Council moves forward on Hayden Island

City will study how to build marine terminals while protecting 500-acre wildlife habitat

By Steve Law

The Portland Tribune, Jul 29, 2010, Updated Jul 30, 2010 (4 Reader comments)

The Portland City Council voted 4-0 Thursday night to move forward on a plan that ultimately could bring 830 acres of undeveloped west Hayden Island into the city limits and enable the Port of Portland to build marine terminals on 300 acres, leaving some 500 acres for wildlife habitat and recreational use.

City planners were directed to prepare “cost-benefit” analyses and other studies that could enable the council to consider annexing the area by December of next year.

City commissioners accepted a proposal by Mayor Sam Adams to restrict port development to no more than 300 acres, with one important amendment. All railroad, bridge and roadway construction, plus utility rights of way, must fall within the 300 acres, under a proposal jointly suggested by Commissioner Amanda Fritz and Adams.

In past discussions, port officials have stated a need to build on at least 350 to 380 acres, plus additional land for transportation infrastructure and utilities. Anything smaller, port officials say, would make it hard to pay for the expensive bridge and other infrastructure needed to serve potential grain and car-shipping terminals on the island.

Environmental advocates have said a larger port development would confine wildlife habitat to the outer fringes of the island, eliminating much of a large intact natural area that is the largest unprotected open space left in Portland.

Several people testifying Thursday urged the council to preserve the site as a “legacy,” equating it to past decisions to preserve Forest Park and Smith and Bybee Lakes.

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