Zoning "Passed" and Now It's Time to Appeal - Dirk Knudsen Has Started a Go Fund Me To Do So
Here's the bottom line:
If need be, the Hops can renovate Ron Tonkin field for less money than it will take to build an entire new Hops stadium (ball park) and replace 3 recreational ball fields.
But, and this is the BIG BUT, we, everyone who wants to keep the existing baseball fields AND the Hops in town, must "Undo" the approved Conditional Use 003-23 through the legal appeal process.
This is where Dirk Knudsen of the Hillsboro Herald has stepped up to find and hire a seasoned and highly reputable land use attorney, Mr. Jeffrey Klineman, who is an expert on these matters.
And this is where all of us, all of you who want to leave the existing ball fields alone to be just as they are now, need to pitch in some money to support Dirk's Go Fund Me effort to collect enough funds to cover Mr. Klineman's retainer and long term attorney costs.
Please, read the Save Our Fields @ Gordon Faber Recreation Complex Go Fund Me and decide for yourself if you want to help save our existing 3 ball fields by supporting Dirk through the appeal process.
To do so, please follow this link:
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Here's the back story about how we got this far:
On September 6, 2023, the PZHB members voted to "Pass" the Conditional Use 003-23 changes for the Hops to build a new stadium (baseball park) at the Gordon Fabre Recreation Complex.
The meeting was interesting as the discussion and project was "pushed" into passing. At the start of each of the 3 meetings I attended (all over 3 hours long), the Hearings officer, Joe Turner, a land use attorney, made a point to state that he "does not work for the City of Hillsboro." He may not be an employee of the City, but he IS PAID by the City as a contract attorney.
In the following couple weeks, the Order and Notice of Decision was written and issued as approved so the appeal period has begun.
However, the Hops do not have the last $20 million in funds they need to finalize the contract and complete the deal between the City of Hillsboro, the Mortenson Construction and Real Estate Development company, and the Hops Short Season, LLC.
But, that does not mean the approved Conditional Use 003-23 is deemed null and void.
"Land use approval is valid for 2 years with opportunities to request extensions. Financial viability of the project has no bearing on when the land use approval expires." And, during all this time, the City of Hillsboro can endeavor to do whatever they want to the GFRC if they can find the funds, such as build an Amphitheater or Plaza as they have stated in their Hillsboro2035.org plan.
(As an aside, I don't know why they want to compete with Portland's great venues at the MODA center and soon-to-be-revived Providence Park for concerts and such. Why do they want to draw all the traffic through the tunnel to pollute the pristine clean and clear air of Hillsboro? Why do they want to become a destination hub for art and entertainment and increase all the air flights into PDX with all that pollution? Hmmm.
Plus, we have the Westside Commons for smaller concerts than what can be presented in Portland. Why haven't there been any concerts in Hillsboro since ZZ Top at the fairgrounds in 2018?)
K.L. Wombacher is currently wooing Senator Janine Sollman to influence the next Oregon Legislature to get the $20,000,000 money he needs in February of 2024. Somehow, along the way, the "urgent drop dead date of September 30" demanded by the MBL has mysteriously vanished from the discussion.
So, what's going on? Something is fishy and getting squishy under foot.
(The conflict of interest abounds with many season ticket owners on the City Council, including Mayor Callaway. Steve Callaway put his down payment for seasons tickets via a check to K.L. Wombacher back in 2012 for the Hops first season in Hillsboro in 2013. He wasn't the mayor then, but obviously has a strong personal relationship with K.L. And a clear conflict of interest.)
We must work to save the GFRC to continue to function for that which it was originally designed and built. We must retain the "form, fit, and function," and not lose sight of the main intended use for ACTIVE recreational youth games and adult tournament events.
To continue the story, please return to the top of this update.
I am so grateful and thankful to everyone who has signed this petition. Here is YOUR chance to make your wishes come true by supporting Dirk in his fund raising effort.
I've contributed. Now, how about you? Let's do this now. Let's do this together. Let's do this to make all Hillsborites proud of our city and fellow citizens.
LET'S GO!!