A parent-led group won final approval to build an 18-unit supportive housing complex for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Cedar Mill.
Washington County's Department of Land Use & Transportation (LUT) approved the development application for "Bloom! A We Built Community," and the appeal deadline passed Sept. 23 without a challenge, Cedar Mill News reported. The approval clears the way for the group to pursue building permits.
Jonathan and Elissa Ryan Morris are leading the effort. The couple and a group of fellow parents designed the project so their adult children can live independently while receiving support services.
The complex will combine two lots at 13330 and 13324 NW Glenridge Dr. into a rowhouse-style development with a shared common house, according to an August Cedar Mill News report. Plans call for 10 off-street parking spaces and an 18-bicycle storage area near the common house entrance. Many of the future residents do not drive. Some parking spots are reserved for visiting staff who will provide support and activities.
An 8-foot-tall wooden fence will surround the property. A new sidewalk will run along the NW Glenridge Dr. frontage, and a single driveway next to the common house will serve the site.
The site is zoned TO:R9-12, allowing 9 to 12 units per acre in a transit-oriented area. An April Cedar Mill News report noted the project would generate far less traffic than a typical development at that density.
Neighborhood history
The approval came after years of tension over the property. A previous apartment development on the same lots drew a successful appeal from neighbors. The property owner eventually sold the land to the parents' group.
A neighborhood meeting held in March drew mostly supportive responses, though some attendees raised concerns about traffic and sidewalks. The Morrises anticipated another appeal given that earlier opposition.
None came.
What's next
The approval came with conditions, which LUT described as typical for most development proposals. None appeared prohibitive. The Bloom! group said on its website that it is reviewing those conditions to determine what must be completed before applying for building permits and starting construction. No further county hearings are scheduled for the project.
The group, created with mentorship from Ann Wilkinson and modeled on the established WeBUILT Community concept, is seeking additional families of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to join. A Meet n' Greet fundraiser is scheduled at the Oregon Donkey Sanctuary, 15900 S. Thayer Road, Oregon City, on a Saturday in October at 10:30 a.m., with RSVPs due by Oct. 10 at [email protected].
