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By Virginia Bruce
Our occasional roundup of information about development, roads, safety, businesses, etc.

• CHB-26 offramp
• Peterkort Co. asks for second extension
• Java Lounge closes
• Arson investigators probe North Bethany fires
• Neighborhood meetings
• Cornelius Pass Road transferring to ODOT

CHB-26 offramp plans move ahead

The long-awaited improvements to the eastbound offramp from Highway 26 to Cedar Hills Blvd. is in the final planning stages. Melissa DeLyser, Communications Manager for Washington County Land Use and Transportation, which is overseeing the work, says, “We're looking at it going out for bid in late winter. The evaluation on how to best meet the bicycle and pedestrian improvements associated with the project is taking longer than anticipated as the partners work to balance design requirements with the site constraints.” Find background information on the project in this October 2016 article.

All of the Peterkort properties were annexed into Beaverton as part of their PUD

Peterkort Co. asks for second extension

Beaverton has received a request for a second time extension for the previously approved Planned Unit Development for the Peterkort properties around the Cedar Hills/Barnes Rd. intersection. If approved, the extension will expire on November 6, 2019. The plan was originally approved by Beaverton in 2014.

Beaverton Associate Planner Jana Fox notes, “This is the last time they can ask for an extension. If they do not commence development consistent with our code requirements within this extended window then the decision would expire and they would have to start over again.”

Written comments should be sent to the Planning Division, PO Box 4755, Beaverton, OR 97076. Reference Case File No. EXT2017-0003, Sunset Station and Barnes Road PUD Second Time Extension.

The owner cleared out the space quickly after closing.

Java Lounge closes

Coffee and pastry lovers were surprised to find the Cornell Rd. café closed during late November. The owner blamed the closure on the proposed marijuana dispensary on Dale, claiming it would hurt the business, but most suspected poor business management was the problem. Several people noted that the coffee shop opened late on many mornings, making it an unreliable meeting place. Unpaid 2016 property taxes were paid off last month, after the building sold to an undisclosed buyer.

Arson investigators probe North Bethany fires

Aerial photo of the latest house destroyed by arson

Two new houses that burned in August, and another in November, are being investigated as arson by Washington County Sheriffs Office (WCSO) and Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue (TVFR). A neighborhood meeting was held in late November to inform residents about the effort.

All three houses were built by Noyes Development, and were unoccupied. Investigators declined to give details of their findings, but confirmed that all motives were being explored, including disgruntled contractors or someone opposed to new development.

The latest house to burn was in the final stages of construction, and is considered a total loss. It is being stabilized, as it had collapsed significantly following the blaze, and was unsafe for investigators to enter.

The developer has hired a private security firm to patrol the area, and WCSO is increasing its patrols also. Nearby neighbors in the new development are understandably nervous about their safety.

Public Information Officer Jim Talbot of WCSO says, “Nothing is too small to report to us.” He urges neighbors to call the WCSO non-emergency number, 503-629-0111 with any suspicious activity.

Neighborhood meetings

The trail head at Bonny Slope school leads to a gravel path. Paving is being planned to increase accessibility.

Bonny Slope/Bluffs Park trail improvements

Thurs., Dec 14, 6:30 pm, Bonny Slope Elementary, 11775 NW McDaniel

A proposed Master Plan for redevelopment of the trail connecting NW South Drive and NW 117th Drive to the Bonny Slope School will be presented to the neighborhood at this meeting. An engineering consultant is working with Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District to develop the paving plan. Different options for the slope of the trail and the connections will be presented.

Three-parcel partition on Cornell

Wed., Dec. 13, 6:30 pm, TVFR Station 60, 8585 NW Johnson St.

NW Engineers represents Dan Bax, who is applying for a three-parcel partition to build two additional homes at 10040 NW Cornell Rd. Access to the existing home and the two new homes is proposed to be from NW Ashcreek Lane.

Cornelius Pass Road transferring to ODOT

The transportation funding bill passed by the 2017 Oregon Legislature and signed by Governor Brown included legislation that will transfer jurisdiction of the sections of NW Cornelius Pass Road between Highway 26 and Highway 30 from Multnomah and Washington counties to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The legislation did not establish a timeline for the transfer.

Multnomah County currently has a safety improvement project for its portion of the road which is in the final design stage.  Construction is tentatively scheduled for 2019, when NW Newberry Road (which is currently closed by a landslide) will be reopened and available to serve as a detour for cars and small trucks.

One goal of the transfer is to bring the standard of the road closer to the standards of ODOT, to the greatest extent possible. Standards include elements such as traffic signs, guardrails and road geometry. ODOT staff have asked Multnomah County to complete its planned safety improvements before the transfer is complete.  The improvements—which include guardrails, advisory speed signs, sightline improvements, and realigned curves—will help bring the road closer to ODOT standards.

An initial review of jurisdictional transfer issues indicates that Cornelius Pass Road will not be transferred to ODOT before the end of 2019.

A public meeting will be scheduled in early 2018 to update the public about the Cornelius Pass Road Safety Improvements and the jurisdictional transfer to ODOT.  Information about the transfer of Multnomah County’s portion of the road will be posted to www.multco.us/roads as it becomes available.

For questions about the Cornelius Pass Road safety improvements or the transfer, please use the online form at: https://multco.us/roads/webform/cornelius-pass-road-safety-improvements-0.

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