LUT Weekly Update

09/21/16

The Department of Land Use & Transportation

Weekly Update

County Board adopts conditional $30 vehicle registration fee

An ordinance establishing a conditional $30 annual vehicle registration fee (VRF) to offset some of the local maintenance funding shortfall and to improve transportation safety was adopted during the Sept. 20 Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Ordinance 817 was unanimously approved, following a public hearing. Under the provisions of the ordinance, the County VRF will go into effect on the condition that the state Legislature fails to pass a 2017 transportation funding package that provides additional County revenue equal to or greater than $8.1 million annually - the County's share of revenue generated by a $30 VRF - in the first year.

The $30 VRF will generate an estimated $13.5 million in revenue. This revenue would be split 60/40 between the County ($8.1 million) and the cities within the County ($5.4 million) as required by state statute. All funds received by the County would be used only for local maintenance to improve the safety and condition of County roads, bridges and culverts.

If implemented, the County VRF will be collected by the state Department of Motor Vehicles, in conjunction with state registration fees, starting July 1, 2018. The fee would be $30 per year, or $2.50 per month, for most vehicle owners. The fee for motorcycles/mopeds will be $17 per year. Owners of trailers eligible for permanent registration will pay a one-time fee of $10. Media release Website

Countywide

Save the date

Fall Development Forum is Sept. 29

The Fall Development Forum will be 8:30-10 a.m. Sept. 29 in the Public Services Building Cafeteria. The forum provides development and building industry customers with the opportunity to network, provide valuable input and learn more about Planning and Development Services' work, initiatives and processing timelines.

Highlights include:

Update on housing affordability
Access-only permits update
Transportation projects update

To register for this free forum, email [email protected] or call 503-846-3470. Washington County Development Forum

Countywide

Quake Up! to help participants prepare for an earthquake

Quake Up! will be held 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Beaverton Farmers Market.

The event, sponsored by the Washington County Community Participation Organizations (CPO) is free and open to the public. Information, education, interactive booths and exhibits will be available to the public free of charge. Experts in emergency management will be on hand to answer questions and to give presentations on disaster preparedness. Attendees will learn how to prepare for a major earthquake including steps to take during, immediately after and in days and weeks following a quake.

Countywide

Public comment period for Rural Tourism Study ends Sept. 30

The last day to comment on the Rural Tourism Study report, compiled by independent consultants and Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation (LUT), is Sept. 30.

Staff will report on comments received and seek direction from the Board of Commissioners. There is no land use ordinance tied to the findings of this report. Public comment on the report will help to inform any future potential land use ordinance development related to rural tourism.

Printed copies of the study are available at Washington County libraries and through each Citizen Participation Organization (CPO). A limited number of copies are available for a fee at Washington County Land Use & Transportation, 155 N. 1st Ave., Suite 350, Hillsboro. Website

Countywide

Nighttime traffic delays expected on Cornelius Pass Road

Nighttime traffic delays on Cornelius Pass Road and intersections, between Cornell Road and U.S. 26, can be expected tonight through Sept. 23 and weekdays Sept. 26-Oct. 7 for storm sewer and paving work.

The tentative work schedule is as follows:

7 p.m.-5 a.m. tonight-Sept. 23: Signal shutdowns on Cornelius Pass at Cornell, Ronler, Evergreen Parkway, Imbrie Drive and the eastbound U.S. 26 ramp as needed. Flaggers will direct traffic.
7 p.m.-6 a.m. weekdays, Sept. 26-Oct. 8: Signal shutdowns on Cornelius Pass at Cornell, Ronler, Evergreen Parkway, Imbrie Drive and the eastbound U.S. 26 ramp as needed. Flaggers will direct traffic.
10 p.m.-6 a.m. weekdays, Sept. 26-Oct. 8: Closures on Ronler Drive, Evergreen Parkway and Imbrie Drive at Cornelius Pass Road as needed to prevent vehicles from traveling across new pavement until it has cooled. Detours will be posted when closures are in effect. Northbound and southbound travel on Cornelius Pass Road will remain open.

Timing of the traffic signal shutdowns and intersection closures are dependent upon how rapidly the work progresses and on weather. For more information about the project, visit the project website or contact [email protected] or 503-846-7800. Media release

Countywide

Road News

Current roadwork and closures

Visit www.wc-roads.com for the latest road information, including capital road construction, upcoming road maintenance work and weekend events that may impact traffic in Washington County. All paving work is weather-dependent and schedules may be adjusted due to changes in the weather or for other unforeseen circumstances.

Rock Creek Boulevard between Malhuer Avenue and Rock Creek Drive will be down to one lane from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays through Sept. 30 for construction of a sidewalk on the north side. Flaggers will direct traffic. Expect delays.
Nighttime installation of a sanitary sewer, storm drains and water lines at the intersection of Farmington Road at Murray Boulevard will take traffic down to one lane from 8 p.m.-5 a.m. through October. Flaggers will be on-site to direct traffic around the lane closures. All travelers are urged to use alternate routes, such as Allen Boulevard or Tualatin-Valley Highway. Media release
Purdin Road is closed at Hwy 47 through September for construction of a roundabout at Hwy 47 and Verboort-Purdin roads. Media release
175th Avenue will be closed at Rigert Road Oct. 3 through Nov. 2 for right-of-way improvements as part of the Oldham Meadows project. The detour route includes Scholls Ferry Road, Murray Boulevard and Hart Road. The improvements are part of the Oldham Meadows subdivision, under development by Evergreen Pacific Inc. Media release

E-subscriptions available

Visit Washington County's e-subscriptions page to view available e-subscriptions on a variety of topics of interest to county residents. You'll receive periodic emails based on the topics to which you subscribe.

Neighborhood Meetings for Proposed Developments:

NOTE: This information is provided here as a courtesy only. Neighborhood meetings are required before developers submit certain land use applications to the County (for areas outside cities). These meetings provide a forum for the developer, affected CPO (Community Participation Organization), and nearby property owners to discuss the proposal informally. County staff do not schedule or attend these meetings. Mandatory Neighborhood Meeting & Mailings Requirements.

Oct. 4 - Proposed 12-unit attached single-family development

At 7 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Preschool, 18865 SW Johnson St. The property is 0.93 acre and is located in the R-15 District (Residential, 12-15 units per acre) and is located at 2580 SW 187th Ave. Contact Robert Price, Timber Creek Custom Homes Inc., at 503-807-4009 or [email protected] .

CPO 6; District 1