by Randy Ward
Sabin Land Use and Transportation Committee

The Portland City Council adopted the "Portland Plan" in 2012, which was developed to guide the city’s forward progress toward several challenges.  One priority is to create a "healthy, connected city," in the form of higher density, service-accessible communities.

Creating higher density in a city the size of Portland presents challenges that need creative solutions.  The Portland Zoning Code permits the creation of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in all residential zones of the city. ADUs can be created in a variety of ways, including conversion of a portion of an existing house, addition to an existing house, conversion of a garage or the construction of an entirely new building.  In essence, an additional living space is created on an already developed lot. 

The maximum size of an ADU may be no more than 75% of the living area of the house or 800 square feet, whichever is less.  Additionally, for detached ADU's: maximum height is 18 feet; building coverage may not be larger than the building coverage of the house; and set back must be 60 feet from a front lot line or 6
feet behind the house.

Some of the benefits provided by an ADU include possible rental income, accommodating growing families (think teen quarters), generational living (elderly parents or in-laws), or even downsizing for simpler living, while renting out your main house.

The City has approved a 3-year extension for the System Development Charge (SDC) waiver for ADUs (conversions or new construction), previously set to expire in 2012. This waiver could save homeowners up to thousands of dollars in fees, making ADU construction even more appealing.

The Sabin Community Orchard just keeps growing better every year.  Last year, we harvested 156 pounds from the mature apple tree, the berry bushes bore fruit and the young trees became more established, thanks to the generous volunteers who took turns watering them throughout the hot, dry summer months.

This season, we plan to install educational signs in the Orchard, plant more fruit trees and other plants that will support beneficial pollinators and, of course, keep up the weeding.  Mike Scott, a horticulturist with more than 30 years experience, will be leading our March Work & Learn Party about perennial plant maintenance.

Monthly work sessions run from 2 to 4 p.m. the third Sunday each month and are held at the orchard, located at NE 18th and Mason. Don't forget your work gloves!

Gas was 10 to 12 cents a gallon, depending on the grade.  It brought customers into the station, but the “real money-makers” were oil changes, engine tune-ups and repairs. Mel recalls: “Every Saturday, which was the day I received my pay in cash, my first destination after work was Watkins Drugstore, located on the southwest corner of Failing and Union Avenue (now Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd). There, I would reward myself with a most wanted indulgence, a butterscotch sundae, topped with whip cream and a cherry.  I am not certain of the exact cost, but I would guess it was in the 15 to 25 cent range.  Delicious memories
of youth are still with us, no matter what our age may be.”

This story is condensed from a longer version written by Mel Cook, and captured on Steve Schreiber's volgagermans.net website.

See neighborhood governance in action! Attend the SCA Board of Directors meeting on Monday, February 11 at 7:00 pm.

What's on Your Plate? is a documentary that follows two eleven-year-old multi-racial city kids as they explore their place in the food chain. Sadie and Safiyah address questions regarding the origin of the food they eat, how it’s cultivated, how many miles it travels from the harvest to their plate, how it’s prepared, who prepares it, and what is done afterwards with the packaging and leftovers. They discover programs that help struggling farmers to survive and provide affordable, locally-grown food communities, especially to lower-income urban families.

The film has been hailed by Michael Pollan, Kofi Annan, Marion Nestle, Alice Waters and other food activists.