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Commission Briefing Notes
South Park Blocks Master Plan - Appendix C
MEETING SUMMARY – Thursday, December 5, 2019 South Park Blocks Master Plan Update Historic Landmarks Commission / Design Commission – Joint Briefing Location: 1900 SW 4th Avneue 2500B Time: 12:30 PM – 2:00PM Attendees City of Portland Art Graves – Planner with Design and Historic Resources with BDS Tate White – Project Manager and Planner with PP&R Lora Lillard – Senior Planner with Urban Design with BPS Nick Falbo – Senior Planner with PBOT Consultants Laurie Matthews – MIG Rachel Edmonds – MIG Carol Mayer-Reed – Mayer/Reed Commission Members Present Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC) – Kristen Minor, Andrew Smith, Derek Spears, Maya Foty, Ernestina Fuemayor Design Commission (DC) – Brian McCarter, Chandra Robinson, Zari Santner, Julie Livingston Commissioners from the Historic Landmarks and Design Commissions convened for a joint briefing of the Design Concepts for the South Park Blocks Master Plan Update. The presentation agenda included: • •
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Introductions Consultant presentation • Community and Stakeholder Engagement Update • Site Analysis Overview • Kit of Parts Approach • Review of 3 Concepts in Detail • Discussion and Question Topics Public Testimony (Keith Jones and Wendy Rahm) Consultant and Commissioner Rebuttal to Testimony
Refer to South Park Blocks Master Plan Consultant Presentation to the HLC and DC on December 5, 2019.
Introductions Art Graves (BDS) provided the Commissioners and overview of zoning and land use in the area. Tate White (PP&R) explained available public benefits construction funding for the South Park Blocks (block between Columbia and Clay) and how the Master Plan Update is intended to work to guide future design and development. She also shared with the panel that SHPO mitigation for the Orange Line construction has been fulfilled by the listing of the Halprin Open Space Sequence. Therefore, PP&R will submit a nomination when resources are available to do so, but the intention is to not conflict with the park block’s historical character or eligibility with the master plan recommendations.
Consultant Presentation Consultants Laurie Matthews and Carol Mayer-Reed followed with a 20 minute presentation of the project design concepts. This was followed by comments from the Commissioners. Kristen Minor (Chair, HLC): It’s unclear in the schemes how the proposed car circulation, parking, and street closures work. When you are walking on the edges of the park blocks, it doesn’t feel like you are in the park blocks because the edge is defined by the roadways. How are you thinking about it? Are the edges of the park defined by the buildings or by the roadways? How is car circulation understood? Carol Mayer-Reed (Consultant): We attempted in these schemes to pull them apart and try to make them distinctive, but there are a lot of things that can mix and match within the different schemes. We found from talking to PAM, Portland’5, and the Farmer’s Market, there is some need to have structured programmatic areas yet the lawn is getting worn out by events and pedestrian traffic. As a result, we are hearing from the parks maintenance groups, that some amount of paving could be appreciated. We are hearing that the Cultural Institutions are interested in more programming in the park blocks which requires street closures to connect the blocks for events. That’s how we got the idea to propose closing these select blocks to allow for these oppportunities. Maya Foty (HLC): Is there a concurrent effort for a Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) as part of this project? What is the value of the features or patterns that may be historic? Is it even worth it to have the designs respond to these features? Laurie Matthews (Consultant): There is no defining historic pattern as the South Park Blocks have changed over time. To identify significant contributing features, we are focusing on what has been common to the park throughout a century of change. Some of those features have been the V-shape of the trees, the canopy, the lawn, ornamental and rose-bed plantings. There has always been circulation and movement through the park. There has also always been art although the locations have changed over time. There is no Cultural Landscape Report, but we’ve gotten to the point where we feel like we know the historic features that define the park. There have been past nominations, but they did not go very far. You would have to identify these in a National Register Nomination.
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Carol Mayer-Reed: We have old photos of the PSU blocks and have talked to people that worked on it. There was an agreement to redesign the University District blocks to work better for the campus and Robert Yost really worked on the design to better serve the campus (although Sasaki was an advisor). Zari Santner (DC): This is about time. I was involved peripherally in the 1980s renovation of the South Park Blocks. The defining characteristics of the park are the trees and allées and the openings they create to draw pedestrians through. Historically, the buildings that surrounded this park were residential. It has changed and evolved and will continue to evolve. What has remained the same are vertically the trees and horizontally the pathways. In my view, that’s where you start. You have been meeting with a lot of groups and you have tried to be very accomodating which shows. As a result, it loses some of its coherency. Moving forward, the design team should embrace simplicity – treat the sections (Cultural, University, Neighborhood) separately in terms of their character but use trees and pathways for consistentency to connect the park together. Look at the Cultural District from building face to building face and not just from curb-to-curb. Focus on the neighborhood blocks for those neighborhood uses, like native vegetation, flowering vegetation, and play. When there are playgrounds next to public restrooms, the bathrooms are used and maintained. I want to encourage you to treat every two blocks or so separately but connect them with the trees, pathways, and Green Loop as a unifying element. Also, I want to say that the people in the community have a concern that bike users on the Green Loop are going to use this as a communting route regardless of us saying it’s recreational. This happened with the esplanade at Waterfront Park before the Naito bikeway was developed. There was a major problem with fastmoving bikes on the esplanade until the Naito bikeway was provided for commuters. Once you provide a convenient, separated bikeway on Broadway, the commuters will use that and will leave the Green Loop by the park blocks to the leisurely bikers. Brian McCarter (DC): In 1905 it was probably easy for pedestrians to cross anywhere in the park blocks. This became considerably more difficult in the 1950s when they reorganized to that mid-block crossing. I have found that the interaction between pedestrians and vehicles crossing from block-to-block can be goofy now. It’s disconnected as the urban pattern of pedestrian crossings is at intersections. The entire stretch from Market to Salmon should be thought of as a pedestrian precinct. Cars can be “invited in” with the design, but not encouraged. This would reinforce the diagonal crossing schemes that bring peds to corners and this could improve safety because currently cars do not know where where to yield, especially along Market and Clay (roads that lead to or originate at I-405).
Public Testimony Wendy Rahm: We like and support many ideas in the South Park Blocks Master Plan concepts. We have two concerns: First, the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) has voted to research, write, and nominate the South Park Blocks to the National Register of Historic Places. We will identify defining historical characteristics needing protection as the master plan proceeds. There are four people identified to work on this effort.We will work with SHPO and Parks, of course. At this point, we anticipate boundaries, open space, and deciduous trees in alignment will be defining.
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Secondly, the DNA copied you on a letter to Mayor Wheeler, Commissioner Eudaly, and Commissioner Fish. The DNA is concerned about the Green Loop dedicated bike lanes along the northern and southern park blocks. The DNA is recommending joining the bike Green Loop portion with the dedicated commuter bike lanes on Broadway. Our priority is pedestrian safety. The loop’s pedestrian trail is good within the park. Bikes could continue to use the streets next to the park but just not on dedicated bike lanes or sidewalks. The park sees heavy both north-south and east-west pedstrian uses as the letter details (letter included as Attachment A). For safety reasons, pedestrians and wheels should not be combined here. Combining them is unsafe for both actually. Since a dedicated Green Loop bike lane is included in this master plan, we need to address the safety concerns now. Thank you for considering the DNA request to route the dedicated bike lane on Broadway. Maya Foty (HLC): When do you expect the nomination to be complete? Wendy Rahm (DNA): They’ve only been working on it for about a month. We hope in a year. Our feeling is the historic designation should have preceded a master plan. The person who is leading this is a retired architect who headed a historic commission in Denver who has submitted a successful open space historic nomination in Washington state, so we’re hoping they can move quickly. Commissioner Zari Santner (DC): As you talked about and we agree, one historic defining characteristic of this park is vegetation. And vegetation dies and needs to be manipulated and we need to be aware of that. Knowing PP&R’s financial situation and their responsibility for maintenance, I really encourage you to write the nomination in such a way that the day-to-day maintenance and permit requirements are not overly complicated. Wendy Rahm (DNA): You are right. I volunteer for the Friends of the South Park Blocks, and we are only looking at the north end, the Cultural District and the neighborhood district. I’m concerned that PSU will not be able to keep up maintenance of the proposals for roses in the University District. Keith Jones: I represent the Friends of the Green Loop on the South Park Blocks CAC which provides an open forum for many views to be shared. I am there to listen as much as I am there to provide my expertise on the Green Loop. I am here to support that work so we can create an informed decision and put forth a plan that represents many people. My testimony here today is to support this master plan committee and to suggest that the CAC is the forum in which we discuss all these concerns. The Broadway bike lane is already part of PBOT’s Central City In Motion Plan, it is not proposed. The Green Loop is supposed to be a six-mile linear park where people leisurely go.
Consultant and Commissioner Rebuttal to Public Testimony Commissioner Chandra Robinson (DC): I lived in the Parkway building along the Park Blocks in the past. I love the park blocks as it is magical and religious being under the canopy. The central promenade experience is something I’ll go out of my way to take. I understand the crossing benefits in the diagonal schemes but
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prefer the Emerald Arrow concept for having something central and continuing to walk feels very comfortable. Good work, keep going. See how you can meld some of these together. Commissioner Tina Fuenmayor (HLC): Kit of parts approach might need to be clarified. It’s not clear programmatically what is to stay, what is being modified, and what is being added. Play areas and spaces for familes are important in the SPB, so thank you for providing that. Carol Mayer-Reed (Consultant): The schemes are peppered with a lot of “stuff” right now, which we will refine greatly in the next iteration. The next round will be important to really lock them up and tailor them. We appreciate your patience with us as we struggle graphically to present this complex information. Commissioner Zari Santner (DC): The value of your processes is you hear a lot from citizens about what they want, but they lack the expertise or knowledge of how to organize and combine things that they want in ways that are coherent. That is your charge as professionals to listen and create a design that is harmonious, beautiful, and functional. Commissioner Julie Livingston (DC): Looking ahead, this plan may or may not require a Type III 1 review. How do your plans deal with this? Should we plan on more briefings? Laurie Matthews (Consultant): There’s currently a public survey online till the end of the month and we can’t refine the concepts until that is complete and results analyzed. Tate White (Project Manager at PP&R): The team will come back for another briefing when we have a preferred design. We will also have feedback compiled from the survey to help explain choices we make in the preferred concept. This is a bit of an iterative process. PP&R leadership prefers to do master plans before they do nominations just so we understand citizens needs, but I want to be clear, we only have a small amount of dedicated funding for implementation. The plan will be implemented over time. So even though we want to have a realistic plan, there isn’t as much of a danger that we are going to conflict with the historic eligility of the park blocks because we will not be implementing improvements right away.
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https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bds/article/204689
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South Park Blocks Master Plan Update
Urban Forestry Commission Briefing Meeting Summary January 16, 2020 City Hall, Lovejoy Room
Commissioners Present: Gregg Everhart Anjeanette Brown Bruce Nelson Barbara Hollenbeck (Vice Chair) Vivek Shandas (Chair) Daniel Newberry Megan Van de Mark Damon Schrosk Brian French Came in while presentation was in progress: Lorena Nascimento Thuy Tu City of Portland staff: Tate White Joel Smith Brian Landoe, Urban Forestry staff assigned to the Commission Consultants: Morgan Holen Laurie Matthews Rachel Edmonds Public comment: Leslie Hutchinson, member of DNA Land Use Transportation Subcommittee Subcommittee is writing the NR nomination for the South Park Blocks DNA would like the park’s character-defining features included in the NR nomination before master plan is complete The DNA supports use of deciduous, not evergreen trees, in the Master Plan update Park block lots are too small to accommodate conifers Allee design is important to maintain Tree replacement for a succession plan is needed, but deciduous trees should be used Consultant presentation: Commissioner Shandas introduced the project Tate White identified herself as the project’s PM for the City [Presentation began]
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South Park Blocks Master Plan Update Laurie Matthews (MIG) and Morgan Holen (Morgan Holen Associates, or MHA) identified themselves as consultants for the project. Matthews with expertise in preservation and planning for cultural landscapes, Holen as a consulting arborist. Matthews provided an overview of the project’s public engagement, design objectives, and site analysis highlights. She also described the historic progression of the park design with diagrams showing how circulation evolved from 19th century to today. Trees at that time were all planted at once and all had same growing conditions. University District is distinct from Cultural District – most evident in the circulation design. Holen provided highlights of the tree analysis Overview of inventory: 382 1 individual trees comprised of 22 species Range: 2-55 inches in DBH Results: 3 dead, 8 dying and 1 dangerous trees 17 trees identified for advanced assessment, such as aerial inspection or look for internal decay There are heavy crowns on large elms that hang over heavily used streets Primary challenge for trees: lack of growing space; shade intolerance for most small trees 29 identified for removal 68 in optional category – these trees are not long-term park amenities including trees with less than good growing space and trees with notable defects such as crown dieback, previous large branch failures, major crown asymmetry and excessive lean, large hollows and obvious decay. Holen described a range of succession strategies: Focus on increasing available growing space Select appropriate species Need to set stage to maintain the canopy over time Plant fewer trees for better canopy health and structural development Trimming crowns of dominant trees More diverse mix of species Develop a tree list with similar mature characteristics as elms Holen walked the commissioners through a series of diagrams highlighting analysis of the park’s tree canopy If all 97 trees categorized as optional or remove are taken out at once, the impact to canopy is minimal Holen reminded the Commission that when the original elms were planted, they were all same age, size and stature and the trees grew up competing with and adapting to one another Newer trees in the park are set in already occupied growing space, and face competition for light and water from mature trees Replacing trees over time is complicated The park cannot use the 1:1 on-site replacement approach if maintaining the tree canopy character is a goal for managing the site. Commissioner Van de Mark: What species are the small trees? Holen: Many small trees are red oaks (shade intolerant and fast growing) 1
Inventory included trees beyond the landscaped park boundary
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South Park Blocks Master Plan Update Some of the better ones were lindens White oaks near PAM are fairly healthy Nearby there also a healthy hawthorne tree, but it smells bad Commissioner French: Trees near PSU building entrances are highlighted - what’s wrong with those? This is the area of the vacated east-west running streets. Holen: quaking aspens, inappropriate species, these are landscape bed trees, they are different from the rest of the park blocks Could have to do with irrigation, maintenance, lack of sun Commissioner Nelson: Why are the existing trees are doing so well given soil compaction in the park blocks? Holen: Probably because they are used to it and have adapted to those conditions over a lengthy period. Other things to consider is lawn mower damage, few trees with mulch rings, and there’s an irrigation system I have little understanding of how well it is working or its effectiveness. Matthews: We have not developed major recommendations at this time for the succession plan – we are here for your advice. Matthews next provided the Commission an overview of the kit of parts approach to the concepts. Next Matthews provided an overview of each of the concepts, highlighting that these are all possible under a rehabilitation approach. Emerald Arrow Symmetry of trees remain the same in the Cultural District with exception to trees removed from central planters Braided Districts Play interactive art and social seating – more responsive to residential adjacencies Commissioner question: What separates bikeway from vehicles in this concept? Matthews: It’s the planting areas. Most of the concepts are merging of ornamentals and natives – example of nootka rose to connect history of Rose Festival with area tribes’ uses of native roses. Conifers and smaller garden-scale trees that are shade tolerant. Mirrored Chain Concept Commissioner Hollenbeck asked to clarify if overall diagram show turf only, and no trees? Matthews clarified the color was depicting the ground plane only This concept emphasizes a purer diagonal circulation Small deciduous trees at corners and edges Discussion section Commissioner Newberry: Did the plan look at the Urban Forestry Management Goals? Matthews: We have to some extent, but we will investigate it again as we devise the succession strategy. Commissioner Hollenbeck: I’m familiar with historic landscapes. I’m curious what if any feedback did the Historic Landmarks Commission provide about the original planting plan? Urban Forestry Commission Briefing / January 16, 2020
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South Park Blocks Master Plan Update
Matthews: Not too much. The park changed over time – the HLC and DC noted the vase-form of the tree canopy, linear allee component, monoculture as a character defining feature – but the rehabilitation approach will allow for some changes to respond to modern needs Commissioner Nelson: Conifers as street trees are problematic due to compacted soil conditions in the South Park Blocks. If they are planted in areas with compacted soils, they may need soil aeration or amendments, engineered soil or other measures. Root space is important. Trees being planted today’s in conditions won’t generate elms of the same size that are there today. Holen: Agreed that soil aeration and amendments may be needed, soil volume standards could be developed, structural soils could be used where surfacing is proposed. Commissioner Brown: What is the time lapse of the canopy you have in mind? Do you have a tree canopy goal to reach? Matthews: Maintain the general closed canopy experience, shade for a summer oasis We could come up with a number of trees that can be supported given the park’s lighting conditions Commissioner Everhart: Doug Macy’s green line of trees is what I remember from the design in the 1980s. Options are too complex and need to simplify. Zigging and zagging to the corners as you pass through each block doesn’t seem feasible. Today, there’s a lot of duplication in the existing paths. Also, sidewalks on the outside of the park aren’t necessary. The midblock crossings are problematic, though. Back up and think of a clean slate. Think if you were starting over, what would the desired circulation be? Fewer big trees – identify which ones are most important. Smaller trees might be appropriate to improve growing space overall. Commissioner French: There’s both a historic view and a policy view towards the trees Problem solving things I noticed from your concepts – looking at this place through lens of a woodland Shade tolerant understory Change nature of competition between species When there’s a loss of a big tree, if there is a diverse replacement it makes the loss seem less intense Consider use of broadleaf evergreen trees. Holen: More diverse palette of species and canopy stratas – mid story trees below dominant large trees Matthews: If an elm is not a good choice right now, is there a similar species we can recommend? Commissioner French: I appreciate comment on pruning needs for the mature trees in the park. Commissioner Schrosk: I worry that in 40-50 years all the elms will be gone. Look at a more diverse species. In terms of species, if conifers are used, they should be represented with native understory – patches of intact habitat to mirror native habitat. Conifers and their associates work together this way. Holen: To clarify what I presented about smaller trees, 40% of the smaller trees are elm hybrids Commissioner Van de Mark: I am aware that this part of town does not have a lot of plantable areas especially for large trees Urban Forestry Commission Briefing / January 16, 2020
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South Park Blocks Master Plan Update Large canopy trees – try to fit them in You need a smart succession plan – young trees planted aren’t working Use natives, in groupings, in the right places Trees help traffic calming – but small form trees don’t do that as well When you pave over spaces use permeable materials Bikes and pedestrians crossing anywhere near each other need special care Maintenance plan should be part of the effort – mulch, water, and plant Commissioner Newberry: Lots of discussion is around spatial arrangement Temporary plan vision. I first saw SPB in 1993 and it looks similar to what it looked like back then. How will the plan be likely implemented? What can we expect? Matthews: We don’t know yet there are a variety of directions it could go as it is implemented over time. Block by block is most likely. Other projects I’ve worked on have a standard such as when an allee is less than 50% of what it was historically, you cut them all down and start over. May not recommend that here. It’s likely going to be more of a block by block plan.
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MEETING SUMMARY – Tuesday, July 14, 2020 South Park Blocks Master Plan Historic Landmarks Commission / Design Commission – Joint Briefing Location: Zoom meeting Time: 3:15 PM – 5:45 PM
Tate White introduced the project and the presenters. Laurie Matthews and Rachel Edmonds of MIG, Inc. and Carol Mayer-Reed from Mayer/Reed presentated a slide show of the Draft Preferred Design. Public testimony period: Commissioner Minor: Over 20 testifiers have signed up so we need to be mindful of that. Can you provide an overall update of where you are? What are the next steps? Tate White: We are getting feedback from a variety of stakeholders that we are using to make refinements to the draft preferred design and master plan (MP). Hope to go to Council with the recommended plan in September. Commissioner Minor - we are having problems with technology today. Laura Duvall - Testifiers are probably able to testify if they are signed on. Hillary Adam – Testifiers should be aware there's a ding noise at 1 min and 2 min marks. Wendy Rahm: Chair of the DNA’s Land Use and Transportation subcommittee. DNA requests a halt on the MP until historic nomination (HN) is in place. Nomination was submitted on July 1. The 1963 archeological discovery wasn't in the Existing Conditions Issues and Opportunities Report (ECIOR). The nomination did not use Criteria D because of COVID-19 restrictions on research, it relied on Element A. Today's MP doesn't respect any of the significant park characteristics. We need a MP that gets it right. Please pause the MP and tree succession plan until the nomination is completed. Thomas Ray: Lives at SW 1st Ave. Recommends the historic nomination of the park blocks - degrades the historic characteristics of the park.
The Unity is disrupted. Rows of trees with a carpet of grass. Simplicity allows flexible and adapted uses. A unified park is whole only once. Maintain 5 rows of trees, not more hardscape, avoid clutter like tables and canopies, prohibit permanent structures. It's essential to the livability of downtown. LaJune Thorson: Board member of the DNA. 255 SW Harrison. Reading from the Broadway Tower applicant - owner resisted listing it, but said it would do it by 2020. They have not done that. The current draft MP degrades the historic charactertics of the park. Want to pause the process. Story Swett: Preservation Architect. Heads the nominating committee of the DNA. Adaptable to the enjoyment of all. SPB endures as a place without imposed uses. Accessible and inclusive to all. Design should not rely on trends. It needs special recognition and protections. Robert Gelpke: Resident of American plaza towers and DNA. Recommends SPB nomination to be completed before the MP is complete. Draft MP degrades the contributing characteristics. Monotony of evergreens would degrade this. Encourage the TSS to be discussed publicly. 1 Shirley Rackner: DNA board. I appreciate the presentation. As a citizen that walks the park blocks every day. I don’t oppose change. However, as we march into the future we can't ignore the past. Click the pause button on the MP until the nomination is complete.
PP&R notes that the Tree Succession Strategy has been part of engagement discussions throughout the planning process. Urban Forestry leads decision-making on the strategy and its implementation, which is subject to Title 11.
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Marian deBardelaben: Little equity seen in this plan. Don't compete with the Rothko Pavilion. Madison should be property of PAM and OHS and used for artwork representing diverse cultures. Keep it uncluttered. Diana Stuart: Member of the DNA. Pause is needed to ensure the MP doesn't degrade the original boundaries of the plan. We live in a hard concrete surrounding of the city - keep park green - less hardscape. During the pause evaluate challenges of the Green Loop. Walter Weyler: 1221 SW 10th. Member of the DNA. Green Loop should be placed on Broadway. Enforcement of bicycle zones have been ineffective. Pedestrian movement is also east west. Don't re-create Waterfront Park. The 2035 plan - the bikepaths are physically separated - these separated corridors will create more intuitive pathways. 2 Wants bicycles coming to park as opposed to through it. Robert Wright: Chair of Safety and Livability Committee of DNA. Pause until the NHL is decided. As a public space the park blocks are shared with everyone - people with mental disabilities, people with housing challenges, etc. The two paths allow people to avoid confrontation with people who are unstable or having issues. Pedestrian choices are limited from 4 to 1 3 with the master plan. William Crawford: Rare bird, I am not on DNA. Live in SE portland. I work near the SPB. I am a cyclist and transit user. Stop accommodating cars that degrade livability. Thinks the MP balances needs of society with an eye to the future. Demographics of those surveyed [at this briefing] are over the age of 60 so it's probably not representative. I attend the farmers market and attend kid symphony events. Consultants note that bikes are separated from pedestrains in the Cultural District Consultants note the north-south choices for pedestrian are 2 (Central Promenade and the park sidewalk along Park Ave East) 2 3
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Crossing the streets is scary - sad to see that many of the elms must come down – but proper spacing adds to the resiliency. Parking removed - that is good. RiverPlace Esplanade is not an unpleasant experience, I suggest people here try it. Applaud expansion into the ROW with emphasis on humans versus cars. There is something missing - redesign of the monuments of display - Roosevelt should go. 4 We have a duty to shed light on our racist pasts. He's not an Oregonian and had little impact on our history. His statue was removed in NYC. RACC has purview of this, but it should be discussed. Fred Leeson: I'm playing a role in the nomination. Uncluttered open space is important. CAC had little interest of the park's history in my opinion. 5 The DNA representative was shut down at the CAC meetings. 6 We don't want to let private interests dictate what happens on public park lands. 7 Susan Bliss: I live on 10th Avenue near SPB. It's a deciduous downtown forest. The park is no monoculture, 19 species including 4 species of elms. Elm removal might be considered an equity issue. Downtown's hardscape is made more livable by the SPB - densities of affordable housing are near here and they benefit. Removal up to 30% of the park's trees. 8 Kim Nurmi: I live in ladds addition and I value the park blocks. In times of COVID-19 I started going down there, was able to maintain a proper distance from others. Used to go to the Rose Festival activities at the SPB. Roosevelt started the National Park Service. Consultants note that direction from PP&R at the start of the project was to have all art and scupture remain in place (so were not considered for change or alteration). RACC and PP&R are engaging in a citywide process to reevaluate the relevance of statues and monuments. 5 Consultants note that an evaluation of all the park features (historic and non historic) are included in the 2019 ECIOR report. 6 PP&R notes that the DNA representative was given as much opportunity to speak during CAC meetings as other members. 7 PP&R notes that although the funding for the master plan came from a developer’s public benefit contribution, the developer did not contribute to the master plan process beyond potential anonymous survey participation. 8 Consultants note the amount of trees not replanted per the draft Tree Succession Plan is approximately 21-23% of the existing. 4
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Addition of bike lanes have cluttered my neighborhood. Notice older people around Lincoln Statue. Worry about taking parking out - old people depend on medical transport. 9 Pause going forward until nomination is complete. Kevin Cornelius: not present Andrew VanderZanden: I have worked for 20 years on the SPB at OHS. Degree in history. We're on Native land. One thing that the CAC did was to get feedback from the Native American Community. DNA has political mobilization but their comments are not representative of the CAC. They have weaponized history to prevent change from happening. They don't use environmental science. Misleading in their testimony – use of the term bicycle highway. The CAC has done a lot of work and has been accommodating to the DNA - the CAC approved of the plan. Brooke Best: I live in Ladd’s Addition - one of 5 volunteers on the nomination committee. We've received a preliminary letter of eligibility from the SHPO. Want to clarify that there is no deception going on. MP should not proceed the nomination. City has had a few opportunities to do a nomination but declined. A draft was submitted in the early 1980s. Mitigation for the Orange Line - they agreed to nominate HOSS and the SPB by 2020. Current MP doesn't comply with Dept of the Interior's standards. 10 Doug Klotz: I support the plan. Lots of things have changed over the years – paths were changed a lot. I support the routing of the Green Loop through the SPB. Looks like a great compromise. The MP does what the DNA says they want – it provides separation from bicycles in the Cultural District. I support the changes in the trees - they were Eurocentrically designed anyway. Native vegetation of this area was all conifers. Supports plan as is.
PP&R notes that emergency and fire access will be maintained and prioritized. Consultants note that that draft preferred design for the SPB uses a rehabilitation approach and complies with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for cultural landcapes.
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Former Chair of Historic Landmarks Committee John Czarnecki: Architect at 1020 SE Taylor. Member of DNA board, not speaking on their behalf. I have a few slides of the existing context. Agree the MP should not go forward before HN is complete. The existing park has a casual romantic understanding of lawn and promenade. Parallel walkwaks allow for a more individual experience - a combined walkway will take the energy away from the park as an occupiable space and accentuate movement through it. Casual lawn characteristic may be lost. Poses an opportunity to understand what we have and maintain it. Clock's historical significance is unknown in the UD Character of the clock is appropriate. Not enough context provided in this presentation - we need to have more info to be able to understand the plan. 11 Leslie Hutchinson: I am a member of the DNA LUT committee. I grew up in Portland. The tree succession reduces the inventory - 25 trees on the hit list. 12 It must be preserved. Have you ever seen a healthy mature elm removed. Dawnna Wilder: PSU supports the plan but also supports idea of reduced parking in the area. Plan takes into consideration feedback from many stakeholders. PSU wants to know more about the nomination, too. We ask that the UD is excluded from the HN. Support the Master Plan and the City's effort. Thank you. Keith Jones: I am with Friends of Green Loop. The experience of being on the CAC has been rewarding. I've heard lots of support for the plan from stakeholders Green Loop worked with Portland Farmer’s Market and PSU to find a consensus alignment along Park Ave West. It's unfortunate that the DNA have not taken an opportunity to develop a nomination with the help of the CAC and the City. No one has seen the nomination - not even PP&R. Consultants note that a historic overview of the park was provided at several public touchpoints and with the CAC and at a community event in 2019, and the 2019 ECIOR is available from PPR for public review. 12 Consultants note that mature trees are not removed under the Tree Succession Plan unless they have been damaged, are dead, or have been evaluated for removal by Urban Forestry. 11
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All the work and public input performed to date is at risk. Lincoln Tuchow: I am a member of the Architectural Heritage Center and a real estate agent. I am in favor of maintaining and cultivating the canopy of trees in the SPB. Canopy experience is iconic. Conifers create deep shade. Dutch elm disease killed Detroit's elms. Streets turned dusty and barren in a short time. Fungicides can be used as disease resistant strains. Louis Pfunder and Edward Misch contributed to the design of the SPB - light airy geometrically pleasing. 13 UFC needs to continue to inoculate elms. Enlist help from Save our Elms. Brian Davis: I've lived at Harrison Tower since 2006. I'm in support of the MP. Inclusion of Green Loop is supported. Reduction of parking is a great vision. Appreciate the outreach and engagement and we had opportunities through multiple channels and points. By contrast I had not heard of my neighborhood association's nomination process. As a business owner and PSU member, most people here overwhelmingly support the MP. The DNA’s efforts aren't supported outside an insular group. Pink elephants - COVID crisis, do cars belong in the park blocks at all or better used for rolling walking. During the current Black Lives Matter movement, we must ask who the master plans are serving. Thank you for your work and audience. Question period with the Joint Commission: Commissioner Minor: This concludes public testimony. Want to let the group know that new historic nominations - the State of Oregon has changed the rules. There is a separate procedure for any new historic nominations to go through a review. They aren't inherently covered by land use procedures that we look to for existing places or features - we don't have historic review baked in. Commissioner McCarter: Question - I am getting a sense that Park Avenue East and Park Avenue West are considered part of the nomination - but the street ROWs are not officially included in the park? I don’t agree that the Green Loop is going through the park, it’s going by the park – there will always be pedestrians crossing it.
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Consultants note that Pfunder’s association with E.T. Mische needs additional research to determine its significance.
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Commissioner Santner: Question to Hillary Adam - Do either of the two commissions have authority or say in delaying the MP process? Hillary Adam: The HLC will submit a letter with their comments on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) nomination to the State Advisory Committee. Official comments can be made to Council by either Commission. Commissioner Santner: Does adjustment need to be made to the plan based on the nomination - how critical is the timing? Hillary Adam: As Kristin noted, newly listed properties and their changes will not require historic resource review - only demolition review. Monuments proposed for removal would require a demolition review. It likely will not go through Design Review either - in theory the only things that the Commissions would review are non standard improvements in the ROW. Relationship between MP and nomination - two separate processes - you can choose to link them or choose not to - many resources change after they are listed on the National Register. Commissioner Foty: If there are too many impacts from an approved Master Plan, would the park be delisted? 14 Commissioner Santner: In block 2 Green Loop crosses the park, is that right? Tate White: Yes, in that one location it does. Commissioner Minor: Parks Commission letter was received today. What is their role? Are they appointed like us? Do they have decision making capability? Tate White: They are a Parks Board, and they advise PP&R staff on various projects. They advise our Director. .There is an application process to be on the Parks Board. For example, Randy Gragg and Paddy Tillet sit on the Parks Board. Randy represented the Board on the CAC. Park Master Plans are presented to City Council for acceptance. They are meant to guide the bureau. PP&R notes that implementation of the master plan will follow the ORS 358.653 compliance process for NRHP eligible or listed properties. This State-required process would identify potential conflicts with eligibility or NRHP listings. 14
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Historic preservation is one of the factors we consider, but not the only one. The draft preferred design is reflective of all the input we've received. Commissioner Livingston: Big thanks to those who provided public comments. I am scratching my head about why the HLC and the DC is providing a venue for this level of community discussion? Some questions were asked by the consultants - it would be great to get to those. The park is a beautiful space and it needs to adapt to serve today's population. We need to be attentive to species of trees. From my perspective those moves are consistent with the Central City 2035 plan. They are in support of people using parks in the Central City. It's rational we'd make judicious changes to this asset to improve their resilience (the trees) I am in support of many things presented. I don't have the ability to comment on many of the issues like tree form, central spine, etc.? Commissioner Foty: With or without the NRHP nomination – it is not going to tell what people can do or not do. It's going to be information on this park, and may not preclude doing anything in the MP. I'd be curious from the presenters - Why didn’t you bring it up at the first meeting? Tate White: Back in December we did a briefing with you and the DNA representative shared that they started a nomination the previous month. You asked for us to come back when we had a Draft Preferred Design. As project manager, I chose to brief these Commissions during the planning process due to the historic significance of the park. We want your advice. Commissioner Santner: Downtown parks have a significant role in design of downtown. There are no design guidelines for open spaces so DC cannot review them. DC and HLC can only advise on the park because there are no guidelines - it's a good move to come here. My reaction to the MP - applaud the team and PP&R. You took our comments and advanced the design and some big moves. Some areas need help: It is bothersome that some parking remains – reconsider retaining parking on 9th Avenue. Don’t see enough representation on diversity, equity, social justice. Removal of the statues - RACC - how does this impact this MP? Look into and address in the MP. Look into these things before you go to Council.
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Commissioner Minor: Question about the linearity of it - attention on one end - something is needed at the south end - there are so many people that walk the entire length of the park blocks - visual ending element - something that recalls the north gateway markers? I do feel that the inclusion of evergreens in the park - the park is so narrow that they shouldn't be included. I support Green Loop in the street section instead of within the park itself. It's a transportation piece. Remove vehicles and parking from the other side of the park. Commissioner Robinson: I grew up in the park blocks at a PSU building. We hung out a lot at the mermaid lady fountain (Farewell to Orpheus). I have reverence for the SPB. I love walking through the canopy and I also support ecological diversity. Does not look like a HN would prevent diversifying the tree species – phase the plan so you are not removing healthy trees. I also support removal of the central planters - it supports better walking – I don’t like having to zig zag. No doubt we would still have rose gardens and lawns – as long as you have those different experiences in the park. Commissioner Roman: Common testimony from the critics related to the linear aspect of the promenade – why are the UD paths are still diagonal? Laurie Matthews: The UD was redesigned in the 1970s - form of the paths have changed many times. There was a time when there was a criss cross arrangement of pathways - there's always been a processional quality - form and location of paths have changed. I've been working in cultural landscapes for 20 years. Less than half the time we have an approved nomination before you begin a design. We often have to do our own assessment of what is character defining - and we have to extrapolate a lot based on what information is available. Commissioner Santner: The Cultural District part of the park blocks - the symmetry is delightful. Row of plantings separating bike on west side - why not a planter on the east side, too, to create that symmetry? Paved gathering areas seem the same size - vary them more - making some distinction between those four blocks in the CD makes sense. Thank you.
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MEETING SUMMARY – Thursday, July 16, 2020 South Park Blocks Master Plan Urban Forestry Commission Location: Zoom meeting Time: 10:30-11:15am
Tate White introduced the project and the presenters. Laurie Matthews and Rachel Edmonds of MIG, Inc. presentated a slide show of the draft Preferred Design. Question period: Commissioner Bruce Nelson: At Cully Park, Urban Forestry (UF) staff did not have final say on what trees were actually planted to our dismay. There were some that were planted that should not have been. Will UF have a final say on what is planted? – last minute there are always substitutions – no ash trees is my preference. In the planting of elms, there are other types of elms – Chinese/Asian elms that are similar and are resistant to Dutch elm disease – form is somewhat similar. Can you consider these? Laurie Matthews: The Master Plan (MP) won’t dictate the exact species, but provide an overall description of the type of trees that should be considered and examples of species that meet that critera. As each block is designed UF and Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) will need to push the consistency of the tree selections. A list is being developed in coordination with UF and PP&R. One strategy to retain elms but increase diversity could be retaining American elms in the Cultural District (CD), and adding a different species of elm in the University District (UD). Increasing the diversity of the species while maintaining the character and form is a main goal. Commissioner Bruce Nelson: I like the idea of trees in central promenade going away to give new trees space to grow. When you are calculating soil volume depth how are you calculating it? Morgan Holen: 3 feet – roots are generally in the first 24”, so 3 feet is generally adequate. Commissioner Barbara Hollenbeck: Think the plan is nice, cultual landscapes in Portland are rare – Watzek House and the approach into the airport – My bias is that the park blocks landscape was intentionally designed when they didn’t know much about diversity. You can put in another elm, but you can get another form. I suggest changing the landscape as little as possible to keep it historic. Landscapes don’t return it to the way they are. They were designed of their time. It’s worth keeping much keeping as much of it as we can. It was a nature forward design to begin
with. Historic preservation can overide other legislation, such as the ADA. Handle this a little more carefully and thoughtfully. Laurie Matthews: Landscapes are different in terms of historic resources. We do have many more cultural landscapes in the Portland area than those that are currently recognized. Landscapes inherently change. The form of this park has changed over time. The tree succession strategy is rooted in maintaining the character of the cultural landscape as much as increasing its species diversity – we want to perpetuate the form of this place so it is long lasting. In the end that form, although altered, will help sustain the overall character for future generations. There is a nomination being developed concurrently with the MP. We’ve taken care to treat the character defining aspects more sensitively than other aspects of the park. Commissioner Daniel Newberry : Clearly a lot of thought that has gone into this. Please respond to the comment from DNA earlier. First, the issue about objection to introducing conifers into the park, and a comment about the relative CO2 impacts of conifers vs deciduous. 1 Laurie Matthews: Priority is to have large stature deciduous trees. The place where the evergreen conifers have been put is intentional – at the southern end of the park – this location references the landscape’s earlier cultural history prior to the design of the park and provides a relationship to the evergreen conifers to the south in the SW hills. It also has a connection to the Native American Student and Community Center. Commissioner Damon Schrosk: I like the location of the conifers. On the soil volumes – there was a slide with some of the silva cell – is that going to be standard under all new hardscape? Laurie Matthews: It will be on case by case basis, and the recommendations may change over time. The science is everchanging. We know that it could be beneficial but has cost implications. Morgan Holen: It is most applicable for new paths near landscape and trees. It’s not the only option. Structural soils could also be considered. Each tree needs sufficient soil and growing space to achieve its maximum potential. Commissioner Gregg Everhart: Tree succession graphics just show the final condition so it’s hard to understand how it happens. Maybe use a hollow symbol for trees you think will come out relatively soon. Another symbol for ones that are likely to stay a while. We heard from a neighborhood member that all the trees in one block are being removed so please provide some clarity. Also, is PBOT willing to allow the sidewalk on the east side to be removed so the PP&R notes that Urban Forestry has shared that CO2 absorbtion varies by species and is dependent on a number of more nuance and complex factors.
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sidewalk along the cultural institutions could be widened. They are too narrow in that location. The sidewalk there along the park is pretty useless. Laurie Matthews: No trees are being removed unless they have died, are unsafe, or have reached the end of their lifespan. This plan thinks ahead and lays out a vision for what to strive towards. The existing conditions plan, which will be part of the master plan shows the condition of all the existing trees. Yes, the central planters in the CD are relocated as a buffer between the bikeway and park. The plan generally retains the overall balance of planted areas and paved areas, but shifts some locations slightly. We’re still looking at the sidewalk on the east side in coordination with PBOT and PPR. UF Staff Brian Landoe – Removal of trees in Block 4 – I’ve heard that shaded areas are more accessible and a refuge on a hot day. Why suggest removal here? 2 Laurie Matthews: We heard from PSU students on the CAC and from others that they use this area of the park blocks more between September and June, which are cloudier and rainy months. The design does not replant trees within the existing plaza – maybe four in all - but helps to balance shade and sun so these areas are more comfortable to occupy for more of the year. Block 2 adds more trees in the UD as a way to compensate for these design moves.
PP&R notes that removal is not being recommended. Recommendations are to not replant in some locations once a tree is removed on account of being dead, dying, or dangerous. Some park improvements may lead to site developmentrelated removal, which will be avoided or mitigated for at more detailed design and construction, according to Title 11.
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