By Brian Hoop
Portland General Electric’s (PGE) Land Use Application to clear cut five acres of Forest Park for expanded transmission line capacity was analyzed and rejected by the Portland Bureau of Development Services (BDS) for being incomplete, according to the North Peninsula Review (July 2024).
Community advocates and City representatives had expected to see a more detailed description of the project, a mitigation plan to address removal of natural resources, and an analysis of other potential sites prior to the land use application submission.
BDS found the application in conflict with the Forest Park Natural Resources Management Plan lacking adequate project information and mitigation proposals.
The city also found PGE provided only three phases of the 5-phase project. PGE says they do not yet have details on future phases. PGE has 180 days, or until November 6th to complete their proposal.
At an early August community meeting with PGE, Forest Park Conservancy Executive Director, Marianne Wilburn, found contradictory statements made by PGE’s presenters and their experts.
“As a potential mitigation strategy,” according to Wilburn, “the presenters discussed the creation of crossings to allow the northern red legged frog to migrate into Forest Park more safely. However, after talking to the mitigation team, I was told that PGE had been told by the city that this would not be feasible.”
The Forest Park Natural Resources Management Plan, states that “Above all, wildlife habitat in the North Unit should be protected…Special attention should be given to development which may threaten wildlife migration in and out of the North Unit.”
The PGE site is at the edge of the interior forest habitat. As recognized by the Management Plan, the city should “Protect and enhance the high quality of Forest Park’s interior forest habitat. This large, relatively intact habitat type is unique and supports wildlife not found in any other urban park in the world.”
There are at least 42 species of birds who call this area home, it has a stream where the protected red-legged frog has been seen, and it is the best connector to the Willamette River in Forest Park.
For more information:
Bureau of Development Services’ response memo: https://tinyurl.com/5y5swwx7
Forest Park Conservancy: https://forestparkconservancy.org/
Upcoming PGE Community Meetings on Forest Park tree cutting proposal
Tuesday, September 24 & Thursday, October 24 – Both at 6:15 pm
Linnton Community Center – 10614 NW St. Helens Rd.