What’s new this month?
- West Portland Town Center Plan heads to City Council hearing on October 12
- Shelter to Housing Continuum refinements set for October 11 PSC briefing/hearing
- EV Ready Code Project to hold two PSC work sessions on Proposed Draft in October
- Floodplain Resilience Plan to hold PSC work session on Proposed Draft on October 25
- South Portland Historic Guidelines going to City Council for hearing on November 2
- Planning Commission code amendments project launches with hearing on November 8
Useful resources
Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC)
- View tentative PSC agendas and upcoming meeting schedules.
- PSC meetings are being held in hybrid format. Meetings are streamed live, available on-demand, and tape-delayed on Channel 30.
- Check individual project pages or the PSC calendar for details on testifying via video conference.
City Council
- View upcoming City Council agendas and sign up for weekly reminders.
- City Council meetings are being held in hybrid format 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 interactive tool.
PortlandMaps
Zoning, building permit, transportation, natural resource information, and more is available on PortlandMaps.com.
Sign up for BPS email updates
Do you like these monthly project updates from BPS? You can now sign yourself up to be notified by email about BPS project updates.
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: A cross-bureau team of City staff continues to work internally to develop tools that better align City bureau strategies and actions to combat displacement and produce more equitable outcomes for communities. Staff is also working with the Anti-Displacement Coalition to support development of a civic leadership curriculum and a series of public workshops. More information to follow in the coming months.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently. Those interested can always sign up for project updates.
Columbia Corridor Industrial Lands Ezones Project
What: Correcting the location of environmental overlay zones (Ezones) in the Columbia Corridor and other industrial areas to better align with rivers, streams, sloughs, wetlands, floodplains, forests, and wildlife habitat.
Status: Project staff have published an interactive online map of preliminary draft Ezones that is based on the Natural Resource Inventory. The natural resource mapping is subject to onsite verification at the request of property owners, and the draft Ezones mapping may change as the project progresses. Project staff will coordinate their work with the upcoming citywide economic opportunity analysis to provide adequate protection for natural resources and sufficient industrial and employment land to meet future needs.
Next opportunity to engage: Project staff are offering free site visits by request to confirm or correct natural resource mapping. Look up your address on the Columbia Corridor Industrial Lands Map App to see if your site is impacted by this project. You can submit a request for a site visit through the Map App or by contacting project staff. Those interested can always sign up for email updates.
Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA)
What: The purpose of the Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA) is to analyze and forecast growth in Portland’s industrial and other business districts, then designate an adequate 20-year supply of developable land for businesses and jobs.
Status: In April, BPS released an economic report detailing market trends for job growth in Portland. The report details economic growth and prosperity trends, local business specializations and competitiveness, as well as marine industrial forecasts and land needs.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently. Those interested can always sign up for email updates.
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 and mixed-use development. The EV Ready Code Project will help implement policy direction from Portland’s Climate Emergency Workplan through changes to the zoning code.
Status: Over the past year, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability staff have been developing a proposal to require all new multi-dwelling and mixed use development with five or more units – that include onsite parking – to provide electric vehicle (EV)-ready charging infrastructure at higher rates than required by State rules. This effort, the EV Ready Code Project, will put the City of Portland in compliance with the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) led Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities Rulemaking process, which augments House Bill 2180 provisions into new rules addressing climate-friendly and equitable land use and transportation planning. This work was part of Executive Order 20-04 signed by Governor Brown. The DLCD rules increase the required percentage of EV-ready parking spaces for mixed-use development to 40%. The City of Portland proposal is to increase this requirement to 50%. The Proposed Draft staff report and code amendments were published the week of August 8.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently. On October 11, the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) has a work session. The PSC will discuss the EV Ready Code Project starting at 1:45 pm and will deliberate on potential amendments to the Proposed Draft. Once the PSC makes a recommendation, City Council will consider additional written and oral testimony prior to making a final decision in early 2023. 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: On August 30, the Proposed Draft of the Floodplain Resilience Plan was released for public review and comment. Read the announcement. Community members can view property-specific proposals on the project’s Map App interactive tool. The Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) got a briefing on September 13 and held a hearing on September 27. PSC work sessions are scheduled on October 25 and November 22.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently. Those interested can always sign up for email updates.
Fossil Fuel Terminal Zoning Project
What: This ordinance readopts the remanded zoning code amendments to restrict bulk fossil fuel terminals to address the policies identified by the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) that require additional findings.
Status: On June 30, City Council held a public hearing to reconsider adopting the zoning code amendments. On August 24, City Council adopted the ordinance and on August 31 the ordinance went into effect. The ordinance has been appealed by the Portland Business Alliance, the Working Waterfront Coalition, the Western States Petroleum Association, Oregon Business and Industry, and Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council. A LUBA decision is expected in early 2023.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently.
Lower SE Rising Area Plan
What: The Lower SE 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 online open house was launched for public review in May and closed on July 11. The self-guided open house introduces draft proposals for the project area that present an opportunity to create public and private investments, including more local commercial and housing opportunities, and transportation improvements. Project staff will be reviewing the online open house survey feedback and releasing a report later this summer. Materials from the September 26 PAC meeting are available for review.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently. 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 future streetcar links to Montgomery Park in Northwest Portland and 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 MP2H-NW Plan Discussion Draft, published in December 2021, suggests a new long-range land use vision for the area near Montgomery Park in Northwest Portland, served by an extension of the Portland Streetcar. The draft proposal presents an opportunity to create more affordable housing, more affordable commercial space, and other public benefits. A compilation of public comments on the Discussion Draft has been posted. City staff are reviewing the comments and working through issues, which is anticipated to lead to a Proposed Draft for future review by the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC).
Next opportunity to engage: None currently. Those interested can always sign up for email updates.
Planning Commission Code Amendments
What: This project will amend the City Code to rename the Planning and Sustainability Commission to the Planning Commission and modify the scope of the Planning Commission. The new Planning Commission will focus on land use planning, while continuing to advance the policies in Portland’s Comprehensive Plan, including those related to sustainability.
Status: In 2010, the City of Portland combined the Planning Commission and the Multnomah County / Portland Sustainable Development Commission to create the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC). Since then, the oversight responsibilities related to both land use planning and sustainability in Portland have become a greater load than one commission can undertake effectively. Additionally, issues related to sustainability and climate change have become more prominent and urgent. To ensure that both areas of policy and decision-making can be addressed with the focus, time, and attention each needs, the City plans to create two separate public bodies. A future project will amend the City Code to create a separate body focused on sustainability and climate. A working group consisting of members of the PSC has been meeting to advise staff on amendments to the scope of the new Planning Commission. On October 11, project staff will meet with the Community Involvement Committee (CIC). On October 27, a Proposed Draft of the code amendments will be released, at which time the Map App interactive tool will be available for the public to provide written comments.
Next opportunity to engage: On November 8, the PSC will have a public hearing on the draft code amendments. Starting October 27, public testimony will be accepted via the Map App interactive tool. Those interested in testifying at the PSC hearing must sign up in advance.
Shelter to Housing Continuum – Part 2 (S2HC2)
What: The Shelter to Housing Continuum – Part 2 (S2HC2) proposes several zoning code refinements to the previously adopted Shelter to Housing Continuum, which took effect in 2021 and expanded the housing and shelter options for individuals and households with extremely low incomes.
Status: In 2021, Portland City Council adopted the Shelter to Housing Continuum project to address the crisis of houseless Portlanders. These code changes made it easier to site homeless shelters and created a new community service use in the code called “outdoor shelters,” which allows shelters like the St Johns Village or Kenton’s Women’s Village outright without first needing City Council approval. As the City launched the Safe Rest Villages initiative and the Joint City-County Office of Homeless Services continued to operate existing facilities and open others, several implementation issues arose as shelter operators sought to permit new outdoor shelters. The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has developed several proposed code refinements that address these code barriers and unanticipated technical issues in the S2HC2 Proposed Draft, which was published on September 6 and is available for public review and comment.
Next opportunity to engage: On October 11 starting at 12:30 pm, project staff will give the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) a briefing on the S2HC2 Proposed Draft. Immediately following the briefing, the PSC will open a public hearing and invite public testimony on the Proposed Draft. Public testimony is welcome in person at the hybrid hearing or in writing. You can submit written testimony electronically using the Map App interactive tool or by US Mail at: Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission – S2HC2 Testimony; 1810 SW 5th Ave, Suite 710; Portland, Oregon 97201). Oral testimony will also be taken at the hybrid hearing, but advanced registration is required. Deadline to register is October 10. Read the full announcement for more information on the hearing and how to testify.
South Portland Historic District Design Guidelines
What: New approval criteria for alteration, addition and new construction proposals in the South Portland Historic District. The new design guidelines will replace the Lair Hill Conservation District design guidelines as the historic resource review approval criteria that apply within the Historic District.
Status: On August 8, the Historic Landmarks Commission made a formal recommendation to forward the Recommended Draft design guidelines for final review and adoption by the City Council. The Recommended Draft design guidelines are available for public review.
Next opportunity to engage: The City Council will hold a public hearing on the Recommended Draft design guidelines on November 2 at 2:00 pm. Those interested in giving public testimony should see the project website for information on how to testify.
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 Recommended Draft of the WPTC Plan is now available for public review. A Recommended Draft Overview and Map App interactive tool are available for learning more about the Plan. On June 14, 2022, the PSC voted to send the WPTC Plan to City Council for consideration and adoption after hearings in September 2021 and seven work sessions. Meeting materials and recordings of all the PSC meetings are available on the PSC past events page.
Next opportunity to engage: City Council has scheduled a hearing for the Recommended Draft of the WPTC Plan for October 12 at 2:00 pm. The City Council is accepting written public testimony on the Recommended Draft from now until October 14 at 5:00 pm. You can also sign up to provide verbal testimony. Those interested can always sign up for WPTC email updates.