more leasable space in his complex by reconfiguring existing buildings no longer in full use.  We should have a couple more available I-1 spaces shortly…which is fantastic because we are almost out of leasable commercial property here in Sandy.
  • Red Boot Branding building (38888 Pioneer Blvd):  This building has been put up for sale by the owners.

Econ Devl – Internal Projects:

Downtown maintenance:

  • Flower baskets: Cedarglen Floral is preparing our baskets right now – they will go up as they always do around the midpoint of May.  AntFarm’s new outdoor programs manager will be watering this year to give Nunpa a break.  Ground planters will have plants replaced with summer plantings prior to Mountain Festival.
  • Derelict buildings – residential: 
    • We have a dialog going on with the owner of the Pendergrass properties regarding the rehab of those two buildings and are currently waiting on a completed rehab report from Axis Design of Gresham.
    • The owner of the Lamb properties has decided to stop participating in the process.  We are currently consulting with counsel to determine next steps.
  • Derelict buildings – Smith Building:  We have had several conversations with the owners since our last report and are on track again.  Also:
    • The old light post in the pedestrian right-of-way was removed for us by Neilson Construction.  Worked with an electrician from EC to terminate this connection at the panel as well.
    • Recent graffiti was immediately rattle-canned over by the owners.

Econ Devl – Conferences/training:

  • Travel Oregon – Clackamas River: World Class Recreation Development and Enhancement (April 2, 9, 30 – various locations):  This was a series of three all-day workshops put on by Travel Oregon (with an assist from Clackamas County Tourism) to study the Clackamas River and how the use of this outdoor recreation asset is increasing.  This workshop series was designed to get stakeholders together to discuss the issues surrounding the use of the river (dump sites, illegal camping, overcrowding of places like the Barton to Carver run, insufficient law enforcement, future development to add a waterfront to downtown Estacada, etc) and plan for the future.