Residents press Milwaukie planning staff on streetscape improvements and code enforcement during public comment

Two members of the public used the Planning Commission’s public-comment period to press staff for follow-up on separate, recurring concerns: missing streetscape improvements associated with new Main Street businesses, and alleged illegal residential conversions and weak enforcement in some neighborhoods.

Charles Bays (spelled in the record), who said he lives on South Nady Road and owns property in the area, said he had counted 14 new businesses on Main Street over the previous 12–18 months that had not installed sidewalks, bike racks, benches, tree guards or other typical streetscape improvements. He asked whether the city had stopped requiring those improvements for new businesses and requested staff research and follow up; planning staff said they would look into the matter and get back to him.

Bernie Stout, who identified a Hector Campbell neighborhood address and said she has lived there 22 years, told commissioners she had observed multiple houses converted to multiple rentals without consistent permits or code-compliant work and urged the city to develop stronger legal tools for code enforcement. Stout said code enforcement historically had been limited by staffing and authority and asked that the city consider giving enforcement staff clearer authority to inspect and address unlawful alterations and rental conversions. Planning staff thanked her for the information and said they would talk to code enforcement staff and follow up.

Staff responses were procedural and promised follow-up rather than immediate action. Laura (planning staff name used in the record) said streetscape requirements vary by location and by whether a proposal involves a change of use or new development; she said staff would research the specific businesses Bays identified. Justin (planning staff) and other commissioners said they would coordinate with code enforcement and the city attorney as appropriate.

Quotes (selected)

"I've noticed that we've had 14 new business go in here in Milwaukie in the past 12–18 months...but what I'm a little concerned about is the improvements," Charles Bays said.

"Would you please maybe develop some more legal tools for code enforcement to come down a little bit more firmly rather than they always seem to bob and weep," Bernie Stout said of property alterations and rental conversions.

Ending

Planning staff committed to researching the specific Main Street businesses identified by Bays and to confer with code-enforcement staff regarding Stout’s concerns. No formal action was taken during the meeting; both issues were entered into the record for staff follow-up.