To: Portland Bureau of Development Services
Re: Feedback on Case # 19-267882 CU (4200006)

To Whom It May Concern:

As a resident of Sellwood-Moreland, I wish to express my feedback on Case # 19-267882 CU (4200006).

The two-acre property affected by this potential Conditional Use change has a special place in our neighborhood. Adjacent to Llewellyn Elementary and known to the community as “Moreland Woods,” it is a park-like parcel shaded by about twenty mature Douglas-fir trees.

The Woods is also home to a dog exercise area, horseshoe pits, views into Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, and abundant wildlife, including owls and bald eagles. Past generations of locals and school children have enjoyed this rare urban natural space, and I wholeheartedly support protecting and preserving it for others to enjoy in the future.

In making an effort to limit removal of these big old trees in the new parking lot design, the property’s owners have clearly acknowledged their importance. We encourage BDS to consider the impact of the footprint of the proposed parking lot on the remaining mature trees on the property.

Yet minimizing the size of the parking lot is only the first step towards preservation. With its proximity to Oaks Bottom trails, its role as a natural buffer between the wildlife refuge and the rapidly-developing neighborhood, its natural areas, and its potential for outdoor recreation, Moreland Woods meets many of Portland Parks & Recreation’s acquisition criteria.

In addition, the Woods exemplifies the type of area in the City’s plan to protect its tree canopy—an essential component of fighting climate change and protecting Portlanders’ health and well-being—which the City's strategic plans call for growing, not shrinking. The number and size of its trees, combined with other acquisition criteria, makes Moreland Woods a perfect candidate for a city acquisition.

If the City approves this conditional use change, it must also, per Section 33.815-B1 of the Zoning Code, make every possible effort to protect the remainder of this parcel from further development.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Phone Number]