Lot entrance is blocked for safety

To the editor:

I am writing in reference to the concern many people have about our decision to restrict traffic flow at The ROCK Church parking lot.

As The ROCK purchased the former Marsh building, we were informed by the City of Portland and the Jay/Portland Building and Planning Department that the route between Meridian Street and Main Street extending east from Industrial Park Drive was not a road. In fact, it was our parking lot and our responsibility. Our title company also informed us that it was our property and our responsibility.

Since we have moved into the building, we have observed the traffic flow through our parking lot. The traffic is constant and people drive fast. We have had numerous incidents when people walking out of the building have been nearly hit by vehicles.

Last year, I went to Portland City Council and asked for assistance. I requested “dead end” and “no through traffic” signs to be added to Wayne Street. The signs were added, but the traffic did not slow down.

We added a speed bump to our parking lot, but traffic did not slow down.

I was advised that the only way to fix this issue would be to bar access.

Recently, we had some work done to our parking lot. We put up temporary barricades for the safety of the workers. People disregarded the barricades, drove around them or moved them.

We have tried for a year to mitigate this issue. Our insurance company has let us know it is not good to have knowledge of a potential liability and do nothing about it. Although the community is important to us, we will not sacrifice the life of a child or adult to maintain a convenient bypass to Meridian Street.

As we have exhausted all other options available to us, we will close the access from Wayne Street to Meridian Street through The ROCK parking lot.

Thank you for your understanding and for your help in keeping our community safe. We invite you to come and see us Sunday morning at 10 a.m.

Sincerely,

Jeff Horsman

Senior Pastor

The ROCK