The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners gave preliminary approval Thursday to plans aimed at keeping Sauvie Island's rural character intact and reduce what some people call threats, such as increased visitations and excessive entrepreneurial events.
A group of 18 residents, farmers, planners and the county's Planning Commission spent the last 2.5 years and 44 meetings to develop new land use and transportation plans that attempt to accommodate various interests, such as farming businesses that attract Portland visitors, residents who enjoy the quiet rural life and bicyclists who share two-lane roads with cars and slow-moving farm equipment.
"I think we've all got memories of going out to Sauvie Island to pick berries or to enjoy produce that comes in ... It's a rural farming community and a lot of people have worked hard to protect that community," said Commissioner Jules Bailey who represents the area on the board.
The threats identified by the plan relate to the hundreds of thousands of annual visitors to Sauvie Island, one of the largest river islands in the country, to see beaches, wildlife areas. There are also corn mazes, pumpkin patches and other agricultural activities that farmers use for extra income. Residents have seen large weddings or concerts on farm lands, they say.
Traffic jams, especially during September and October, near the island's only two lane bridge have caused concern about emergency crews crossing the Multnomah Channel.
State law allows large gatherings of more than 5,000 people only once every three months, though it also allows counties to reduce that threshold, said Kevin Cook, a county planner.
"That's enough," resident Mark Greenfield told commissioners. "Multnomah County and Metro did not designate Sauvie Island as a rural reserve to turn it into a theme park or a concert venue. Just ... miles from a major metropolitan area, the island's high value soils should be used to feed the region's residents not entertain them."
If the plan is approved, the county's Planning Commission would begin exploring how many times per year large gatherings can occur, he said.
The ordinance adopting the two plans requires one more approval at the next Board of Commissioners meeting before it replaces the existing land use plan approved 18 years ago.
For more details about the plan:
-- Tony Hernandez
thernandez@oregonian.com
503-294-5928
@tonyhreports