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Gorge farm owner tells commission zoning blocks childcare access east of the Sandy River
Summary
A Gorge farm business owner told the Columbia River Gorge Commission that zoning restrictions and limited preschool capacity east of the Sandy River are constraining working families and local economic vitality, and urged the commission to consider childcare applications through an economic-vitality lens.
A Gorge farm owner told the Columbia River Gorge Commission during public comment on May 13 that zoning constraints and a shortage of local preschool slots east of the Sandy River are limiting parents’ ability to work and undermining local economic vitality.
Nina Sackett Kronberg, who identified herself as a business owner and farmer in the Multnomah County portion of the National Scenic Area, told commissioners that “there is exactly 1 preschool on Preschool for All east of the Sandy River, which had exactly 4 spots available,” and that, in total, she counted “3 preschools ... with a grand total of, like, less than 25 spots” for preschool-aged children in that area.
Kronberg said she asked Multnomah County whether she could open a childcare center on her property and was told current zoning does not allow it. “The only reason why I can do my farm business is because I’m close enough to Gresham to go get my daughter into a preschool down in Gresham,” she told the commission, and urged commissioners to view childcare land-use applications through “the lens of trying to support diversity and economic vitality in our community.”
Why it matters: Childcare availability is a recognized determinant of workforce participation. Kronberg told the commission that lack of nearby childcare forces working parents to travel outside the Scenic Area for full-time care and that county zoning rules constrain options for community-based childcare providers on agricultural properties.
What commissioners said: Commissioner Laura Brennan Bissell acknowledged the concern and asked Kronberg to connect with county representative Commissioner Robert Liberty; Liberty — identified on the call as the Multnomah County representative to the commission — was named as a contact for follow-up. Staff did not take formal action during the meeting; the item was a public comment contribution and no policy or zoning decision was made.
Context and caveats: Kronberg’s remarks were part of the meeting’s public-comment period. She described a local count of preschool programs and availability; the commission did not independently verify the numbers during the meeting. Any change to zoning or to county rules would be handled by the relevant county planning authority and, where applicable, in coordination with commission land‑use policies.
Next steps suggested in the meeting: Commissioners and staff did not adopt any immediate action; Commissioner Brennan Bissell offered to follow up and connect Kronberg with Commissioner Liberty and county staff to discuss zoning and program options. Kronberg asked the commission to consider childcare needs when updating the commission’s strategic plan.
No formal votes or directives were recorded on the childcare issue during the May 13 meeting.
