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January 2025 – BPS Long-range Planning Project Updates

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A monthly newsletter of BPS's active long-range land use planning work in 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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January 2025 highlights

Reconnecting Albina Planning Project (RAPP)

What: A two-year partnership to create urban development strategies for the district that foster equitable and sustainable outcomes and restorative development for Portland’s Black and historic Albina communities. The project involves the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS), Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), Prosper Portland, and Albina Vision Trust (AVT). The project builds on several initiatives, such as AVT’s Community Investment Plan (CIP), the Lower Albina Streetscape Project, formally known as the Broadway Main Street project, and the highway cover for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project (I5RQIP) led by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). RAPP is looking at how the highway cover can be integrated into the broader area to reconnect local streets and physical landscape of the district, as well as to create opportunities for wealth building, urban development, and public spaces.

Status: The project team has completed the existing conditions assessment phase, where information about land use, transportation, and community assets were gathered. Community input related to the RAPP study area is still being accepted on the interactive mapping tool: Pin it, Portland. The work to date identified key opportunities and constraints in the district, examined the waterfront area, and mapped district conditions. The project team has begun to compile the draft materials to share with the public. Starting in January, the project team will launch the district’s scenario development work that builds on the findings from the existing conditions assessment and expands on Albina Vision Trust’s work to date on the proposed highway cover.

Next opportunity to engage: Through Mar. 31, community members are encouraged to share general concerns and identify community assets or development opportunities within the RAPP study area on the interactive mapping tool: Pin It, Portland. An open house kickoff will be held in late February. Event details will be posted in late January. Check the project website to learn more. Those interested can also subscribe to project updates.

Ongoing projects (active projects with no updates this month)

Columbia Corridor-Industrial Lands Ezones Project

What: This project evaluates changes to 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. Policy proposals under consideration will aim to ensure needed lands for future industrial and other economic growth while also preserving natural resources that serve as green infrastructure and help to make Portland resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Status: An online interactive Columbia Corridor / Industrial Lands Environmental Zoning Project map of preliminary draft ezones is available for review, 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 are coordinating their work with the citywide Economic Opportunity Analysis to ensure adequate protection for natural resources and sufficient industrial and employment land to meet future needs.

Next opportunity to engage: Property owners can request a free site visit to confirm or correct natural resource mapping through the interactive Columbia Corridor / Industrial Lands Environmental Zoning Project map. To request a site visit, enter your property address and click the “Request Site Visit” link in the upper right corner. Property owners may qualify for free wetland determination, learn more about draft wetland mapping, and check if your site qualifies. Check the project website for updates and if interested sign up for email updates.

Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA)

What: The purpose of the 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: BPS staff are working on the draft employment forecast and industrial buildable lands inventory. In April 2024, BPS received a $350,000 Metro grant for an Industrial Land Readiness Study, which will identify development-ready sites suitable for target cluster industries and other industrial sectors; conduct a development feasibility analysis on a broad range of sites; and identify strategic actions to expand Portland’s development-ready supply of constrained industrial sites.

Next opportunity to engage: The draft EOA will be available for public review in 2025. Check the project website for updates and if interested sign up for email updates.

Fossil Fuel Terminal Zoning Amendments

What: This ordinance readopts the remanded zoning code amendments that 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. On Sept. 29, 2023, the LUBA denied an appeal by the Portland Business Alliance, Working Waterfront Coalition, Western States Petroleum Association, Oregon Business and Industry, and Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council. This LUBA decision was appealed to Oregon Court of Appeals, which upheld the LUBA decision to affirm the City Council’s adoption of reasonable limits on fossil fuel infrastructure. The Court of Appeals decision has not been appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court; however the ordinance 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. The federal case is still pending.

Next opportunity to engage: None currently.

Adopted projects (pending effective dates)

Housing Adjustments Compliance Project

What: This project amends the Zoning Code, Title 33, in compliance with the provisions of State Bill 1537, to allow more adjustments to development and design standards that were previously prohibited for residential projects. While much of the city’s current development standards are already adjustable, some specific standards related to lot sizes and maximum heights and bonuses are not. The project will create a temporary option to allow adjustments to these development standards as required by the bill, that will be allowed until 2032.

Status: On Oct. 30, City Council unanimously approved the Housing Adjustments Compliance Project through an emergency ordinance. City Council's approval includes the Planning Commission’s recommendation of an increased allowance for height adjustments in the Central City to remove the 20% threshold stated in SB 1537. City Council also approved an amendment to clarify what elements of the zoning code should apply in the right-of-way (i.e., in streets). Read the announcement. The City will work with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to allow our current zoning adjustment process to substitute for the adjustment requirements of SB 1537. The code amendments became effective on Jan. 1, 2025.

Montgomery Park Area Plan (MPAP) and Montgomery Park to Hollywood Transit and Land Use Development Study (MP2H)

What: The Montgomery Park Area Plan (MPAP) is an outcome of the Montgomery Park to Hollywood (MP2H) Strategy, a joint effort between the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) and the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) to explore options for a successful land use and transit system, including potential future streetcar links to Montgomery Park in NW Portland and Hollywood Town Center in NE Portland. The study considers affordable housing, as well as economic development and business stabilization opportunities associated with potential transit investments, including the possible extension of the Portland Streetcar. While a proposed plan for the northwest area moved forward, study of the northeast area concluded without a plan moving ahead.

The MPAP is making land use and transportation changes to establish a new transit-oriented district in Northwest Portland, west of Highway 30, between NW Vaughn and NW Nicolai Streets. The plan envisions the area as a mixed-use employment district that supports job growth and housing development. Land use changes promote equitable, transit-oriented development and complement a future extension of the Portland Streetcar. The changes include amendments to Portland’s Comprehensive Plan map, zoning map, zoning code, and design guidance.

Status: On Dec. 11, City Council unanimously adopted the MPAP, including the Public Benefits Agreement (PBA), and the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the Portland Streetcar extension. The land use changes become effective June 1, 2025. Read the announcement. As-Amended Draft documents that incorporate the approved City Council amendments are available for review.

Odor Code Update Project

What: The Odor Code Update Project updated the City Code for off-site odor impacts, providing flexibility for retail businesses to operate. Read more about the Odor Code Update Project.

Status: On Nov. 13, City Council adopted the Odor Code Update Project giving more flexibility to businesses like restaurants and nail salons, and creating more equitable and transparent enforcement. The code amendments go into effect March 1, 2025. Read the announcement.

Rose Quarter Sign Code Project

What: The Rose Quarter Sign Project amends the current Sign Code, Title 32, to provide greater sign allowances and flexibility for signs within a mapped designated area called the Rose Quarter Entertainment sign district. The project is the result of a City Council resolution that directed BPS staff to draft Title 32 code amendments allowing for increased flexibility in developing signage in the Rose Quarter and reducing the need for adjustments or modifications.

Status: On Nov. 13, City Council approved the Rose Quarter Sign Code Project as amended to allow more flexibility for different sizes and types of signs--similar to other new and remodeled arena facilities--within the new Rose Quarter Entertainment sign district. The approved amendments become effective on March 1, 2025. Read the announcement.

Useful resources

Contact

District Planning

A program of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS)
bpsdistrict@portlandoregon.gov
phone number503-823-7700

Topics

City planning

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