Development Services – Monthly Report – May 2020

Planning items:

Clackamas County Health Clinic (20-014 DR/VAR/DEV/ADJ): This request to construct a new county health facility for Clackamas County Health, Housing & Human Services at the old Oregon’s Wild Harvest site has completed review and is scheduled to be heard at the June 30th PC meeting.

Chapter 17.78 Annexation Code Amendments (20-010 DCA):  Staff is initiating updates to the annexation code in Chapter 17 of the SMC to include clearer annexation criteria.

Bailey Meadows:  On May 26, 2020, the City issued the final order (i.e. decision) for the Bailey Meadows subdivision. The developer has applied for a grading and erosion control permit and has submitted construction plans for developing the streets and utilities. City staff is reviewing the construction plans.

DCA 5G Small Cell code adoption (20-012 DCA): Staff is currently working with a legal consultant to clean up our draft code amendment.  This is scheduled for the PC meeting on June 30th.

Jewelberry Ridge subdivision extension (20-021 EXT):  A request for a one-year extension to subdivision approval for this nine-lot subdivision off of Jewelberry Road will be heard by the PC at their June 30th meeting.

Sandy Vault Storage (19-046 MOD/VAR/DEV): This request for modifications to the previously approved storage facility was heard by the City Council at their June 1st meeting, where they upheld the PC’s decision.  Decision issued on June 3rd.

Sandy Community Campus Replat (18-045 MP): Staff is working on clearing up questions and completing the final order for this project.

Pleasant Street Master Plan (18-022 CPA):  This project is now in full swing – staff is currently reviewing and expanding the work already completed and working on creating presentation materials for future discussion. 

Design Review:

  • Marshall Ridge ADU (20-020): Recently received application materials from the applicant; this is currently under review.
  • OTSD/Bull Run tree removal (20-014 TREE): A request to remove five trees from the OTSD property on Industrial Way as part of the new Bull Run Electric facility on Industrial Way is still under review for completeness.
  • Sandy Plaza Apartments (20-017 DR):  This project is undergoing a completeness check.
  • Bull Run Terrace (19-050 CPA/ZC/SUB): The applicant has requested more time on this project.
  • Chase Bank drive-thru ATM:  Staff is currently reviewing this proposed drive-thru ATM at Fred Meyer.


Kelly’s Kudos:

A general award of kudos to the Development Services staff in May for keeping their collective noses to the proverbial grindstone.

Building Department items:

Nothing newsworthy to report from the Building Department in May – builders seem very busy, and staff has been receiving kudos from them regarding our flexibility with inspections and the timeliness of permit processing.

Internal projects

  • Mailboxes on Highway 26: The City of Sandy Urban Renewal Agency solved two ADA compliance issues for the sidewalks in front of KFC and Jiffy Lube. The existing mailboxes created ADA impediments for people using the sidewalk and the transit stop by KFC. The Public Works Department installed a new mailbox on the Safeway property for multiple businesses in a location that meets ADA clearances.
  • Sidewalk Panel on Pioneer Blvd: The City of Sandy Urban Renewal Agency replaced a concrete panel on Pioneer Blvd. by the old La Bamba site. The panel was removed in 2016 by Wave Broadband and they used asphalt to fill the area. The panel was removed by Wave without a permit and the asphalt patch created an ADA issue as the surface was uneven. The City of Sandy has invoiced Wave to pay for the $1,050 sidewalk repair.
  • ClackCo Bus & Ec Dev: The property review of Sobella and points west that ClackCo Business & Ec Dev committed to in 2019 is now null and void due to changing budget priorities caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. They will attempt to restart this process sometime in the near future, but no promises…it could be several years until this is available again.
  • Community Partnership Program (CPP): Please be advised that due to the staffing and budget cutbacks Mt. Hood Territory (ClackCo Tourism) has endured due to COVID-19, the director has informed me that it is entirely likely that this program will not be restarted until 2022 or 2023.


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

Economic Development items:

  • Dutch Bros:  Construction at this site is very close to being complete.  All that remains is some finish work on the building and the completion of the flatwork and landscaping.  Staff has also recently learned that this location is the 400th Dutch Bros location, and that the company is considering a robust ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate sometime in June.  Staff is communicating with the developer and franchisee to help coordinate this coming event.  Mr. Mayor, your speaking and scissor-wielding skills will be required for this one – the Ec Dev Manager will keep you in the loop.
The 400th Dutch Bros!

  • Turra properties:  Development Services recently received a temporary sign permit for a “For Sale” banner to be installed at the Turra Building on Proctor Blvd housing Mr. Turra’s Italian restaurant.  A friendly inquiry by the Ec Dev Dept also revealed that they are currently giving serious consideration to a development project for the Sandy Lumberyard and Sandy River Brewing buildings – they forwarded us plans for a mixed use development concept they are considering at the site combining some elements of the existing buildings along with some new development on the Pleasant side of those lots.  Staff, along with Mayor Pulliam and Council President Pietzold, met virtually with Michael and David Turra (Angelo’s sons) and their architect on the 9th of June to discuss the project at the 30,000-foot level.  The Turra’s were very heartened by the level of support and enthusiasm for this project and appear to be ready to update their 2018 design based on the input provided. 
    • Note: The first item the family discussed with us was off-street parking – the Turra family was delighted to learn that we have eliminated off-street parking requirements for commercial in C-1 and will be adjusting their design accordingly.  The feedback regarding that code change was extremely positive and really re-energized their interest in this project. 
    • They were also very interested in learning more about the Pleasant Street Master Plan and how they could integrate elements of that plan into their design.
  • Commercial vacancies:  As Clackamas County begins the process of reopening, Sandy has seen relatively few business closures.  The only retail businesses within city limits that appear to have ceased operations at this time are the Jackson Hewitt office on Proctor and Island Teriyaki, and the former was probably not COVID related.
  • Safeway signage: New signage at the Sandy Safeway promoting their new drive up grocery service.  The new exterior bottle return enclosure is also completed.
new signage at Sandy Safeway

Econ Devl – Internal Projects:

Downtown maintenance:

  • AntFarm downtown maintenance crew: Neal’s crew has completed street tree trimming on the south side of Proctor and is now working on street trees on the north side of Pioneer.  We have also added some general weeding at several downtown locations including the sidewalks and planter strips in front of the VFW and Rock Ranch Embroidery and the south side of Taco Time.  We are also using them for a small project to remove the river rock and replace with weed fabric and bark dust in the planter strip at Brady’s Brats & Burgers.
Neal Hatley (upper right in the plaid shirt) and his AntFarm downtown maintenance crew
  • Action Center exterior lighting upgrade:  This project is being temporarily delayed due to manufacturing delays stalling the fixtures for this project.  The property owner and their contractor are ready to go as soon as the fixtures arrive.
  • PGE power pole streetscape repair work:  This work is now complete throughout the downtown.
  • Highway 26 “islands”:  The two “islands” on Hwy 26 at Les Schwab and the USFS will be getting a makeover shortly – Public Works is currently contracting out the weeding and replanting of the Les Schwab island with kinnikinnick and Oregon grape – this should happen within the next month.  Maintenance at the other island will occur later in the summer.
  • Flower baskets:  These were installed on the final weekend in May, 2 weeks after the normal install date.  This slight delay will help our watering budget and also helped our watering contractor by allowing them extra time to prepare, as they were in the midst of a major housecleaning and project binge in May due to the pandemic.  All is well here.


Econ Devl – Economic Development Committee
:

No Ec Dev Committee meeting in May (or June), as City Hall is still officially closed for business.  We are operating on the assumption that the committee will meet again for its regularly scheduled July meeting on 7/1.

Econ Devl – Conferences/training:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no conferences or training opportunities for the foreseeable future.