What’s new this month?
- Historic Resources Code Project zoning changes became effective on March 1
- West Portland Town Center PSC work sessions continue on April 12
- Ezones Project goes back to City Council on April 14 for amendments hearing
- RIP2 (Residential Infill Project Part 2) gets unanimous PSC recommendation; City Council hearing set for April 21
- MP2H (Montgomery Park to Hollywood Transit and Land Use Development Strategy) extends deadline to submit public comments to April 22
Useful resources
Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC)
- View tentative PSC agendas and upcoming meeting schedules.
- PSC meetings are still being held online. 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 still being held online due to Covid-19 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.
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.
COVID-19 Impacts
Please be aware that 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: 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: Community members interested in learning more about the project can sign up for project updates.
Climate and Health Standards for Existing Buildings
What: This project seeks to establish minimum climate and health standards for Portland’s existing apartments, condos and commercial buildings. Since 2018, BPS has collaborated with a community team, called the Build/Shift Collective, to elevate the voices and decision-making power of BIPOC communities in pursuit of climate justice. The result of our collaboration is a policy concept that focuses on reducing carbon emissions from existing buildings while improving rental housing to be healthier, more affordable, and resilient to future climate disasters (also known as the HEART Standards proposal). To refine the policy concept, BPS will engage a wide range of stakeholders in 2022.
Status: BPS staff and the Build/Shift Collective briefed the Planning and Sustainability Commission on January 25. Stakeholder engagement for the development of a City ordinance launched in February. BPS will convene two working groups in April and May: one focused on tenants, and the other on building management and ownership. After meeting with the working groups, BPS plans to release a draft ordinance for public comment.
Next opportunity to engage: The public comment opportunity will be determined after stakeholder engagement. 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: Project staff presented a briefing to the Planning and Sustainability Commission on February 22. Video of the briefing is available via YouTube. An executive summary and presentation slides from the briefing are available via Efiles.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently.
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 spring. Project staff is currently in coordination with the State’s EV rulemaking processes at both the Department of Land Conservation and Development and the Buildings Code Division.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently. 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 February 16, City Council held a hearing on the Environmental Overlay Zone Map Correction Project. At the hearing, 48 individuals testified and many more submitted written comments. City Council announced that hearings on the Ezone Project will continue on April 14 at 2:00 pm. Proposed amendments will be posted on the Ezone Project website on April 6, before the April 14 hearing.
Next opportunity to engage: On April 14 at 2:00 pm, City Council will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Ezones Project. Community members are encouraged to review proposed amendments and to submit testimony regarding the amendments. The City Council meeting agenda will be posted about a week before hearing. Testimony can be provided during the hearing by phone or video conference, but advance registration is required. The deadline to sign up to testify during the hearing is Tuesday, April 12 at 4:00 pm. Testimony may also be submitted in writing before the start of the April 14 Council hearing. The written record is currently closed, but will reopen on April 6 when individuals can visit the Map App interactive tool and click the ‘Testify’ button to submit public comments. 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 public review period for the Discussion Draft ended on January 31. Staff are reviewing all the public comments received and will revise the draft plan over the next few months in preparation for the release of the Proposed Draft. Video of an online open house held on November 17 is available online.
Next opportunity to engage: Community members can view property-specific proposals on the project’s Map App interactive tool. 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) updates and improves the processes, regulations, and incentives that apply to the city’s most significant historic places.
Status: On January 26, the City Council voted unanimously to adopt the Historic Resources Code Project, including six amendments to the code package. On February 16, the City held a free virtual Lunch & Learn session to provide more information on the historic resources regulations changing. The 90-minute meeting was recorded and is available to watch on demand via YouTube. The zoning changes became effective on March 1, 2022.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently. The zoning code amendments were adopted and became effective on March 1, 2022. This will be the final project update.
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. The Pin It, Portland online mapping tool recap is also now available. The materials from the last Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting on February 28 were posted online.
Next opportunity to engage: An open house event is being planned for later this spring. More details about the open house will be announced soon. The next PAC meeting is scheduled for April 25. 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 in Northwest Portland, which could be 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. The draft proposal is still available for public review, and the deadline to submit public comments is now April 22.
Next opportunity to engage: The public is invited to review and comment on the Discussion Draft proposal for the NW Portland study area through April 22. 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 spring 2022. For a glimpse of what community members have been saying, these slides from the Youth Workshops are representative. For more information, please visit the Historic Parkrose NPI website.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently. A second open house is being planned for early April 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 February 8, the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) held a public hearing on their proposed amendments to the RIP2 Proposed Draft and voted unanimously to recommend the amended proposal to City Council. This vote follows a series of earlier PSC work sessions, at which the PSC gave staff direction to prepare amendments covering seven topics. Of those amendments, five passed, including amendments to apply the wildfire hazard constraint only in the R10 and R20 zones, adding an allowance for detached duplex units, and more minor changes to development and site standards for ADUs and cottage clusters.
The approved PSC amendments will be incorporated into the Recommended Draft to City Council, to be published later in March. City Council scheduled a public hearing on April 21 to accept public testimony on the Recommended Draft. A City Council vote on adoption of the RIP2 proposals is expected in May 2022 in order to meet the state-mandated June 30th adoption deadline.
Next opportunity to engage: The PSC-recommended Proposed Draft and proposed amendments are available for review, as are videos of the RIP2 virtual information sessions. Changes to the Map App interactive tool to reflect the recommended ‘z’ overlay, along with the Recommended Draft staff report and associated code amendments are expected to be posted by March 18. City Council will hold public hearings on the RIP2 Recommended Draft on April 21 starting at 2:00 pm. The meeting will be streamed live online. To testify at the hearing, you must register in advance by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, April 19. 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 in spring 2022.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently.
South Portland Historic District Design Guidelines
What: New approval criteria for alterations, additions and new construction in the South Portland Historic District.
Status: In spring 2022, a Proposed Draft of the updated historic district design guidelines is expected to be released, followed by a public hearing at the Historic Landmarks Commission.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently.
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 Map App interactive tool, 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 and January 27 and February 17.
On March 3, the Design Commission voted to recommend adoption of the WPTC Character Statement as amended to the City Council.
On March 8, the PSC continued its discussion of potential amendments to the WPTC Proposed Draft. Video and meeting materials for the work session, including the draft amendments to the plan, are available for review on the March 8 event page.
Next opportunity to engage: The public testimony period on the Proposed Draft is closed. Additional PSC work sessions are scheduled for April 12 and May (tentative, date pending) with a PSC vote tentatively scheduled in June. The PSC is expected to send their recommended version of the WPTC Plan to City Council by the end of June. The City Council will then review the Recommended Plan and take public testimony (verbal and written) starting in the summer or fall 2022. Those interested can always sign up for WPTC email updates.