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Neighbors voice traffic concerns for planned Dale Avenue commercial building
By Mary D. Edwards

The owners of Foot Traffic at 13306 NW Cornell Road, are planning to build and lease a 6,100 square-foot one-story building, behind the running store, at 725 NW Dale. David Pietka and Joel Jorgensen, who bought the former Apollo Pools building and the adjacent 17, 000 square-foot vacant lot in 2014, told the 13 neighbors attending a Neighborhood Meeting that the building would be for commercial use only, not industrial or residential. Pietka said he hopes to start construction in October if all the permits can be obtained by then.

A sign in the Foot Traffic parking lot directs people to drive through the neighborhood.

Many of the people who attended the meeting expressed concern about additional traffic in general, and parking on Dale Avenue. Much of their concern was related to Foot Traffic, which hosts events at the store. “There’s not enough event parking,” said Richard Rodriquez. “People park on both sides of the streets and block mailboxes and driveways.”

But neighbors also worried about the new building drawing more cars into their residential area, just off busy NW Cornell Road, and the safety of neighborhood children playing outside. Pietka and Jorgensen suggested that speed bumps and “Children at Play” signs may be a condition of the development, once final plans are submitted.

Neighbor Sheila Hobernicht suggested a left-turn only sign to route drivers out to Cornell and prevent them from driving through the neighborhood. She wondered where runners attending Foot Traffic events will park once the planned affordable housing complex is built on the Murray-Cornell corner. Pietka said 40 parking spaces will be split between the new building and Foot Traffic.

The vacant lot just south of the Foot Traffic building is proposed for a one-story commercial/retail building.

Regarding the development, Pietka assured neighbors that the future tenants would not be “vice” businesses. “No porn, no marijuana, no negative influences,” he said. In September a medical marijuana dispensary was proposed for a house at 730 NW Dale Avenue, across the street from the proposed development. Neighbors objected: some opposing the marijuana sales, and others saying the business posed a risk to neighbors from increased traffic. We haven’t heard anything further about that proposal.

Washington County zoning for 730 NW Dale, Foot Traffic, Java Lounge, and the proposed development at 735 NW Dale, is commercial/retail. Jorgensen said he and Pietka have not sought any zoning changes. They have received queries from a few potential tenants, but people are waiting for more detailed architectural plans, he said, adding he hopes to have his completed development application submitted for county approval this month. 

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