Submit testimony to City Council on zoning recommendations to facilitate housing production and economic recovery in the Central City

About the Central City Code Amendments Project

The Central City Code Amendment Project is a package of strategic code amendments to the Central City 2035 Plan that are intended to facilitate housing production and post-pandemic economic recovery and revitalization in the Central City. The project does not initiate major changes to the policy direction of the CC2035 Plan but rather proposes a number of strategic moves to address the need for more housing production and to facilitate economic revitalization in the Central City in the near term, in response to current market conditions and underinvestment in Central City in recent years.

About the Recommended Draft

The Recommended Draft represents the Portland Planning Commission's recommendation to City Council. These recommendations have been informed by public feedback and testimony. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, Portland City Council will hold a public hearing on these recommended amendments.

View the Recommended Draft

Key elements of this proposal include:

• Limited rezoning of industrial zoned properties in the Lower Albina and Central Eastside subdistricts to Central Employment (EX) to allow for higher density mixed-use and residential land uses.
• Strategic rezoning of a former industrial site along the Lloyd subdistrict waterfront, and two blocks in the Goose Hollow subdistrict to Central Commercial (CX) to allow for higher density mixed-use and residential land uses.
• Increased height allowances in various parts of the Central City, and a new height provision that allows unlimited height in areas outside of public view corridors, historic districts, and specific subareas of the Central City.
• New allowances for Retail Sales and Service uses in the Central Eastside and the Open Space zone in the Central City.
• New allowances for Manufacturing and Production and micro-hub delivery services in the CX zone.
• A reduction of the river setback in Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park and expansion of the visitor serving uses allowed in the park, and greater flexibility as to where these uses may be sited.
• New allowances for temporary surface parking, and new provisions to allow month-to-month parking in City-owned parking garages.
• Greater flexibility as to where ground floor residential uses may be sited, and new development standards to improve the livability of ground floor units and their impact on the public right-of-way.
• Simplified regulations for food carts and food cart pods, and an expansion of the locations where these uses may be located.
• And, various technical and process improvements to the zoning code to remove regulatory barriers.

How to submit testimony

The Recommended Draft is now available for review. There are two ways to submit testimony to City Council:

1. Submit written testimony through the project's Map App.
2. Provide oral testimony at the hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Registration for oral testimony will become live on the Council Clerk's website on Friday, Oct. 9. 

Next steps

Portland City Council will consider written and oral testimony during the Oct 14 hearing. City Council will hold a discussion on the Recommended Draft, and may proposal additional amendments or hold a vote. 

Learn more and sign up for updates

More information about the project is available on the project website. You can also contact project staff with comments or questions by email at centralcityplanning@portlandoregon.gov.