Planning items:

Clackamas County Health Clinic (20-014 DR/VAR/DEV/ADJ): Final order for this project was issued on July 14^th.

19030 Dublin ADU (20-030 ADU):  Final order for the construction of this attached accessory dwelling unit was issued on July 28^th.

DCA Code Updates to Chapters 17.100, 17.84 and 17.10 (20-023 DCA): These code updates relating to ADT standards will have their second hearing at the PC meeting on August 24^th.

DCA Code Changes – House Bill 2001: Staff has received this information.  Processing to begin shortly.

Sandy Crest Planned Development: Staff has received information with regard to this planned development on Jacoby Road.  Processing to begin shortly.

Salmonberry tree removal (20-026 TREE): Final order for this project was issued on July 17^th.

Upcoming pre-apps:  Pre-apps are scheduled for the following future projects

• CFCU ATM machine
• New daycare facility on Hood Street (Rick Minor)
• New Barlow Trail Vet Clinic building (this is for the Connelly properties next door to the Action Center)

Chapter 17.78 Annexation Code Amendments (20-010 DCA):  These code amendments went into effect on August 5^th.

DCA 5G Small Cell code adoption (20-012 DCA): Resolutions 2020-20, Resolution 2020-21 and Ordinance 2020-22 were approved at the City Council meeting on August 3^rd.

Vista Loop Lot Line Adjustment (20-031): This project for a property owner prepping lots for development is close to completion.  Final order is complete and being reviewed by the Development Services Director.  

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

Pleasant Street Master Plan (18-022 CPA):  Staff is currently working on getting data organized and collecting feedback from the development team.  There are currently two staff members working on this project.

Design Review:

• Sandy Plaza Apartments (20-017 DR):  Review for this project for an 18 unit apartment complex on Meeker Street is complete.  Final order will be issued shortly.
• Bull Run Terrace (19-050 CPA/ZC/SUB): Staff has completed their review of submitted application materials from the applicant and finished the staff report. This project will go before the Planning Commission at their meeting on August 24th.
• Chinook tree removal (20-027 TREE): Final order for this project was issued on August 4^th.
• Eagle Park Improvements extension (20-029 EXT): Review is complete.  The request for an extension to complete the improvements at the Eagle Park project until July 29^th, 2025 was approved.
• OAOR Annexation (20-025):  Staff is currently reviewing this proposed annexation — scheduled to go before PC on September 28; if all goes well, City Council will see it at the November 2nd Council meeting.
• The View PD (20-028):  Staff has completed the review of this planned development (!) and has deemed the application complete.   Staff report pending.

Kelly’s Kudos:

I want to thank Shelley Denison for working diligently on the 5G small cell code changes. She has quickly become the resident expert on small cell code and did a fantastic job presenting a complicated subject matter to the Planning Commission and the City Council. The adoption of these code changes, which become effective on September 2, will help protect the look and feel of Sandy’s neighborhoods. Thanks to Shelley for jumping in with both feet and accomplishing a long-standing department goal.

Building Department items:

Nothing newsworthy to report from the Building Department in July.

Internal projects: 

• Minor changes to Community Center: The City of Sandy Urban Renewal Agency is looking to upgrade a couple of items at the Community Center
  • Lighting: We are waiting on a quote from Bull Run Electric to replace the light fixtures outside of the west entrance to the cafeteria with a dark skies-compliant fixture and to replace the two fixtures on the front of the building with directional gooseneck fixtures to properly light the mural instead of the front landscaping.
  • Garbage enclosures:  SURA is looking to create a proper garbage and recycling enclosure on the site similar to the one constructed at City Hall.  We have not yet found an available contractor to perform this work due to the general shortage of available contractors due to COVID.
  • West entrance awning: The Community Services Director has requested assistance in replacing the fabric awning over this entrance with something more “Sandy Style” and permanent.  Currently speaking to Todd Speck at Mtn View Contracting about design and construction.
• More right-of-way work on Highway 26: Recently the City’s Code Enforcement officer issued orders to replace a badly damaged driveway approach and 50’ section of sidewalk at 37860 Hwy 26, a property across the highway from Les Schwab after an anonymous complaint.  This property is owned by Mt. Hood Cleaners.  Ec Dev has been working with Mr. Paluck per his request for assistance and with ODOT to get permits and paperwork completed properly – this process is almost complete.  Work should begin soon.

Economic Development items:

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

• Clackamas County Health, Housing and Human Services:  The old Oregon’s Wild Harvest HQ building across the parking lot from the Police Department has been demolished and removed.  The County will be re-designing the space and constructing a new clinic/office building here – construction likely to be completed sometime in early 2021.
  
• Commercial vacancies:  We are now starting to see a couple of COVID-related business closures here in town.
  • Lil’ Cubs Academy:  The owner contacted in early August to let me know that she was closing this business permanently.  After being closed for five months, she determined that there would be no way for her to make up the five months of rent she has been unable to pay.  The building owner is very sad to see her go.  This one really hurts, as it lowers the number of brick and mortar child care businesses in Sandy from 4 to 3.
  • Lori Ryland Art Gallery & Studio: This business closure also appears to be at least partially COVID-related.  Ms. Ryland lives in Portland and used this space to teach classes but has not been able to open since the shutdown began with no end in sight.  Hopefully she will return when the pandemic is over.
  • There have been 2 or 3 other closures of small businesses around town, but although I assume they are COVID-related, I haven’t talked to the owners yet to confirm this.  These are all single employee businesses.
  • There is a finance-related business in town (that wishes to remain nameless) that may be going virtual between now and the end of the year.  While this is definitely COVID-related, it is not a business closure.  This firm intends to keep operating at full capacity with staff working remotely from their homes even after the pandemic is over.
  • On a slightly more positive note, the space vacated by Jackson Hewitt next to Ria’s Bar on Proctor has a new tenant, according to the property owner – an unnamed medical services provider will occupy this space over the next several months.
• AEC:  The entire first floor of the AEC building is now available for lease.  The Braches are being very, very flexible with their space, allowing potential tenants to lease however much space they desire.  Listing on the Available Commercial Properties database is active.
• Bull Run Electric Building:  This yet-to-be-constructed light industrial building on Industrial Way is already considering tenants in their two new 4,000 SF tenant spaces, available in March 2021.  Listing is up on the Available Commercial Properties database.  No word yet from owner Kyle Ruthardt if there has been any interest expressed yet.

Econ Devl – Internal Projects:

Downtown maintenance:

• AntFarm downtown maintenance crew: Neal Hatley’s crew continues to work steadily to complete numerous small projects for us in the public rights-of-way.
  • Street tree trimming: Downtown crew trimmed 19 Trees in July (On July 7th and 9th) along the north side of Proctor, in front of the police station on down.  They also removed all suckers, trash, and debris from the tree boxes along the north side of Pioneer and along both sides of Proctor on July 17th. 
  • Sandy Public Library:  Grass, weeds and dead moss removed from around the two main planters and pedestrian walkways in front of the Library.
  • Homeless encampments:  Two small homeless encampments were cleaned up by the crew in early August – one behind Sandy Cinema and one off of Junker.
  • Firewood reclamation:  The AntFarm crew continues to pick up downed trees from our parks at no cost to the City, this one most recently from Meinig Park.  The Parks Department now cuts the trees into rounds for easy removal, and AntFarm picks up the rounds and transfers to their firewood lot for splitting and donation to those in need.  This system has been working very well — hat tip to Joe Preston and crew for making this possible.

• Jonsrud II:  The second stage of the refresh of Jonsrud Viewpoint is now complete!  The refurbished original telescope and the new color-blind abled telescope have been installed at the site (with appropriate COVID signage).  Tagging on the Clackamas County Heritage Trail signage has been removed by the Parks Department (way to go, Joe!).   The sticker collection (15 of ‘em) that had gathered over the years on the stop sign is also gone now.  It’s looking pretty nice over there now.  Kudos all around.
• Flower baskets:  A few baskets have been replaced due to damage or moved to better locations, but otherwise nothing to see here.  Baskets look healthy and are being watered regularly.  All is well.

Econ Devl – Economic Development Committee:

We held a virtual Ec Dev Committee meeting at our regularly scheduled date (first Wed of the month) on August 5^th  Unfortunately, only one business member was able to attend (many members were out of town for the weekend), but the discussion centered on urban renewal priorities and how the private sector sees them.   Kudos to Ernie Brache of AEC for representing the business community at this meeting and providing our elected official and staff-based committee members some excellent feedback on how the business sector views urban renewal and how we should consider using this dedicated funding in the future.

Econ Devl – Conferences/training:

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