Updates to the Central City Plan District

The final City Council vote on Central City 2035 Plan is scheduled for June 6, 2018. The plan would be effective on July 9, 2018 and is implemented through the Central City Plan District in the Portland Zoning Code. The intent of the plan district is to address the unique role the Central City plays as the region’s premier center for jobs, health and human services, tourism, entertainment and urban living.

Significant changes to the Central City Plan District include:

• A revamped Central City Master Plan process that provides a new design tool for large redevelopment areas (and voluntary sites of 160,000 square feet in size) to encourage the creation of a development framework for large sites. Large redevelopment areas subject to the Central City Master Plan process include:
  - US Postal Service Main Branch;
  - Lincoln High School;
  - Portland Public Schools’ Headquarters (AKA Blanchard Site);
  - OMSI Station Area;
  - River Place; and
  - Clinton Station Area.

• Changes to FAR and height allowances.
• Creation of a Willamette River Central Reach Natural Resources Protection Plan and associated River Review.
• Bird-safe exterior glazing requirements to incorporate bird-friendly design methods that reduce the transparency, or reflectivity, of exterior windows.
• Ecoroof requirements to reduce the heat island effect and provide stormwater management for urban development.
• Low-carbon building requirements for new buildings and additions over 50,000 square feet to register for green building certification.
• Expanded area where Industrial Office uses are allowed in the Central Eastside.
• A substantial rewrite of Central City parking code.

Further information on the Central City 2035 Plan can be found in the Planning and Sustainability area.