Development Services – Monthly Report – December 2018

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Planning items:

Sandy Community Campus: There have been no changes to the project since the November report.

Zion Meadows:  The two mitigation tree applications in Zion Meadows were resolved with the property owners paying a fee-in-lieu to relocate a handful of trees (one was for 3 mitigation trees that had died, and the other was for mitigation trees replaced by Japanese maples)

Stowaway Mini Storage: There have been no changes to this project since the November report.

Internal changes: New floodplain ordinance adopting updated Flood Insurance Study, Flood Insurance Rate Map panels, and associated changes to 3 development code sections (17.02, 17.10, and 17.60) adopted by emergency 1/7/19 so that the City remains in compliance with FEMA regulations and properties within the City remain eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program

Bird Property (19124 Jacoby): Annexation application for this property has been deemed incomplete.

Design Review:

  • McDonald’s: Staff is in the process of completing a Final Order for applicant’s consideration.
  • Robert Mottice: Received a completeness letter for the proposed RV carport structure variance to have the structure located closer than the required side and rear yard property lines (18-051 VAR). The proposal is scheduled to be heard at the January 28, 2019 Planning Commission Hearing.
  • Bank of America ATM: Staff has completed a final order for the Bank of America ATM Kiosk (18-053 DR) within the shopping center located in the Sandy Atlas Center.
  • Fun Time RV: Staff held a meeting with business representatives to make the process and requirements clearer to the applicant on 11/21/18 (18-030 DR). Staff has been communicating with applicant’s representation regarding requirements and process.
  • Double Creek Condos modification: This 69-unit condominium modification has been deemed complete.
  • Snowboarding school/camp: Applicant has submitted additional materials on December 26 to the conditional use permit request, which was initially deemed incomplete for this proposed use at the old hospice site on Scenic Avenue.  Application is currently under review.
  • Jacoby Heights subdivision: Completeness review is finished for this 32-lot subdivision and has been moved forward to the February 25 Planning Commission agenda.
  • 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 28th Planning Commission meeting.

Other large reviews being conducted:

  • TSC, Inc.: Grading on hold until Spring 2019 (weather)
  • Sandy Vault Storage: Applicant submitted additional materials to Planning Department on January 4. Staff is in the process of reviewing for completeness again.

Parks & Trails Advisory Board:

  • The Board’s Chair, Kathleen Walker, has presented a PowerPoint presentation of historic data regarding the City’s parks and trails. The Board has gone through their drafted CIP and proposed parks locations in efforts to gear up to making recommendations to City Council.
  • City Manager Jordan Wheeler has contracted with 110 Percent to complete a workshop with City Council in February. Internal discussion on a future meeting between the Board and Council will occur in the near future.
  • City staff, James Cramer has requested a quote for restroom facilities to strategize on incorporating these facilities within City parks.
  • City staff, James Cramer has been provided a quote to regarding seasonal shade structures for Bornstedt Park he will present to the Board on January 30, 2019.
  • City staff, James Cramer, has reached out to MIG to get an estimate on a consultant for completing a Parks and Trails Master Plan.
  • The Meinig Park Entry Arch upgrade is complete; see below under “Econ Devl – Internal Projects” for more information. Efforts were made to use existing information in previous park master plans to create continuity in design with other Sandy parks, including design elements, coloring and font choice.

Internal projects:

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

  • New standing desks for department staff have been installed
  • Marisol is learning quickly and integrating into our department pretty seamlessly.  The staff addition was badly needed and is improving departmental processes already.
  • We have hired Bull Run Electric to add some needed electrical outlets on the Development Services side of the building (to eliminate extension cords being used in the building, which is unsafe and not allowed by code), including a new circuit for the Devl Svcs copier.  Work is in progress – some work will need to be completed after hours due to noise and dust.  Upgrades were also made to the electrical and lighting systems in the small data closet next to Council Chambers – IT Department requested and paid for those upgrades.

Facade Review Board: The Board met on January 2.  They discussed the following issues and made the following decisions:

  • Best Western facade project re-start:  Last attempt at this façade program grant was not successful and very time consuming for staff. The applicant wanted to split the siding project into two projects for cost savings – siding/repair and paint – and staff allowed this project split to occur. The applicant had enough bids at the bid deadline to proceed but continued sending bidders with new bids to staff after the bid deadline. The applicant wanted to use bids received after the deadline as the bids appears to be less cost.  City staff said the bids received after the bid deadline were non-responsive and could not be used unless the applicant wanted to start the bid procedure over. The applicant opted to start the bid procedure over.  Staff is looking for direction on if Urban Renewal funds should still be offered for this project.  The Façade Board decided that we should proceed with another attempt to award façade money for the Best Western. The building is dated, not very visible, and this façade project would help tremendously.  However, the Board also agreed with staff that no progress payments to the applicant shall be granted. The project shall be 100% complete before the applicant receives reimbursement of any kind from the Façade Improvement program.
  • Paola’s Pizza Barn:  Denise Overton is looking to rehab this facility and get it open and running again.  The issue at hand was the two loft spaces inside this building.  The existing mezzanines are not safe for fire emergency access and the existing interior stairs do not meet building code. The new business cannot use the existing mezzanines without installing a sprinkler system for the building or install fire escapes exiting to the outside of the building.  Board unanimously agreed that we should focus on getting the business open right now and not worry about the mezzanines.  If the new business owner wants to spend the money to do the outside fire escapes for the building that cost should be covered by the building owner or new business owner. The Board decided the intent of the Façade Improvement program was for aesthetic improvements and removing ADA barriers, but not to cover fire escapes on the rear of a building. The Board asked staff to please let the business owner know the Façade Board would support aesthetic improvements to the building.

 

Economic Development items:

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

  • New retail store: A new retail business has floated in from Estacada and landed in the Mills Building (Stephanie’s, Sandy Vision Center).  Rene’s Lucky Finds is setting up shop in the rear corner suite facing City Hall.  This shop will be a second-hand store that will focus primarily on household goods and tools.  Clothing will not be a regular store item with the exception of specialty items.  This also puts the Mills building one step closer to full occupancy, with one available suite remaining out front.

Econ Devl – Internal Projects:

  • Downtown maintenance:
    • Bignall Pool, north wall: Laverne’s Rock Works of Estacada is currently working on this project.  We anticipate it will be done before the end of January, weather permitting.
    • Derelict buildings – residential: Environmental testing reports have come back on all of the residential properties now.  Next step is to contact all owning parties and get approval from them to put the job out to bid.  We anticipate that this will go out to bid within the next few weeks.
    • Derelict buildings – Smith Building: The owners of this building appear to have selected a design professional to assist them with the rehabilitation report for this building, and we are currently attempting to set up a meeting with the owners and their design professional to review our requirements for this project. They also continue with repairs to the building on their own.  They have  completed the replacement of all of the broken windows in the building to the City’s satisfaction.  Work continues.
  • Clackamas County Tourism’s Community Partnership Program grant projects:
    • Jonsrud Viewpoint: This project is almost complete. Concrete has been poured for the new low-profile curbs and asphalt has been replaced.  The only items remaining now are as follows:
      • Fill dirt replaced (with bark dust)
      • Old city signage re-installed at exit (R turn only – buses and RVs; map sign showing how to get back to US26)
      • New signage for ClackCo Tourism Heritage Trail audio tour

Also, members of the Parks Board plan to submit a CPP grant application for new interpretive signage at Jonsrud, as the current signage is old and faded and needs to be updated.  Maybe a new telescope that works as well.  I strongly support this.

  • Meinig Park Entry Arch: This project is complete except for a plaque stating that the arch was constructed as a partnership between the Sandy Urban Renewal Agency and Clackamas County Tourism & Cultural Affairs (as required by the CPP grant program).
      • Total outlay for arch:                                               $21,433
      • Clackamas Co. Tourism CPP grant:                     <$12,000>
      • Total cost to City of Sandy:                                   $9,433

Econ Devl – Conferences/training:

  • Nothing this month