Tigard community development outlines planning, transportation and housing projects in quarterly update
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Summary
Tigard’s Community Development director presented a quarterly report on planning, permits, transportation pilots, business programs and redevelopment, including several housing projects and a downtown wayfinding design.
Community Development Director Samuel Krickman gave the Tigard City Council a broad quarterly update covering planning, building, transportation, economic development and redevelopment projects.
Krickman said long‑range planning work includes River Terrace 2, Tigard Home and Downtown Reimagine. He said the housing plan is on a late‑May to early‑June timetable and that annexation ballots for River Terrace are being prepared for early March; Krickman reminded council that the annexation requires a "triple majority" (majority of property owners, majority of acreage and majority of assessed value) so the timeline will depend on ballot returns.
On current planning, Krickman noted the city finalized a food cart code update on Jan. 28 and that staff is notifying existing operators about registration opportunities. The building division reported a small drop in number of permits year over year but a rise in valuation; Krickman said staff is monitoring the mix and will provide follow‑up breakdowns.
Transportation updates included Power to the Pedal, a free e‑bike lending library serving low‑income apartment residents in two locations, and an e‑mobility project (Project Ego) expected to reach design completion this summer. Tiffany Gerkie, principal transportation planner, said the Power to the Pedal grant funds support a long‑term program and the city is transitioning operations for sustained oversight.
Economic development manager Danelle Hawthorne reviewed business supports: LaunchPod applications are open for two food‑cart operators at Universal Plaza this spring; Nanny Phibes will move into a concession area; the Opportunity Cafe at the library is operated by Cholitas through November. Hawthorne said the LaunchPod incubator can support tenants up to two years.
On redevelopment, Krickman described a completed community engagement process for downtown wayfinding design and work with ODOT to ensure designs meet sign standards. He highlighted recent housing projects: a Community Partners for Affordable Housing development of about 63 units, Reach nearing completion of an 85‑unit development, Family Promise working on a remodel to expand units and The Steward, a 55‑unit market‑rate net‑zero building.
Krickman told council the update was a broad overview and that staff will provide more focused reports on items council requests later in the year.
