Westside Plan Public Forum July 26

FORUM ON HOOD RIVER’S FUTURE
Wednesday, July 26th, doors 6 pm, program 6:30 pm
Columbia Center for the Arts – 215 Cascade Avenue, Hood River

Want to know more about the City of Hood River’s Westside Area Concept Plan? Get your questions answered at an informational forum this Wednesday July 26th hosted by Hood River Valley Residents Committee and Livable Hood River. 

Our goal is to help you better understand how the City is planning for future growth—particularly a 450-acre developing area on the city’s west side—and how to get involved in the planning process.  

Get Informed: Hear a short presentation from our panel on how things like parks, housing, zoning, pedestrian/bike paths happen.

• Project and Process: An Overview of the Westside Area Concept Plan
  Heather Staten, Executive Director, Hood River Valley Residents Committee
  Hood River Valley Residents Committee is one of Oregon’s oldest local land use advocacy groups. Since 1977 the Residents Committee has had a mission to protect farms, forests, special wild places and the livability of urban and rural communities in Hood River County.
   
• Hood River Housing
  Joel Madsen, Director Mid-Columbia Housing Authority
  Joel Madsen is the Executive Director of the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority and Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation.  Since January of 2014 he has led his organizations in promoting adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity and a suitable living environment throughout the Mid-Columbia region.In his spare time Joel loves to get outside with his wife and two daughters, often enjoying the sports and natural beauty the Gorge offers.
   
• A Builder’s Perspective on Housing in Hood River
  Mike Kitts, local developer
  Since 1992, Mike Kitts and his partner Doug Beveridge have built over 450 homes in Hood River, 12% of the housing stock. The vast majority have been ‘entry level’ houses for the local workforce. Two of their larger Planned Unit Developments (PUD) are Katie Lane, just east of Hood River Middle School, and ‘Hope’ on the southwest corner of 30th and May St. They are currently working on two different 18-lot PUDs.
   
• Elders and the Need for Planning
  Bonnie New, Aging in the Gorge Alliance
  Bonnie New is a retired physician and founding member of Aging in the Gorge Alliance (AGA). Aging in the Gorge Alliance (also called Alianza de la Tercera Edad) is a grassroots organization in the Mid-Columbia region whose purpose is to identify, discuss and advocate for the needs and well-being of elders and their caregivers.
    
• Planning for Parks and Trails in Hood River
  Mark Hickok, Director, Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District
  Mark Hickok has been Director of Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District since 2016. The Parks District is an independent local government entity formed in 1988 with a mission to  provide recreational opportunities to the citizens of the Park District, with focus on the youth of our community and to develop and maintain facilities and programs to provide safe and economical recreational environments for all users. The Park District is one of many recreational facility providers in Hood River County and the District’s planning boundary includes all of Hood River County, except Cascade Locks.
   
• Westside Greenways, Neighborways and Bikeways
  Megan Ramey and Jonathan Graca
  Megan Ramey (Chief Traveler, Bikabout.com) eats, drinks, plays and lives by bike and foot with her 7 year old daughter and husband. Before scheming her way into Hood River life almost 1 year ago, they lived near Harvard Square where she was a board member for LivableStreets for 8 years and members of the Cambridge and Boston bike committees. She is a passionate advocate of children, young and old, biking and walking for transportation.Bikabout.com, a travel site, inspires 2-wheeled tourism in 26 of North America’s best biking cities and places. They donate 25% of their revenue to non-profits who make biking, walking and transit first class transportation for all. Jonathan Graca is a fan of riding his bike up and down the hills, trails and roads of Hood River (and beyond). He’s also a current board member of HRVRC. He was HRVRC’s first Executive Director where he worked with city staff and fellow Hood Riverites on improving bike and ped options, including executing the Tod LeFevre/Safe Routes to School bike lane (May Street).

Get Answers: Come with your questions for the panel or email them in advance. We’ll also have a social half hour from 6 to 6:30 where you can ask questions while enjoying a glass of wine.

Get Involved: The Westside Area Plan is a public process and a work in progress. Make it better with your participation. We’re trying to understand the main hopes and concerns that people have on this project: take this short survey and let us know.