June 2023 – Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) Project Updates

News Article
A monthly snapshot of BPS's active land use planning work going on across the City of Portland. See the project updates below for more details, and to find contact information for the City staff working on specific projects. Subscribe to get email notifications when these updates are posted.
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June 2023 highlights

  • Proposed amendments to Portland’s parking code to be considered by City Council on Wed., June 7 at 3:30 p.m. Public testimony sought and vote expected. Read more.
  • Lower SE Rising releases draft area plan. Self-guided online open house  launched, community outreach events scheduled, and public comment is open through Fri., June 23. Read more.
  • Montgomery Park to Hollywood Transit and Land Use Development Strategy (MP2H) preparing next draft of land use and transportation plan for the Northwest study area. Workshop on proposed design character statement tentatively scheduled for Wed., June 28. Read more.

Useful resources

Planning Commission

City Council

Map App

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

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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 to identify community priorities.

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 continue to offer free site visits by request to confirm or correct natural resource mapping. Learn more about draft wetland mapping and see if your site qualifies for a free wetland determination. 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: Last year, 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.

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 November 22, the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) voted unanimously to recommend the Floodplain Resilience Plan to City Council with a small number of targeted technical map and Zoning Code amendments. The recommendation followed a public hearing in September and a work session in October. Staff will incorporate the PSC recommendations into the Recommended Draft and develop the ordinance and findings prior to the City Council hearing. The Recommended Draft is expected to have a public hearing at City Council in the summer.

Next opportunity to engage: None currently. The PSC's Recommended Draft of the Floodplain Resilience Plan is expected to head to City Council in the summer. Check the project website for updates as the Recommended Draft moves forward. 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: The City Council adopted the ordinance in August 2022. The ordinance has been appealed to the state Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) by the Portland Business Alliance, the Working Waterfront Coalition, the Western States Petroleum Association, Oregon Business and Industry, and the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council. A LUBA decision is expected in summer 2023. The ordinance also has been challenged in federal court by the State of Montana, Western Energy Alliance, Pacific Propane Gas Association, Idaho Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, and Christensen, Inc.

Next opportunity to engage: None currently.

LGBTQ+ Historic Sites Project

What: Portland’s LGBTQ+ Historic Sites Project seeks to identify, document, and preserve historic resources associated with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ histories.

Status: Portlanders are invited to submit information about older buildings with historical ties and significance to the LGBTQ+ community. The project team is conducting archival research, meeting with key informants, and surveying potentially significant historic places. Multiple individual National Register of Historic Places nominations are in progress and will be available for public review in the fall.

Next opportunity to engage: An online questionnaire is available on the project webpage for members of the public to assist in the identification of LGBTQ+ historic sites. The questionnaire will remain open until July 2023. Project staff are planning additional events, including attending Portland Pride on July 15 and 16. The public is invited to visit Booth A75 at Waterfront Park to share memories and learn more about the project.

Lower SE Rising Area Plan

What: The Lower SE Rising Area Plan aims to address the historic lack of neighborhood commercial services, diverse housing options, and infrastructure investment in the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood and nearby areas, including parts of the Mt Scott-Arleta, Woodstock and Lents neighborhoods. Project staff have been working with the community on identifying land use changes and transportation improvements to address these issues and support healthy community development.

Status: In mid-May, project staff released the Discussion Draft of the Lower SE Rising Area Plan for public review and feedback. The Discussion Draft includes proposed zoning map changes and recommendations for transportation projects to implement the community’s aspirations for more neighborhood businesses and housing options, supported by transportation improvements, to make it easier to meet daily needs locally and help address affordability. On May 24, project staff held an online information session to present the plan’s major proposals and answer questions. The session was recorded, and the video is available to watch on demand.

Next opportunity to engage: To learn about the Discussion Draft proposals, visit the self-guided Online Open House and share your feedback through an online survey. You can learn about the draft plan on the Map App interactive tool, which shows proposed zoning changes for specific properties. The full Discussion Draft report is also available for review. Public comment is being accepted through Friday, June 23. Comments and questions can be sent to the project team at LowSEPlan@portlandoregon.gov. Check the project website for updates on the Draft Plan and to learn about when project staff will be tabling at community events in June. 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. A joint effort between BPS and PBOT, the project considers 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, offered 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 was posted. City staff are anticipating a Proposed Draft of the land use and transportation plan to be published in the fall for public review and Portland Planning Commission hearings.

While the Northwest element of the MP2H work continues, the Northeast element--which evaluated urban design elements and land use opportunities along alternate eastside alignments--has largely concluded.

Next opportunity to engage: On Wed., June 28, project staff are tentatively planning to hold a public workshop to discuss development of a design character statement, which is a tool that will be used in the review of future development proposals subject to design review in the MP2H Northwest Plan area. Check the MP2H website for project news and event updates. Additional information about the streetcar project is also available on the PBOT website. Those interested can always sign up for email updates.

Parking Compliance Amendments Project

What: The Parking Compliance project will update the Zoning Code to align local regulations with recent state Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) rulemaking submitted by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD). These rules require cities to consider removing parking mandates throughout their jurisdictions. The project removes parking minimums and amends related parking regulations throughout the Zoning Code.

In July 2022, the state CFEC rules were approved. It should be noted that the CFEC rules require that cities exempt parking mandates for certain development types and near frequent transit routes and rail stations. These exemptions took effect on January 1, 2023. The Portland Bureau of Development Services has information on the waiver requirements from the State rules.

Status: In May, staff published the PCAP Recommended Draft that will go to the City Council for a hearing. Read the announcement, which covers what is in the Recommended Draft—including two new proposed amendments—and explains how you can give testimony to the City Council. On June 6, staff published the PCAP As-Amended Draft, which incorporates the two proposed amendments, and goes to City Council for a vote. State rules require the parking code to be in effect by June 30.

Next opportunity to engage: On Wed., June 7 at 3:30 p.m., the City Council will hold a public hearing on the As-Amended Draft, which includes the Recommended Draft and the two proposed amendments. Information on how to testify is available on the project website. Members of the public must sign up in advance to testify to the City Council in person or virtually. The hearing will be broadcast live and can be watched afterwards on demand.

Contact

Kevin Bond

City Planner II, Planning and Sustainability