RESOLUTION No.  36427

Direct the Bureau of Planning to provide notice to the State of Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development at least 45 days prior to the final public hearing to be held to consider adoption of a temporary moratorium on certain development located on Hayden Island (Resolution)

WHEREAS,  (re)developments of existing parcels on Hayden Island have been and could be proposed that could add significant vehicle trips to public transportation facilities including street and freeway facilities such that these facilities could exceed existing capacity;

WHEREAS,  remaining capacity of public transportation facilities on Hayden Island may have accommodated as much as possible the economic development needs of the affected area and the region;

WHEREAS,  failure or worsening of access to public transportation facilities would cause harm to existing economic development and housing activities on Hayden Island and the region;

WHEREAS,  Hayden Island’s limited entrance and egress, allowing only one way on and off the island by way of Interstate 5, often results in negative impacts on Interstate 5 and the Interstate 5 bridge including increased congestion, heavy delay, restricted access and increased public safety responses;

WHEREAS,  the Interstate 5 bridge is a major lifeline for our community, linking Portland and Vancouver, WA and carrying the freight, commuters, and traffic that support the economy and vitality of the region and the West Coast;

WHEREAS,  operation of the I-5 crossing over the Columbia River is directly influenced by the 5-mile segment of I-5 between SR 500 in Vancouver, WA and Columbia Boulevard in Portland, known as the I-5 Bridge Influence Area. This segment includes, among Hayden Island’s interchanges, six other interchanges, including connections with four state highways and with several major arterial roadways, that serve a variety of land uses, and provides access to downtown Vancouver, two international ports, industrial centers, residential neighborhoods, retail centers, and recreational areas.

WHEREAS,  The Columbia River Crossing project identified that travel demand exceeds capacity in the I-5 Bridge Influence Area, causing heavy congestion and delay during peak travel periods for automobile, transit, and freight traffic. This limits mobility within the region and impedes access to major activity centers. This demand affects transit as well, such that between 1998 and 2005, local bus travel times between the Vancouver Transit Center and Hayden Island increased 50 percent during the peak period.

WHEREAS,  The Columbia River Crossing project is currently considering a new Interstate 5 bridge spanning the Columbia River and has not completed work identifying a locally preferred alternative that outlines the alignment of a new crossing;

WHEREAS,  certain development could not only increase demand, congestion and traffic delays on I-5 public facilities with no solutions for capacity increases, but could jeopardize such development should alignment of a new I-5 bridge span these lots;

WHEREAS,  the Cost of Congestion study prepared in December 2005 for the Portland Business Alliance, Metro, Port of Portland and Oregon Department of Transportation concluded that failure to invest adequately in transportation improvements, like the a new Columbia River crossing, will result in a potential loss valued at of $844 million annually by 2025 – that’s $782 per household -- and 6,500 jobs. It equates to 118,000 hours of vehicle travel per day – that’s 28 hours of travel time per household annually;

WHEREAS,  moratoria pursuant to ORS 197.505-197.540 should only be considered when adequate public services to support future development are not available and future development would significantly harm existing services;

WHEREAS,  Hayden Island has not had a Neighborhood Plan process to allow residents, businesses, property owners and other stakeholders to adequately plan for the future of economic and housing development on the island;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Director of the Bureau of Planning shall provide notice to the Department of Land Conservation and Development, pursuant to ORS 197.520(1)(a) at least 45 days prior to the final public hearing to be held to consider the adoption of the moratorium described above; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of the Office of Transportation, in consultation with the Bureau of Planning and other bureaus, shall compile evidence and prepare proposed findings as required under ORS 197.505 through 197.540, and shall cause a City Council hearing on this matter to be scheduled in compliance with the requirements of Oregon law; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of the Office of Transportation shall assure that proposed findings and the evidence relating to those findings shall be made available for public review at least ten days prior to the public hearing on this matter; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Bureau of Planning and the Director of the Office of Transportation shall compile estimates for time and resources needed to complete a Neighborhood Plan for Hayden Island and shall submit these estimates, reflective of the findings, to City Council during the hearing on the proposed findings as required under ORS 197.505 through 197.540; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of the Bureau of Development Services shall notify any current or future applicant(s) whose permit(s) or land-use application(s) may be affected by adoption of the moratorium described above of the final public hearing and the possible effects on their permit(s) or land-use application(s) should a moratorium be adopted.

Commissioner Sam Adams

Jesse Beason:pk

July 7, 2006

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 967-2006

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 36427