Montgomery Park Area Plan - MPAP

[DMH]

Comments in this thread have focused on the Streetcar expansion. How about some discussion of the MPAPlan? Following are draft comments from the NWDA planning committee:


Areas in the MPAP that are proposed to be rezoned will eliminate existing affordable commercial and incubator spaces. Leave the areas alone and the existing zoning as is.


The MPAP area is a dead end from a transportation planning perspective. It doesn’t need one-way and specialized streets. Provide general purpose, typical streets that have the flexibility and versatility that is actually needed in the area.


Much of the MPAP area is proposed to be upzoned, increasing the land’s value by up to 10 times. There is no proportional public benefit being proposed. Provide dedicated public parks and open space and other elements of public infrastructure to justify the granting of this private windfall.

The areas east of 24th Ave and south of Wilson currently provide ‘naturally occurring’ affordable commercial and incubator spaces, both City goals. The MPAP proposes to upzone the areas, affectively eliminating their ability to continue to provide the workshop and ‘maker’ spaces that are critical to Portland’s economic future. Leave the areas alone and the existing zoning as is.


The MPAP area is not in the middle of the City, it is a dead end from a transportation planning perspective. The MPAP proposes to create one-way and specialized streets that may be appropriate elsewhere but are not necessary or appropriate here. Provide general purpose, typical streets that have the flexibility and versatility that is actually needed in the area.


Much of the MPAP area is currently zoned for IH heavy industrial uses. The MPAP proposes to rezone the area to EX central employment uses. The upzoned land’s value is up to 10 times greater than the existing value. There is no proportional concurrent public benefit being proposed, nor is there an identified hardship associated with the zone change. Provide dedicated public parks and open space and other elements of public infrastructure to justify the granting of this private windfall.