The Planning and Sustainability Commission and Design Commission will hold a public hearing on October 22, 2019, so Portlanders can testify on Design Overlay Zone Amendments (DOZA) that improve the design review process, standards and guidelines.
But what does design review even mean?
Design Review happens only in areas of town with a ‘d’ overlay. These areas are growing and will absorb much of the population and business growth over the next 20 to 30 years. So we want places like Sellwood and St Johns and busy transit corridors like Barbur Blvd to look and feel good to the people who live, work and play there.
But not all projects go through design review. Depending on whether the project includes housing and meets requirements for size, projects may choose to follow an extra set of design standards in the Zoning Code. If design review is required or chosen by applicants, smaller projects can be reviewed by City planners or – if they are big in scope and impact – the Design Commission must review their proposals. And whether with staff or the Commission, projects are evaluated based on design guidelines.
The Design Overlay Zone Amendments project is updating the code and guidelines to simplify the process and ensure better outcomes.
What’s in the Proposed Draft?
The DOZA Proposed Draft incorporates comments and changes provided from months (February 2019 thru May 2019) of outreach to individuals; bureaus, agencies, and commissions; organizations and advocacy groups; and neighborhood organizations.
Volume 1 includes a description of the proposals:
- Purpose – What is the purpose of the Design overlay zone?
- Map – Where is the Design overlay zone mapped?
- Thresholds – What are the thresholds for review in the Design overlay zone?
- Process – What is Design Review and how is it changing?
- Tools – What are the tools used to evaluate projects in the Design overlay zone?
Read the Proposed Draft Documents.
Tell the Commissions what you think!
Portlanders are invited to testify to the PSC and Design Commission about the DOZA proposals before they make a recommendation to City Council.
How to testify
Testify in person at the public hearing
Your testimony will be added to the public record and is limited to two minutes per person to allow the Commissioners to hear from everyone.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 5 p.m.
1900 SW 4th Avenue, Room 2500 (2nd floor)
Portland, Oregon 97201
Testify in writing until November 15 at 5 p.m.
Use the Map App
www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/mapapp
Select Design Overlay Zone Amendments and click on the "Testify" button. Testifying in the Map App is as easy as sending an email. And once you press “submit,” you can see your testimony in the Testimony Reader in real time. You can also read other people’s testimony.
Use U.S. Mail
Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission - DOZA Testimony
1900 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 7100
Portland, Oregon 97201
Commission briefing
On October 8, City staff gave a joint briefing to both the Planning and Sustainability Commission and the Design Commission on the DOZA Proposed Draft. This was followed by a discussion with the Commissioners, during which a few themes emerged. Specifically, Commissioners questioned staff on how the proposed Design Standards and Citywide Design Guidelines will address issues of context, equity and resiliency, in addition to continuing a tradition of design excellence in Portland’s rapidly growing centers and corridors.
What’s next?
After they hear from the public, the Commissions will each deliberate on the parts of the proposal they will recommend to City Council. PSC will deliberate on all the code and map amendments (Volume 2) and Design Commission will deliberate on the design guidelines (Volume 3).
For more information…
- Contact: Phil Nameny at 503-823-7709, Phil.Nameny@portlandoregon.gov
- Visit: www.portland.gov/doza
- Email: doza@portlandoregon.gov