Useful Resources
- Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC)
- View tentative PSC agendas and upcoming meeting schedules.
- PSC meetings are temporarily being held online. Meetings are streamed live on www.youtube.com/c/portlandbps and tape delayed on Channel 30.
- City Council
- View upcoming City Council agenda items.
- City Council meetings are temporarily being held online and are broadcast live.
- Map App
- You can look at interactive maps, submit testimony during testimony periods, and read submitted testimony through the BPS Map App.
- Portland Maps – Explorer
- You can look at existing zoning, building permit, transportation and natural resource information and more on the interactive Portlandmaps.com Explorer map.
COVID-19 Impacts
Please be aware that public meetings are being cancelled or rescheduled for public health and safety, so be sure to check the calendars on specific project pages for meeting updates and the latest information.
Residential Infill Project (RIP)
What: Updating the rules that shape Portland’s residential neighborhoods, so more people can live in them, while limiting the construction of very large new houses.
Status: On June 3, City Council held a virtual public hearing on proposed amendments to RIP, which was continued to June 18 at 2 p.m. Nearly 100 people signed up to testify, and nearly 300 written comments were received over the course of the four-month open record period on the proposed amendments. You can view the June 3 and upcoming June 18 Council hearings online.
Council will return at a later date after the close of the public hearing to discuss and vote on the proposed amendments, which can be viewed on the project website.
You can see the zoning proposals for individual properties by using the project Map App.
And you can sign up to receive project email updates by filling out this quick form.
Next opportunity to engage: The record for testimony has closed. City Council will meet on June 18 at 2 p.m. to vote on which amendments should be incorporated into the final proposal. Council will reconvene later in July to consider and vote on the entire RIP package. Please check the RIP website and/or the Council calendar to confirm dates and times of these meetings.
Contact: Morgan Tracy, 503-823-6879, Morgan.Tracy@portlandoregon.gov
Anti-Displacement Action Plan
What: Increasing the resiliency of the City and our communities to deal with chronic economic disparities that contribute to displacement, especially of the most vulnerable and when exacerbated by a pandemic or increasing housing costs, investment patterns and gentrification.
Status: With funds authorized by City Council on April 1, the Portland African American Leadership Forum (PAALF) hired an anti-displacement coalition organizer, who will help build the capacity of a coalition made up of frontline community organizations to drive an anti-displacement policy agenda. Additional information about this project can be found on the City’s project webpage.
To address COVID-related displacement risks in Portland, BPS has adjusted the Anti-Displacement Action Plan workplan, accelerating the establishment of a citywide Anti-Displacement Task Force. The task force will comprise community members and cross-bureau City leadership and recommend actions for City Council to address housing and commercial displacement. The group will convene in July to begin work as soon as possible.
Next opportunity to engage: Please see PAALF’s website for more information on the coalition. Community members interested in learning more about the project can also sign up for project updates.
Contact: Andrea Pastor, 503-823-7845, andrea.pastor@portlandoregon.gov
Central City 2035 Plan (CC2035) Re-Adoption
What: City Council adopted the Central City 2035 Plan in June 2018, and the plan went into effect in July 2018. The plan was appealed to the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) and then to the Court of Appeals. On March 16, 2020, the Oregon Court of Appeals remanded the Central City 2035 Plan, a new land use, transportation and environmental plan to manage growth and development in Portland’s urban core. City Council must now readopt the plan to address the items identified in the Court’s ruling.
Status: The Re-Adoption Draft is available on the project website. City Council held a public hearing on May 28. Thirty people testified and 146 people provided written testimony before the record closed on June 4. Visit the MapApp to review written testimony received or watch the hearing and people that testified orally.
Next opportunity to engage: City Council will hold a work session and vote on July 2 at 2 p.m. No public testimony will be taken. The second reading and final vote will take place on July 8 or 9. If approved, the CC2035 Plan will go back into effect 30 days later.
Contact: 503-823-6042 or cc2035@portlandoregon.gov
Expiration Date Extension Project
What: Amending the zoning code to address the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development market by extending the expiration date of some land use reviews, final plats and pre-application conferences; maintaining inclusionary housing rates that are set to increase; and allowing for virtual neighborhood contact meetings.
Specifically, it will:
- Extend the expiration date for some land use reviews until Jan. 1, 2024.
- Extend the expiration date for some pre-application conferences for one more year.
- Allow some final plats 365 days of inactivity before they are voided.
- Allow neighborhood contact meetings to be held remotely using video conferencing technology.
- Extend the expiration date an additional three years for the lower inclusionary housing rates that apply outside the Central City and Gateway plan districts.
Status: The Proposed Draft was released in April 2020. The PSC held a public hearing on May 26, 2020, and recommended that City Council adopt the proposed code changes, as well as several amendments to the Proposed Draft.
Next opportunity to engage: City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on July 8 at 2 p.m.
Contact: JP McNeil, 503-823-6046, jason.mcneil@portlandoregon.gov
River Plan / South Reach
What: Developing an updated vision and implementing maps, code and action items for the southern part of the Willamette River, as well as Natural Resources and Scenic Resources protection plans.
Status: Project staff released a Proposed Draft for public review on January 14. The PSC held a public hearing on February 25 and work sessions on the proposed draft on March 10, May 12 and May 26. An April 14 work session was cancelled.
Next opportunity to engage: The PSC will hold an online public hearing on recreational boating/river recreation, a briefing on houselessness and a final discussion with possible action on the draft plan June 23 at 5 p.m. A public hearing with the Design Commission on design recommendations for South Portland / Macadam Plan District area is scheduled for July 16. City Council will hold a public hearing on the River Plan / South Reach Recommended Draft later in 2020. Please check the project events page to confirm meeting dates and times. Explore the proposed draft documents and submit testimony via the MapApp. More details on the upcoming hearings on the project webpage.
Expanding Opportunities for Affordable Housing
What: Supporting community-based organizations (CBOs) that want to use their property to develop affordable housing with proposed zoning code changes to the Conditional Use review process on conditional use sites and map changes on some CBO-owned sites.
Status: City Council held a hearing on May 14 at which 41 people testified. On May 21, City Council discussed the zoning code and map changes. On June 10, City Council voted to support all of the proposed code changes – and most of the proposed map changes – with amendments requiring that the regulations apply to projects when at least 50% of the units are affordable.
Next opportunity to engage: Testimony for the project is closed. City Council will meet once more on June 17 at 10:45 a.m. to formally adopt the code and map changes, which will be effective on June 18. The vote will include directives to BPS to (1) return in the Fall to share four more map changes that were requested during testimony and (2) undertake a future mapping project “that identifies, with community members, properties where a zoning change could create community benefits, centering on anti-displacement strategies, equitable wealth generation, addressing past harms, and furthering fair housing.”
Design Overlay Zone Amendments Project (DOZA)
What: Updating and improving both the process and tools used within the design overlay zone.
Status: Staff released the Proposed Draft on Sept. 16, 2019. A joint public hearing with the PSC and Design Commission was held on Oct. 22. Opportunities for submitting public testimony ended on Nov. 15.
Next opportunity to engage: The two commissions will continue to hold work sessions on the staff proposal through June 2020 before making their recommendations. While COVID-19 has delayed some scheduled work sessions, the PSC held virtual work sessions on April 28 and June 9, and is expected to make a recommendation for the zoning code on July 14. The Design Commission held a work session on June 4, with a potential recommendation on the guidelines for June 18. No testimony is being taken at these work sessions. The Recommended Draft is anticipated to be released in late Summer 2020, with a City Council hearing to follow.
Contact: Phil Nameny, 503-823-7709, Phil.Nameny@portlandoregon.gov
Environmental Overlay Zone Map Correction Project
What: Correcting the location of environmental overlay zones to better align with rivers, streams, wetlands, floodplains, forests, steep slopes and wildlife habitat.
Status: The Proposed Draft will be released by July 1. Site visits have resumed, with new safety protocols in place. Please see the project website for more information.
Next opportunity to engage: Staff will brief the PSC on June 23. The public can provide testimony on the project during a PSC hearing on July 28, 2020.
Contact: ezone@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-4225
West Portland Town Center Plan
What: Creating a vision and identifying actions to transition “the Crossroads” area into a healthy, inclusive and complete community. Work will cover housing and displacement, improved health and prosperity for low-income residents, transportation and stormwater improvements, economic development, zoning changes and urban design.
Status: Community feedback from Fall 2019 was integrated into the creation of three growth concepts for the town center, which were shared with the public at an open house on March 4. Community input from the open house and an online survey will help staff narrow choices further and move toward a proposed plan. A Discussion Draft of the plan is scheduled for release in August. A Community Advisory Group (CAG) meets every other month (through June) to guide development of the plan.
Next opportunity to engage: The March draft growth concepts for the West Portland Town Center can still be viewed online. The next CAG meeting will be June 29 and held online. See the project event page for details. CAG meetings are open to the public and past materials are available online.
Contact: Joan Frederiksen, 503-823-3111, Joan.Frederiksen@portlandoregon.gov
South Portland Area Planning
What: Working with PBOT and community members to develop land use, circulation and urban design plans along SW Naito Parkway and around the Ross Island Bridgehead in South Portland. This effort is part of BPS’s Southwest Corridor Inclusive Communities Project.
Status: The project is partially on hold while PBOT recalibrates their project scope and timeline, including a final community engagement event. BPS is now scoping the range of land use and map changes to be recommended in the plan. An existing conditions report was published in March and includes an addendum summarizing major infrastructure projects in the study area. BPS and PBOT have a series of meetings with NUNM to discuss implications for their campus master plan. BPS has identified the range of land use changes to be recommended in the plan.
After community engagement is restarted, two development concepts for the Ross Island Bridgehead opportunity sites will be refined and a racial equity analysis of the project will be led by BPS. Now seeking TAC member participation.
Next opportunity to engage: The next open house is TBD. Check the project calendar for updates.
Contact: Kevin Bond, 503-823-1112, Kevin.Bond@portlandoregon.gov
South Portland Historic District Design Guidelines
What: New approval criteria for alterations, additions and new construction in the South Portland Historic District.
Status: A Community Advisory Group (CAG) is meeting monthly to guide development of the draft approval criteria.
Next opportunity to engage: CAG meetings are open to the public, with time reserved for public comments at every meeting. The next CAG meeting will be held June 23, 2020 via zoom.
Contact: Brandon Spencer-Hartle, 503-823-4641, Brandon.Spencer@portlandoregon.gov
Historic Resources Code Project
What: Updating the zoning code to change how the City identifies, designates and protects historic resources.
Status: Staff are incorporating public feedback received into a Proposed Draft of possible zoning code change.
Next opportunity to engage: The Proposed Draft will be released in summer 2020. A public hearing before the Planning and Sustainability Commission is scheduled for September 22.
Contact: Brandon Spencer-Hartle, 503-823-4641, Brandon.Spencer@portlandoregon.gov
Montgomery Park to Hollywood Transit and Land Use Development Strategy (MP2H)
What: Exploring options for a successful land use and transit system, including potential streetcar linking Montgomery Park in NW Portland to the Hollywood Town Center in NE Portland. The project is a joint effort between BPS and PBOT.
Status: The project will assess land use and transportation issues and options, including affordable housing, economic development and business stabilization opportunities associated with potential transit investments. A consultant team is assisting with land use and transportation planning elements. A kickoff open house was held on March 2, attended by some 25 community members; a summary report is available. Grant agreements with community-based organizations are being finalized and the organizations are getting underway with outreach to underserved communities and other targeted groups. Outreach is expected to occur through August 2020. A NW Project Working Group (PWG) has been selected and met via Zoom in May and June.
Next opportunity to engage: A virtual public workshop on urban design concept alternatives is planned for late June/early July, and two live virtual workshop-info sessions are tentatively planned for the week of July 6-9. The workshops will separately focus on NW and NE Portland parts of the study area. Both info session-workshops will be held via Zoom and scheduled during the 5-8 p.m. timeframe. Details to come. The next Project Working Group (PWG) meeting is planned in June and is open to the public; check website for details.
Contact: Barry Manning (BPS), 503-823-7965, barry.manning@portlandoregon.gov or Kate Drennan (PBOT), 503-823-4599, kate.drennan@portlandoregon.gov
Fossil Fuel Terminal Zoning Project
What: Restricts the development and expansion of bulk fossil fuel terminals. Zoning Code amendments were adopted by the Portland City Council on Dec. 14, 2016. That ordinance was appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court and went back to City Council.
Status: City Council voted to adopt the ordinance on Dec. 18, 2019. The ordinance has been appealed to LUBA by the Western States Petroleum Association, Portland Business Alliance, Oregon Business and Industry, and Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council. LUBA proceedings are expected later this spring.
Next opportunity to engage: Only parties to the appeal can submit testimony to LUBA.
Contact: Tom Armstrong, 503-823-3527, Tom.Armstrong@portlandoregon.gov