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Tualatin neighborhood groups report volunteer growth, flag development concerns and propose CIO boundary changes
Summary
Community Involvement Organizations (CIOs) told the council they are holding more events, requested larger small‑grant limits and raised concerns about several residential developments and tree preservation; CIO leaders proposed expanding CIO boundaries to include new housing south of Byram and parts of downtown/Bridgeport.
Leaders of Tualatin’s Community Involvement Organizations delivered their annual report on Aug. 25, highlighting a return to in‑person events, a request to increase the small‑grant limit, and neighborhood concerns about new housing developments and tree removal.
Catherine Holland, president of the Commercial CIO, and other CIO presidents described volunteer activity across the city and thanked Deputy City Manager Megan George for staff support. Patricia Parsons, a CIO leader, and other neighborhood presidents recounted community response to a proposed development near 103rd Avenue that initially prompted large, emotional neighborhood meetings.
Residents and CIO leaders said they pressed the developer to change plans: remove an onsite dumpster/recycling station, reduce curb cuts along 103rd, orient structures inward, limit building heights to two stories and add more internal parking. “So there'll be no garbage recycling station. All of the buildings will be inward facing, and there's gonna be 1 access in and 1 access out,” Parsons summarized, reporting concessions she said the developer agreed to during negotiations with neighbors.
CIO leaders also discussed Basalt Creek Living and other projects where developer outreach varied. They urged earlier, clearer developer engagement after several neighborhoods reported surprise and confusion over sale and design activity. Leaders said gaps in public understanding about land‑use process and recent state law changes — including House Bill 2001’s impacts on parking requirements — have complicated neighborhood responses.
The CIO leadership asked the council to consider changes to CIO boundaries because several newly annexed residential areas south of Byram (Autumn Sunrise, Planbeck Gardens) and portions of downtown and the Bridgeport corridor currently lie outside any CIO. Staff presented four boundary options under review that would expand Byram southward and reallocate downtown/Bridgeport households among adjacent CIOs or create a new downtown CIO; the options aim to balance household counts among CIOs and ensure all city residents have CIO representation.
Tim Neary, one CIO leader, confirmed the CIO leadership supports increasing the city small‑grant cap from $1,500 to $2,500 to cover community events and event insurance. City staff said they have already seen improved notification to CIOs about proposed projects and that several developers have been more proactive.
Council members thanked CIO volunteers, asked for clearer orientation and training for new CIO leaders, and expressed support for ensuring newly annexed residents are represented. No formal council action was taken during the report; staff will continue the boundary review process with CIO input.
