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Gretchen Olson From: Mike Dahlstrom Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 7:55 AM To: Gretchen Olson Subject: FW: Reserves testimony From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2009 6:19 PM To: LUT Planning Reserves; [email protected]; Tom Brian; [email protected]; district2 @co.multnomah.or.us; [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; County Administrative Office; [email protected]; Mike Dahlstrom; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; City of Gaston; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Reserves testimony July 25, 2009 To: Washington County Reserves Coordinating Committee Metro Reserves Steering Committee Tom Brian, Washington County Commissioner Charlotte Lehan, Clackamas County Commissioner Jeff Cogen, Multnomah County Commissioner Kathryn Harrington, Metro Councilor Multnomah County Reserves Citizen Advisory Committee Cc: Metro Council Washington County Board of Commissioners Dave VanAsche, Washington County Farm Bureau Mike Dahlstrom, Program Educator, Washington County Patt Opdyke, CCI Ted Wheeler, Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury, Multnomah County Commissioner Judy Shiprack, Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel, Multnomah County Commissioner Dennis Doyle, Mayor of Beaverton Beaverton City Council John Kinsky, Mayor of Banks Jeff Tarte, Mayor of Cornelius Richard G. Kidd, Mayor of Forest Grove Rick Lorenz, Mayor of Gaston Jerry Willey, Mayor of Hillsboro David Hatcher, Mayor of North Plains Sam Adams, Mayor of Portland Keith Mays, Mayor of Sherwood Craig Dirksen, Mayor of Tigard 1 Lou Ogden, Mayor of Tualatin To the Reserves Steering Committee and other interested parties: I am writing with regard to the Metro and Tri-County Urban and Rural Reserves process. I live in an apartment in Hillsboro. After looking at many apartments in Beaverton and SW Portland, I chose this location because of the close proximity and easy access to the rural Helvetia area. My boyfriend and I often take drives and bikerides through this relaxing scenic area. I love being able to come over to pick berries, or pumpkins in the fall, and cut down our own christmas tree in winter. I know from my friends in other cities that we are all very lucky and unique to have fields, farms, and woodlands right alongside the urban development as most cities are just surrounded by neverending suburbs. We are so lucky to have this expansive rural area so close and accessible to all of us in the Metro area. This greenspace sets us apart from other areas, making the developments south of 26 that much more desirable. I really think of the Helvetia area as a huge natural park and wildlife reserve and that is really a huge draw for myself and many of my neighbors. It would be such an unspeakable shame to develop this area. If Helvetia became just another stretch of development, I know I would end up moving to somewhere else where I could be so near the country as I am not interested in living in generic suburbia. The greater Helvetia area truly is a priceless asset that we must do everything in our power to preserve. There really isnt any building or home that can't simply be built elsewhere, but once the rural scenery and atmosphere is destroyed, it cannot just be re-created. Urbanization of the greater Helvetia area would severely impact local farms' ability to continue operating, because they rely on infrastructure that would deteriorate as areas are lost to development. Development around Forest Park would harm the wildlife corridor between the park and the Coast Range. Popular recreational bicycling routes would be lost, and quality of life would be diminished. Any projected population growth should be accommodated by requiring infill and more efficient use of existing urban and industrial areas served with effective transit. Roads to support new urban areas should be paid for by developers, not subsidized by existing taxpayers. I request that Washington and Multnomah Counties designate all candidate Urban Reserve areas north of Highway 26 as RURAL RESERVES under OAR 660-027-0060(4). Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Allison Amabisca Allison Amabisca 1221 NE 1st Ave Apt 350 Hillsboro, Oregon 97124 [email protected] 2 Gretchen Olson From: Mike Dahlstrom Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 10:21 AM To: Gretchen Olson Subject: FW: Reserves testimony Please provide a receipt reply and include in the public comment record. Mike Dahlstrom Program Educator Washington County - DLUT Planning Division #350-14 155 North First Avenue Hillsboro, OR 97124-3072 503-846-8101 [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 9:46 AM To: LUT Planning Reserves; County Administrative Office; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Mike Dahlstrom; [email protected] Subject: Reserves testimony July 5, 2009 To: Washington County Reserves Coordinating Committee Reserves Steering Committee Tom Brian Charlotte Lehan Jeff Cogen Kathryn Harrington Cc: Metro Council Washington County Board of Commissioners Laura Dawson-Bodner, Metro Dave VanAsche, Washington County Farm Bureau Mike Dahlstrom, Program Educator, Washington County Patt Opdyke, CCI To the Reserves Steering Committee and other interested parties: SAVE HELVETIA FOR THE ARTS The rural Helvetia area is an invaluable inspiration to artists of all kinds. As a budding young photographer, I assert that this region provides a rich environment for creative opportunities. Working throughout Helvetia’s countryside, I 1 frequently observe many plein-air artists and fellow photographers utilizing Helvetia’s pastoral scenery to create their art. Placing Helvetia within the Urban Growth Boundary would destroy this aesthetically unique resource. I urge you to place Helvetia in RURAL RESERVES so that my generation of artists can continue conveying Helvetia’s natural beauty to all citizens in the Portland Metro area and beyond. Adrian Amabisca, age 23 Adrian Amabisca 13260 NW Bishop Rd Hillsboro, Oregon 97124 [email protected] 2 Gretchen Olson From: Mike Dahlstrom Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 10:21 AM To: Gretchen Olson Subject: FW: Reserves testimony Please provide a receipt reply and include in the public comment record. Mike Dahlstrom Program Educator Washington County - DLUT Planning Division #350-14 155 North First Avenue Hillsboro, OR 97124-3072 503-846-8101 [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 9:45 AM To: LUT Planning Reserves; County Administrative Office; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Mike Dahlstrom; [email protected] Subject: Reserves testimony July 4, 2009 To: Washington County Reserves Coordinating Committee Reserves Steering Committee Tom Brian Charlotte Lehan Jeff Cogen Kathryn Harrington Cc: Metro Council Washington County Board of Commissioners Laura Dawson-Bodner, Metro Dave VanAsche, Washington County Farm Bureau Mike Dahlstrom, Program Educator, Washington County Patt Opdyke, CCI To the Reserves Steering Committee and other interested parties: Hello, My name is Catherine Bax. I feel very strongly that those of you who are entrusted with making decisions regarding the Metro and Tri-county Urban and Rural Reserves process pay attention to maintaining a sustainable, healthy area close to the city for future generations. I am writing you about the proposals for Washington County. 1 I am a Northeast Portland native. I grew up in the city, but like many children in the 1950s and 1960s who lived in Portland spent a good part of my summer picking berries, cherries, peaches for our family to eat and to can. As a young adult I watched the Gresham/Troutdale area transition from almost pure farmland to condos, housing developments and business parks. While I understand that a city needs homes for its families and jobs and a tax base to support these families, I think what has happened to Gresham is a perfect example of letting poorly planned and short term profit driven policy run amuk. Admittedly Portland doesn't yet have as much "sprall" as Southern California or as Seattle, but we need to make choices that keeps that from happening. The farm lands and natural resources in Washington County, north of Highway 26 should be preserved. The healthy headwater streams and wildlife habitat around Forest Park should also be protected. My family has been a member of La Finquita del Buho, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm for many years. This farm is located in Helvetia, a relatively short distance from our home in Northeast Portland. This membership gives us an opportunity to see where our food comes from, to help with the harvest and care of the plants. Our diet now includes many vitamin rich and pesticide/chemical free vegetables and dairy that we wouldn't have had, or even known about in many cases, except for the CSA farmers. We see how much work goes into planting, caring for (weeding and watering and nourshing)the food we eat. Urbanization of the Helvetia area would severely impact local farms' ability to continue operating, because they rely on infrastructure that would deteriorate as areas are lost to development. Development around Forest Park would harm the wildlife corridor between the park and the Coast Range.