Late last week the Bureau of Development Services issued a notice for a remand hearing on the SK Northwest development site which lies between the Portland Spirit, and the new Portland City Storage development, and is part of a significant and dangerous gap on one of the City’s most popular trails. The remand hearing will deal specifically with the definition of the “top of the bank”, and the current plans submitted by SK Northwest clearly show a new trail alignment running through the property and along the river. To view the hearing notice, go to the index of current applications here.

The Portland Spirit, who currently owns the SK Northwest site, and SK Northwest, have been fighting the City’s trail requirement for years. Earlier this year the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the City’s ordinance that requires a Greenway Trail on the property to be developed by SK Northwest. Following that decision, SK Northwest had the option to continue fighting the trail designation by taking the case to the Oregon Supreme Court. Instead they have chosen to build the trail alignment on their property, and work with adjacent property owners and the City of Portland to make sure the ultimate plans provide a safe connection between the end of the Eastbank Esplanade and the start of the Springwater Corridor Trail.

The BTA and the City of Portland have been vigilant in the multi-year process of defending the trail requirement, and we look forward to working with SK Northwest and the City as the development moves forward. Volunteer supporters have been an integral component to the BTA’s ability to successfully advocate for closing this significant gap in our trail network. Many thanks go out to Ben Schonberger of Winterbrook Planning, William Kabeisman of Garvey, Schubert and Barer, Rick Nys of Greenlight Engineering, and Christine Cook, attorney at law for their expertise and assistance in preparing testimony at key points along the way.

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