Chris Cocker, Thimble Creek Team Member

Chris Cocker, Planning Livability LLC

Chris Cocker and his firm, Planning Livability LLC, offer land-use planning and project management solutions based on years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Chris provides excellent project visioning, exemplary communication with specialists, consensus building, problem solving, project management and assistance in reaching financial goals. He works directly with clients to help determine strategy, goals and land use options. He also offers a network of experienced experts that he custom fits to his client’s project needs.

Private sector expertise includes preparing development strategies, feasibility studies, master plans, site development permits, subdivisions, planned developments, and more. Chris assembles and leads experts resulting in successful design, approvals and implementation. He understands public sector requirements and needs based on experience working for jurisdictions. This work includes on-call planning services, land use reviews, specialized reviews and public facility development projects.

Chris works with the rules and the regulations to find economically viable, sustainable project solutions. These solutions often include building neighborhood amenities, preserving natural features, emphasizing the pedestrian, reuse of buildings, infill, water quality design, multiple-use projects, integration of multi-modal transportation and other concepts.

Education:

• M.U.P., Urban and Regional Planning, 1990, San Jose State University
• B.S., Business Administration (Marketing), 1977, San Jose State
• University

Professional Affiliations:
American Planning Association

Example Projects:
Building Reuse, Infill, Water Quality Design Example:

CUP/Design Review/Water Quality Resource District Amendment/ Design and Construction Services, Oregon City Amtrak Station, City of Oregon City, Oregon

The original Oregon City freight depot will relocate to the site to serve as the new Amtrak station. Chris co-managed the preliminary design and permit applications. Project design elements include a parking facility, bus drop-off, public street bio-filtration and strong pedestrian connectivity. Issues include development within the 100-year flood plain and clearances from the Department of Environmental Quality. The project connects to the historic downtown and End of Oregon Trail museum and facilities.

In-fill and Reuse Example:
Subdivision/Master Plan Amendment, Pearl District North, Hoyt Street Properties, Portland, Oregon

Chris managed the planning applications for subdivision and master plan amendments for this 26-acre area, part of Portland’s Pearl District. Today the district has nearly three thousand residents (the highest density in Oregon) and is upheld as one of the nation’s fine examples of industrial land reuse.

Multi-Use of Facilities Example:
Master Planning the New Beginnings Christian Center, Gresham, Oregon

As project manager, Chris master planned this 235,000 square foot facility for an 84 acre site in Gresham, Oregon. The project included a 5,000-seat amphitheater, offices, a school, a day care facility and grand hallway. The preliminary master plan was supported by city of Gresham staff and included sustainable development practices such as shared parking facilities (between church and industrial use parking spaces) and stormwater quality facilities that would integrate into the project's lakes and landscaping. Chris also developed consensus for using the parking lot area as a park and ride facility and for use by the City of Gresham as an emergency response facility.

Neo-Traditional Design, Build Neighborhood Amenities, Preserve Natural Features, Emphasize the Pedestrian Examples:
Jennifer Run Planned Development, MJF Development Company, Oregon City, Oregon –

Chris managed the approvals for this planned unit development. The project included neo-traditional design elements such as a pedestrian accessways, extensive landscape features, saved trees, clustered mixed housing densities, design guidelines, and a public park. The project overcame contentious neighborhood opposition.

Larrabee Village Planned Development, Private Developer, Forest Grove , Oregon

Larrabee Village is a 46-lot, neotraditional styled planned development on 11.5 acres. Chris was the project manager overseeing the design and permitting of this project. The development was the first of its kind for the City of Forest Grove. Project features include reduced front setbacks, mandatory front porches, rear alley garages, common open space (including a community garden), and protected tree groves. The former City Planning Director determined that some of the project’s elements might form the basis for reform of the city’s single family zoning code requirements.

Clustered Subdivision, Salmon Creek Village, Developer Will Werner, Clark County, Washington

Chris helped the owner analyze the development strategy which included preparation of preliminary concept plans and proforma analysis. He provided project managed the preliminary engineering and planning permits for this “cottage-style” home subdivision that included preserving a large hillside open space area and creation of a central green common area.

Code Development, Resource Protection Example:
Hillside Ordinance and PUD Code Development, City of Gresham, Oregon

Chris helped prepare a complete update to the city’s Hillside District and Planned Unit Development ordinances. His work included building ideas and consensus with a special city committee, starting with an overall goals analysis and resulting in the code rewrite. The code updates resulted in manageable ordinances that provide specialized resource protection with correlating increased housing densities.

Oregon City Public Sector Project Examples:
Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, Oregon

Acting as city staff, Chris reviewed the conditional use permit for buildings totaling 120,000 square feet, parking areas, and landscaping. As part of the approvals Chris required a campus-wide system of pedestrian accessways. This project involved working closely with the development team to analyze other campus-wide issues including buildings, vehicle and pedestrian circulation, parking, landscaping, lighting and other features.

Oregon City High School - Moss Campus, Oregon City, Oregon

Chris provided review for this 2400 student high school. Chris was brought in 16 weeks after the school’s applications were deemed complete and put in charge of the city review. Work included Water Quality Resource District Review and two phases of Site Development/Design Review Permit approval.

Clackamas County Administration Building, Oregon City, Oregon –

Acting as city staff, Chris provided expedited site plan and design review, for a new 115,000 square foot office facility.

Willamette Falls Hospital, Oregon City, Oregon

Acting as city staff, Chris reviewed this conditional use permit and design review for a new emergency room, scan imaging and other facilities expansion. The work resulted in an approval that all parties agreed to and improvements to the overall hospital campus circulation.

Washington Street Abernethy Bridge Replacement, Oregon City, Oregon

Chris provided planning services relating to protection of Abernethy Creek including the natural resource permit (Title 3 Stormwater) for replacement of this auto/pedestrian/bicycle bridge.

Glen Oak Road Improvement Project, Oregon City, Oregon

Chris developed the natural resource permit (Title 3 Stormwater) for the replacement and widening of over 1,800 linear feet of roadway and pedestrian improvements between Highway 213 and Beavercreek Road.