January 2022 – Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) Updates

News Article
A monthly snapshot of BPS’s active land use planning, solid waste, climate, energy, and sustainability work going on throughout the City of Portland. Please see the project updates and websites below for more details, and to find contact information for the appropriate project staff.
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What’s new this month?

Useful resources

Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC)

City Council

Map App

You can look at interactive maps, submit testimony during testimony periods, and read submitted testimony through the BPS Map App.

PortlandMaps

Zoning, building permit, transportation, natural resource information, and more is available on PortlandMaps.com.

COVID-19 Impacts

Please be aware that all public meetings are being held virtually for public health and safety, so be sure to check the calendars on specific project pages for meeting updates and the latest information.

Anti-Displacement Action Plan

What: The Anti-Displacement Action Plan (ADAP) aims to increase the resiliency of the city and our communities to deal with racial and economic disparities that contribute to displacement.

Status: The new zine, “A Dream Rezoned,” was recently published and tells the story of a Black family in Northeast Portland whose property was denied city permits, deemed a “blight” and bulldozed. The zine was created by four community members—Cleo and Kayin Talton Davis, Carolyn M. Leonard, and Sharita Towne—in partnership with the Portland Office of Civic Life and BPS. Read ‘A Dream Rezoned’ here.

Next opportunity to engage: Community members interested in learning more about the project can sign up for project updates. Please also see Imagine Black’s website for more information on the community Anti-Displacement Coalition.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready Code Project

What: The project seeks to expand zero-emission transportation options for individuals and households beyond what the market is doing today, specifically in multi-dwelling housing. The project will explore Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure requirements for new multi-dwelling, mixed use and commercial development. The EV Ready Code Project will help implement policy direction from the 2017 Electric Vehicle Strategy through changes to the zoning code.

Status: A discussion draft and economic impact analysis report will be published later this winter. Work on code concepts began last winter and went through spring 2021. A technical advisory series of meetings concluded with a final meeting on June 29.

Next opportunity to engage: None at this time. Those interested can always sign up for email updates.

Ezone Map Correction Project

What: Correcting the location of environmental overlay zones (Ezones) to better align with rivers, streams, wetlands, floodplains, forests, steep slopes and wildlife habitat.

Status: On September 28, the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) voted unanimously to recommend the Ezone Map Correction Project to City Council. City Council will be holding a public hearing on the project on February 16 at 2:00 pm. Check the project webpage for updates on the hearing date and time.

Next opportunity to engage: City Council hearings are scheduled to begin on February 16 at 2:00 pm. Check the project webpage for updates on the hearing date and time. Requests for site visits may be submitted through the Ezones Map App or by contacting project staff. Those interested can always sign up for email updates.

Floodplain Resilience Plan

What: The plan updates floodplain regulations throughout the city to ensure that new development in the floodplain addresses flood risk from a changing climate, does not jeopardize threatened and endangered species, and allows Portlanders to continue to obtain federally-backed flood insurance.

Status: The Discussion Draft was released for public review on November 10. Public engagement for the Discussion Draft will continue through January 2022. Video of an online open house held on November 17 is available online. The Discussion Draft documents are available for review. Public comments can be submitted through the Map App.

Next opportunity to engage: Community members can view property-specific proposals on the project’s Map App. After reviewing the Discussion Draft proposals on the Map App, community members are encouraged to schedule a meeting with BPS staff to discuss any remaining questions. Those interested can always sign up for email updates.

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 December 18, 2019. The ordinance was appealed to the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) by the Western States Petroleum Association, Portland Business Alliance, Oregon Business and Industry, and Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council. In October 2020, LUBA remanded the case back to City Council for additional findings and policy interpretations. BPS is working to determine what additional evidence is needed to address these issues before returning to City Council for reconsideration.

Next opportunity to engage: None currently.

Historic Resources Code Project

What: Historic resources provide tangible and meaningful connections to Portland’s past. The Historic Resources Code Project (HRCP) will update and improve the processes, regulations, and incentives that apply to the city’s most significant historic places.

Status: On November 3, the City Council held a hearing on the code amendments at which 122 people testified. On December 1, potential City Council amendments to the Recommended Draft were published. On December 15, the City Council considered testimony on the potential amendments and voted on them, with six amendments approved.

Next opportunity to engage:City Council will hold meetings on the As-Amended Recommended Draft on January 19 and January 26. The public testimony window is now closed. Those interested in engaging in the project can watch the City Council meetings online.

Lower Southeast Rising Area Plan

What: The Lower Southeast Rising Area Plan aims to address the historic lack of infrastructure investment in parts of Southeast and East Portland—including Brentwood-Darlington and portions of Mt Scott-Arleta, Woodstock and Lents—and seek community input to guide healthy community development.

Status: An existing conditions report, a market analysis report, an opportunity mapping analysis report, and a public involvement plan are available for review online. A walk in Woodstock was held on December 16 and the Pin It, Portland online mapping tool accepted public comments through January 7.

Next opportunity to engage: The next Project Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for January 24 at 6:00 pm. Those interested can always sign up for email updates.

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 Northwest Portland to the Hollywood Town Center in Northeast Portland. The project is a joint effort between BPS and PBOT. 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, including possible extension of the Portland Streetcar.

Status: The project team has published a draft proposal for the NW Portland study area for public review. The MP2H-NW Plan Discussion Draft suggests a new long range land use vision for the area near Montgomery Park, which could be served by an extension of the Portland Streetcar. The proposal presents an opportunity to create public benefits, including more affordable housing, affordable commercial space, and other benefits. The draft is available for public review and comment through March 15.

Next opportunity to engage: The public is invited to review and comment on the Discussion Draft proposal for the NW Portland study area through March 15. Virtual open house events are scheduled in February to provide information about the proposal and answer questions. Sign up to attend one of the two virtual open house events on February 8 at 5:00 pm and February 10 at 7:30 am. Those interested can always sign up for email updates.

Parkrose Community Plan

What: Historic Parkrose is leading work on the Parkrose Community Plan in partnership with BPS and other government and community partners to address topics such as safe streets, housing and displacement, access to jobs, community spaces, and emergency preparedness. This Plan is an opportunity for BPS to support plans that center traditionally harmed and sidelined communities, to advance a future of shared prosperity.

Status: Historic Parkrose Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative (NPI) launched the Parkrose Community Plan in May 2021 with a youth workshop, followed by adult workshops, an open house, and a series of community working group discussions focused on solutions and actions. BPS is supporting Historic Parkrose in this effort and is working on pulling community input into the initial draft of the Parkrose Community Plan, with another open house scheduled for early 2022. For a glimpse of what community members have been saying, the Youth Workshops are representative. For more information, please visit the Historic Parkrose NPI website.

Next opportunity to engage: A second open house is being planned for March 2022.

Residential Infill Project - Part 2 (RIP2)

What: Following up on the work of the Residential Infill Project (RIP1), which was adopted in August 2020, this project will extend the housing options of RIP1 to all single dwelling zones by adding middle housing types in the low density R10 and R20 zones. RIP2 will bring the City into compliance with the State of Oregon’s middle housing rules by adding provisions for cottage clusters and attached houses in all the single dwelling zones that were not included in RIP1. RIP2 will also bring the City into compliance with the State’s new middle housing land division rules by creating a new streamlined procedure for dividing the housing units onto their own lots.

Status: On December 14, the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) held a public hearing for RIP2. Nearly 30 people signed up to testify. The verbal and written testimony is summarized on the project webpage. The Proposed Draft staff report and code amendments are still available for review, as are videos of the RIP2 virtual information sessions.

Next opportunity to engage: The PSC will meet on January 11 to discuss potential amendments and give staff direction to research and develop them further, if necessary. The Commission will meet again on January 25 to complete the discussion of potential amendments, then vote on them and their recommended package to City Council on February 8. Those interested can always sign up for RIP2 email updates.

South Portland Area Planning

What: Working with PBOT and community members to develop land use, circulation and urban design plans around the Ross Island Bridgehead in South Portland, and featuring a Naito Main Street Plan. This effort is part of BPS’s Southwest Corridor Inclusive Communities Project.

Status: A racial equity analysis of the project led by BPS was completed in fall 2020, and a follow-up equitable development workshop was held virtually on July 28, 2021. Following the failure of Metro’s regional transportation funding measure in November 2020, PBOT is putting their transportation projects on hold related to the Ross Island Bridgehead realignment and Naito Main Street. BPS staff will include the public feedback received so far on the proposed equitable development concepts for the bridgehead opportunity sites, and the racial equity analysis goals in a draft land use plan to be published later this winter.

Next opportunity to engage: None at this time.

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 on an as-needed basis 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 in the winter via Zoom.

West Portland Town Center Plan

What: The West Portland Town Center (WPTC) Plan will lay out a vision for a healthy, connected, and multi-cultural town center and includes an action plan to meet the diverse needs of current and future residents and businesses.

Status: The Proposed Draft of the WPTC Plan is available for public review. Learn more in the online Proposed Draft Overview, the online interactive Map App, or by watching the video of the August 10 staff briefing to the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC).

The PSC held two hearings on September 14 and September 28 and all testimony can be viewed online. The Commission also held three meetings/work sessions on the proposed plan October 26, November 9 and November 30. Meeting materials and recordings can be found under each date. The Design Commission continued its work sessions on the WPTC Character Statement (found in Volume 2, Section 6) on December 9.

Next opportunity to engage: The public testimony period is closed. The PSC continues its discussion of the WPTC Proposed Draft at its regular meeting on January 11. Video of the work session will be available on YouTube. Materials for the work session, including draft amendments to the plan, are available for review. Additional PSC work sessions on the Plan are scheduled for February 8 and March 8, with a vote possible on March 8. The Design Commission will also continue work sessions on the WPTC Character Statement on January 27. The PSC is expected to send their recommended version of the Plan to City Council in March. City Council will then review the recommended plan and take public testimony (verbal and written) starting in the Spring or early Summer 2022. Those interested can always sign up for WPTC email updates.

Topics

City planning

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