Town Center Plan progresses

The Cornell and Barnes Roads Project Advisory Committee (PAC) met several times during the Spring and Summer of 2002 to discuss and recommend alternatives for the design of roadway improvements to Cornell and Barnes Roads. Their recommendation was approved by the County engineering and management staff in June 2002. Detailed design work began in the fall of 2002 and will continue in 2003.

For Barnes Road, the PAC selected Alternative B2-PA, an alignment that shifts slightly to the north of the existing road. For Cornell, the PAC selected Alternative c1-FA (Option A), an alignment that is widened on either side of the existing centerline of Cornell.

The two recommended alternatives and a description of the evaluation and selection process can be viewed on the project web site (projects.ch2m.com/cornellbarnes).

Cornell Road generally will have two travel lanes (one in each direction) and a center turn lane with sidewalks, bike lanes, and on-street parking in many locations.

Barnes Road will have four travel lanes and a center turn lane with sidewalks and bike lanes but no on-street parking.

Both roads will have street trees and lighting and both will include partial medians in some locations to improve safety for vehicles and pedestrian crossing. Traffic signal improvements will be provided where warranted.

The improvements to Cornell and Barnes Roads implement the Cedar Mill Town Center Plan, which was adopted by Washington County in 2000 after public review. Funding for the project was approved by voters in 1995 with passage of the Major Streets Transportation Improvemnet Program (MSTIP3).

The PAC continues to discuss design issues with the County and project staff. These meetings will continue throughout the design process. In addition, meetings will be held with the affected property owners to discuss their concerns regarding the project.

Beaverton to plant school in Teufel property

Teufel Nursery is presently in court proceedings with the Beaverton School District. The District condemned 18 acres in the center of the nursery site on Barnes Road for a middle school about two years ago.

In Washington County court on Jan. 13, the District won the condemnation suit. The valuation phase is a jury trial on Feb. 26.

The District testified in court that there is immediate need for a school at that location. Teufel’s will continue to operate it ’s nursery business as long as possible.

Cedar Mill Business Association

February Meeting: Tuesday, February 18, Noon
Cedar Mill Community Library Meeting Room (upstairs)
Lunch provided for members

Topic: Cedar Mill Town Center Plan

Alexander Sander, Project Manager for Washington County LUT, will share the latest developments and answer questions.

Artist's rendering of the new A Cut Above building

A Cut Above is growing up

What’s up with the castle appearing on Cornell? A Cut Above Siding and Windows is growing! Owner Mark Tiffee is expanding his facility to provide more and better services to the community. The remodeled building should be finished in May. Forty percent of the space will be occupied by Premiere Window Coverings, which will offer a large variety of Hunter-Douglas window coverings. The remaining building area will house an expanded showroom for A Cut Above, displaying their siding and window offerings. The upper floor will house A Cut Above administration offices.

Why expand now? They were tired of squeezing into an outdated building, their business was growing, and when the opportunity to share space with Premier came up, Tiffee knew the time was right. “I’ve had this on the drawing board for two years,” Tiffee says. “It wasn’t in response to the Town Center plan, particularly, although it is in line with the goals. We are having to take it into account, since we’ll be sharing street access withour neighbors. The changes will take some getting used to, but it will be worth it in the end. ”

Cedar Mill Community Library investigates formation of Library Service District

Harry Bodine, library volunteer and former Board member, is putting the final touches on a report on the formation of a Cedar Mill and Bethany library service district.

His research began shortly after the county library levy failed by 600 votes in November 2002. The levy actually passed by 57% in the Cedar Mill area, but had weaker support in other parts of the county.

Since Cedar Mill depends heavily on the county levy and does not have local municipal support like Beaverton or Tigard, the loss of the levy is creating a large funding shortfall.

His report will be delivered to the library board in February. The formation of a district may provide more stable funding for the library, but the decision to move towards a district must be well thought out to make sure that county funding is not diminished.