(and how they can fix it)
Those of you following this website know that for over a year (17 months, but who’s counting?) I’ve been trying to get our ADU project off the ground. We’ve won some major battles (land use adjustments) suffered some small setbacks (NIMBY neighbors) and learned a lot about urban development.
A few [...]
Break out the champagne! As of July 12 we are officially approved to build our larger ADU. The even better news is that no one appealed the decision within the two week appeal period (July 12-July 26th). This means the decision is FINAL.
Some developments in the land-use process. The short version: one neighbor (several houses removed) decided to do his best to torpedo things with the city. He approached my neighbor to the south and got her riled up enough to write a letter objecting to the building. As a result, I had to downscale the [...]
The city officially declared my application complete on May 22, 2007.
What this means: According to the letter, the city has 28 days to publish their decision. The letter gives neighbors 21 days (June 15th) to provide written comments on the project. The city must make a ruling by June 19th. UPDATE: due to [...]
I’ve been assigned to work with Suzanne Savin from the Portland Bureau of Development Services. Her job is to review my adjustment application and rule on the larger ADU. Needless to say, her role is pivotal in the development.
Here it is, in all its glory - the final land use review application.
Final Proposal (PDF) - 4 megabyte file.
I’m spending this weekend filling out forms and preparing to submit to the city next week. Specifically, I’m preparing a Land Use Review Application. Here are the forms I’m submitting:
Land Use Application Checklist
Land Use Review Application
Adjustment Approval Criteria
In the next post I’ll upload my approval criteria and supporting documents.
Marguerite Feuersanger called this morning. She presented my preliminary design plan to the Thursday morning planning group. Here’s the feedback:
Building design didn’t present any big red flags. We can present the split-roof design, though there is no guarantee we won’t get a planner that requires a standard gable-roof design. She suggests that we apply [...]
Met with city planner Marguerite Feuersanger today to discuss my Land Use Review Application. At the suggestion from my designer, I took a preliminary proposal down to BDS to discuss the viability of my application. Here’s a copy of the proposal (PDF):
Preliminary Land Use Review Proposal
Here’s two site plans - one with the ADU at the back, and sidewalk down the west side of the current house, the other with the current layout of the property. Click on either image to download a PDF of the property