As the City of Portland tackles the housing crisis, the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is using its planning “toolbox” to address the housing shortage.
On Wed., Jan. 10 at 3 p.m., City Council will hold a public hearing on proposed zoning code solutions in the Housing Regulatory Relief package.
Commissioners will hear testimony on and consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation as well as three amendments to the Planning Commission’s Recommended Draft. Council’s amendments incorporate changes related to inclusionary housing, in part to respond to action items the Portland Housing Bureau is presenting at 2 p.m. the same day. The other two changes include a technical clarification to the Central City ground floor window standards and an additional temporary reduction option for design reviews for affordable housing. The Planning Commission recommendation includes temporary and permanent changes to regulatory standards and processes.
How to testify
Community members who wish to testify in person must sign up through the Council agenda site. Due to construction activities, the Commissioners are meeting remotely, but the Lizzie Weeks room at the Portland building at 1120 SW 5th Ave., Room 100 will be open for in-person testimony.
People may also testify virtually. Read more about watching or testifying at the City Council hearing.
Testifiers can also provide written testimony via the Map App.
More about the Housing Regulatory Relief project
The Housing Regulatory Relief project creates temporary waivers and makes permanent changes to zoning regulations to provide regulatory relief for the construction of housing projects. The project addresses several issues identified in the housing production survey conducted by the Bureau of Development Services last year. Building on housing production analyses from last summer, this project is one of three proposals that Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio will bring to City Council on January 10 to further address current challenges in the housing market. More than a dozen issues are being addressed, including bike parking, ground floor active use/height, nonconforming upgrades, eco-roof standards, design review, neighborhood contact, and more. The temporary waivers and reductions would last five years and apply to development that includes residential units, unless otherwise stated. Read more about the Housing Regulatory Relief project.