After 20 years serving the City of Portland, Oregon, Chief Planner Joe Zehnder is retiring from his position at the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.
Arriving from Chicago in 2001, Zehnder’s career in Portland mirrored the rapid growth and development of the city. He created the City’s first District Liaison Program, dedicating a land use planner to each of Portland’s seven districts. He oversaw the development of foundational and innovative growth management and strategic plans, including the Portland Plan, the 2035 Comprehensive Plan and Central City 2035 Plan.
Under his leadership, BPS staff recently completed major zoning code rewrites to implement those plans. Zehnder’s deep knowledge of land use planning combined with his grasp of the complex economics of property development have served the city well.
He will be leaving the City July 30. BPS will provide more information about this transition in the coming weeks.