The Sylvan Highlands Neighborhood Association is hiring a land-use attorney and a traffic engineer to formally oppose a proposed 236-apartment complex near SW 61st Drive.

The effort is funded by a tax-deductible donation campaign launched Wednesday, July 23.

Portland-area developer Tandem Development wants to build two five-story apartment buildings west of the Sylvan Highlands boundary, a project that would also affect residents in Raeburn Estates, Sunlight Cohousing Community, and other West Haven-Sylvan neighborhoods to the north and west.

The association's Land Use Committee said in its fundraising announcement that it anticipates "impacts on transportation and safety as vehicles utilize already congested roads and intersections."

The committee's other stated concerns include crime risk, potential harm to environmentally sensitive areas and the local watershed, and obstruction of existing view corridors.

Fundraising follows community meeting

The campaign follows a community information session held July 22, at the Sunlight Cohousing Community Room on SW Barnes Road, where attendees reviewed the full proposal with maps presented by Stuart Rosenfeld.

SHNA first alerted residents to the project on July 15.

Now the group is asking for donations through Give Lively, a fundraising platform, to cover three categories of professional help: a traffic engineering consultant to independently review the developer's traffic study, a land-use attorney to prepare and present the neighbors' case, and additional professional services as the case develops.

Donations are tax-deductible through District Four Coalition, a 501(c)(3) that serves as SHNA's fiscal sponsor. Checks can be mailed to District Four Coalition, 434 NW 6th Avenue, Suite 202, Portland, OR 97209, Attn: Heather Knopf, earmarked for the restricted SHNA land use account.

SHNA President Sally Kneuven is the point of contact for questions about the campaign.

What comes next

A general meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, at 7 p.m. at Fire Station 16, with Washington County Councilor Olivia Clark as a special guest.