What’s new this month?
- Fossil Fuel Terminal Zoning Amendments go back the City Council on August 24
- EV Ready proposed draft plan released; PSC briefing and hearing set for September 13
- Floodplain Resilience Plan set for PSC briefing on September 13; hearing on September 27
- Naito Main Street / Ross Island Bridgehead draft land use plan published; project on hiatus
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 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.
COVID-19 Impacts
Please be aware that public meetings are still 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: None currently. Those interested can always sign up for project 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 the 2017 Electric Vehicle Strategy 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, EV Ready Code Project, will put the City of Portland in compliance with the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) led the 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: On September 13 starting at 12:30 pm, project staff will give the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) a briefing on the EV Ready Code Project Proposed Draft. Immediately following the briefing, the PSC will open the public hearing and invite public testimony on the Proposed Draft. Public testimony is welcome in person at the hybrid hearing or in writing. To submit written testimony, use the Map App interactive tool or US Mail (Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission; c/o EV Ready Code Project 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 September 12. 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 May 25, City Council voted to adopt the Ezone Project. Staff will spend the coming months making updates to the Official Zoning Maps to reflect those changes. The adopted changes to the Official Zoning Maps and to Zoning Code Chapter 33.430 will go into effect on October 1, 2022.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently. The adopted changes go into effect on October 1, 2022.
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 available for public review from November 2021 to January 2022. Staff are reviewing all the comments received and are making updates to the plan in preparation for the release of the next draft, the Proposed Draft, in late August. Video of an online open house held in November 2021 is available online. Community members can view property-specific proposals on the project’s Map App interactive tool.
Next opportunity to engage: The Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) is tentatively scheduled to get a briefing on September 13 and to hold a hearing on September 27. Those interested can always sign up for email updates.
Fossil Fuel Terminal Zoning Project
What: This ordinance is to readopt 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. City Council continued the ordinance to August 24 at 2:00 pm. Double-check the Council Agenda page for updates.
Next opportunity to engage: The record for public testimony is closed. When Council reconvenes on August 24 at 2:00 pm, they may introduce amendments. At that time, if Council determines additional public testimony is warranted for any proposed amendments, Council may re-open the record for the limited purpose of testimony on the amendments.
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 June 30. 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. The next Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting is scheduled for August 29.
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.
Parkrose Community Plan
What: Historic Parkrose led 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 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 has worked with the Parkrose community on actions to address community issues, such as housing stability and access to economic opportunity. The community’s recommended implementation actions have now been brought together into the finalized Parkrose Community Plan.
The Parkrose Community Plan is available online, including plan summaries translated into Spanish, Vietnamese, Lao, Amharic, and Tigrinya. Open house events and an online survey were held in April and public input informed refinement of the plan. A presentation to the Planning and Sustainability Commission on the Parkrose Community Plan took place on July 26. Future community efforts will focus on advocating and organizing to implement the plan’s actions. For more information, please visit the Historic Parkrose NPI website.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently. To learn more, visit Historic Parkrose’s Community Plan webpage.
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: Although this project is on indefinite hiatus, a draft land use plan for the Naito Main Street / Ross Island Bridgehead project in South Portland is now available for public review and comment. This milestone satisfies BPS’s last Metro grant obligation for the project. The draft plan includes an introduction explaining the status of the project and a summary of the equitable development workshop from July 2021. This will be the final project update until the project resumes.
Next opportunity to engage: None currently.
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: The Proposed Draft South Portland Historic District Design Guidelines were released June 6. The Proposed Draft is available on the project website. The Historic Landmarks Commission held a public hearing on July 11. The public comment period on the Proposed Draft design guidelines has closed.
Next opportunity to engage: The Historic Landmarks Commission is expected to make a recommendation in August, after which the City Council will hold an additional hearing this fall.
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: On June 14, the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) voted to recommend the WPTC Plan to City Council. A draft of the PSC recommended plan, Volume 1 and Volume 2, is available for public review. This June 7 memo summarizes all the PSC approved amendments. And while the Recommended Draft is not yet published, the online Proposed Draft Overview, Map App interactive tool, and video of the August 10 PSC briefing can still be useful to learn more about the Plan.
The PSC held two hearings on September 14 and September 28 and all testimony can be viewed online. The PSC also held a series of work sessions on the proposed plan on October 26, November 9, November 30, January 11, February 8, March 8, April 12, and June 14. Meeting materials and recordings can be found under each date’s event page on the project website. The Design Commission also voted on March 3 to recommend adoption of the WPTC Character Statement as amended to the City Council.
Next opportunity to engage: The PSC’s Recommended Draft of the Plan will be published in late summer or early fall. A public comment period will start about a month before any City Council hearings on the Recommended Draft. The City Council will take testimony, both written and verbal, and deliberate on the proposal starting in the early fall. Look for City Council hearing dates later this summer. Those interested can always sign up for WPTC email updates.