September 2026 – BPS Long-range Planning Project Updates

Newsletter

Monthly newsletter on long-range city planning projects in Portland. See what happened, what’s coming next, and how to participate. Find links to meetings, ways to comment, and staff contacts. Subscribe to get email alerts when new newsletters and project updates are posted.

Published

September 15, 2026 12:00 pm

Subscribe to get email alerts when these newsletters are posted

Highlights: What's new this month?

Planning Commission Recruitment – The Planning Commission is seeking five community members who are enthusiastic about long-range planning issues and urban solutions to fill volunteer positions opening next year. Learn more and apply by Monday, Sept. 21 (deadline extended).

Design Review Temporary Suspension Project – City staff are advancing a proposal to temporarily suspend required design reviews in most cases with a Planning Commission public hearing set for Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. Read about the proposal and how to give testimony.

Housing Bonus Alignment Project – After holding a public hearing in July and a work session in August, the Planning Commission will make its recommendation on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. Learn how to watch.

Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub Policy Project – Portlanders can submit written testimony and sign up to testify orally ahead of the City Council hearing on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. Learn how to testify.

Central City Code Amendments Project – City Council will hold a public hearing on the Recommended Draft on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 9:50 a.m. Portlanders are invited to submit testimony. Read about the recommendations and how to participate.

State Land Use Compliance Project – The Recommended Draft will be published by Sept. 22 and City Council's Housing & Permitting Committee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. Read about the amendments and how to submit testimony.

Inner Eastside Zoning Project – A plan to allow more housing choices in Portland's Inner Eastside, staff have been meeting with neighborhoods and will release a background report in September. Read more about an upcoming online questionnaire and opportunities to engage with the project team.

Active projects with updates this month

Central City Code Amendments Project

What: The Central City Code Amendments Project will make strategic updates to the zoning tools of the Central City 2035 Plan. Post-pandemic trends continue to show high vacancy rates in downtown and other parts of the Central City. This project will explore creative solutions to promote housing production and support Central City revitalization. Learn more about the project.

Status: In July, the Planning Commission completed its review and voted to recommend approval of the Proposed Draft as amended to City Council. City staff have published the Recommended Draft, which incorporates the Planning Commission's amendments, ahead of the first City Council hearing in October. Read the full announcement for more about the key elements of the draft and how to submit testimony.

Next opportunity to engage: On Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 9:50 a.m., City Council will hold a public hearing on the Recommended Draft and Portlanders are invited to testify in writing and orally. Submit written testimony through the project's Map App. Register in advance to provide oral testimony at the hearing. Oral testimony registration opens on Friday, Oct. 9. Check the project website, portland.gov/central-city, for updates. Those interested can also sign up for email updates.

Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub Policy Project

What: The Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub is a six-mile stretch of industrial land in northwest Portland along the Willamette River that stores 90% of Oregon's liquid fuel supply. Studies show that this area is vulnerable to earthquakes and other natural disasters, posing human health and environmental risks.

The CEI Hub Policy Project will update Portland's Comprehensive Plan policies, zoning code, and other city regulations to support safety and risk reduction for existing bulk fuel facilities within the CEI Hub. This project will build on the storage tank restrictions that were adopted in 2022. This work is funded in part by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Administration via Oregon's Department of Emergency Management. Learn more about the CEI Hub Policy Project.

Status: The City Council package for the CEI Hub Policy Project has been released. Read the full announcement. The package includes proposed policies and regulations to limit development and fuel storage capacity of bulk fuel terminals at the CEI Hub. The package includes two components:

The Comprehensive Plan and Title 33 Zoning Code Amendments Recommended Draft, which limit expansion of the bulk fuel terminals. The Planning Commission recommended the proposed amendments.
The Title 17 Bulk Fuel Terminal Capacity Reduction Regulations, which requires a 20 percent reduction in fuel storage capacity by 2036 to further reduce risk at the CEI Hub.

Next opportunity to engage: The City Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. Registration for oral testimony will open on Friday, Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. on the Council Clerk's event page.

Submit written testimony on the Recommended Draft for the Comprehensive Plan and Title 33 Zoning Code amendments.
Submit written testimony for the Capacity Reduction Program Title 17 amendments.

Prior to the hearing date, City Council will hold a work session on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. on the proposal to hear the City staff presentation and provide Council an opportunity to ask questions. The work session will take place in the Council Chambers at City Hall and is open to the public. Watch the live stream and recorded video. Council will not take any testimony, vote, or take any action at the work session.

Check the project website, portland.gov/cei-hub, for updates. Those interested can also sign up for email updates.

Design Review Temporary Suspension Project

What: This project proposes a pause on mandatory design review to help stimulate economic development. In its place, the city would temporarily allow the use of design standards in place of design review to help maintain the commitment to urban design. This is the first part of a larger effort to improve design review. Read more about the project.

Status: City staff are advancing a concept to temporarily suspend required design reviews in most cases. The Proposed Draft is now available for public review and comment. Read the full announcement. This follows an informational presentation on the Design Review Reform Report at the July 28 Planning Commission meeting, which can be watched online.

Next opportunity to engage: Portlanders will get a chance to weigh in on the proposal at a public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. Submit written testimony through the Map App by Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. or give oral testimony at the hearing. Pre-register for oral testimony by Monday, Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. Check the project website, portland.gov/DesignReview, for updates. Those interested can also sign up for email updates.

Housing Bonus Alignment Project

What: The Housing Bonus Alignment Project will propose changes to the zoning code to help increase the production of housing - especially affordable housing, accessible housing, and units with more bedrooms. The project focuses on dense, multi-dwelling and mixed-use areas outside of the Central City. Read more about the project.

Status: The Proposed Draft was released in June. The proposal incorporates public feedback received on the Discussion Draft from district outreach, virtual open houses, presentations, and discussions with advocates and development professionals. Read the full announcement. On July 28, a Planning Commission public hearing was held and public testimony was heard. On Aug. 25, the Planning Commission held a work session to deliberate on the proposals.

Next opportunity to engage: Public testimony is now closed. The Planning Commission is expected to vote on its recommendation to City Council on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m., which Portlanders can attend online or in person. The next opportunity for Portlanders to give testimony will be during City Council review. Check the project website, portland.gov/housing-bonus-alignment, for updates. Those interested can also sign up for email updates.

Inner Eastside Zoning Project

What: The Inner Eastside Zoning Project will consider changes to zoning to allow for a greater variety of housing types in Portland's inner eastside neighborhoods. The goal is to make this desirable area – with its great access to jobs, public transportation, and everyday needs – more accessible to all. BPS staff will also coordinate with the Portland Bureau of Transportation to identify transportation improvements to make it safer and easier to get around. Read more about the project.

Status: Project staff have been attending community events and meeting with neighborhoods to introduce the project to the community. An online questionnaire will be posted online soon to gather input on community issues and priorities. This input will help inform the development of alternative zoning scenarios. In September, staff will release a background report on the project area's history, zoning and land uses, demographics, services and amenities, and transportation networks and other infrastructure to serve as a basis for the project and to support community discussions.

Next opportunity to engage: Over the next month, BPS will host a series of opportunities where community members can learn more about the project, share initial ideas and thoughts, and learn about future opportunities to provide input:

Visit the project team at the Belmont Street Fair on Saturday, Sept. 19
Planning in the Park at the Colonel Summers Picnic Shelter on Saturday, Sept. 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Planning in the Park at the Grant Park Picnic Shelter on Friday, Oct. 2, 2 to 6 p.m.; and
an online information session on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 6 to 7 p.m.

An online questionnaire will be available the week of September 14, which will be a key opportunity to provide input on issues and priorities related to land use and housing in the Inner Eastside area. Check the project website, portland.gov/inner-eastside, for updates. Those interested can also sign-up for email updates.

State Land Use Compliance Project

What: This project will update Portland's Zoning Code to comply with several Oregon legislative bills passed in 2025 and 2026 related to middle housing, land use review procedures, and allowed uses. Some changes from the state bills are already in effect; other changes will take effect in the future. This project is narrowly focused on zoning code amendments for state compliance. Read more about the project.

Status: The Recommended Draft, which incorporates the Planning Commission's technical changes, will be published by Sept. 22. The City Council's Housing and Permitting Committee will hear a presentation from project staff and take testimony at a public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 6 before making their recommendation to the full City Council. Read the full announcement.

Next opportunity to engage: The City Council's Housing and Permitting Committee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. The hearing will be held in hybrid format with options to participate either in person at City Hall or virtually using a computer, mobile device, or telephone. In-person testifiers must sign up before the agenda item is heard. Virtual testifiers must register at least one hour before the hearing. Register online or over the phone by calling 311. The agenda and oral testimony registration will be available the Friday before the hearing on the Council Clerk's event page. Written testimony can be submitted online. Check the project website, portland.gov/state-land-use-compliance-project, for updates. Those interested can also sign up for email updates.

Ongoing projects: Active projects with no updates this month

Columbia Corridor and Industrial Lands Environmental Overlay Zone Project

What: This project will amend Environmental overlay zones (ezones) in the Columbia Corridor and other industrial areas to ensure adequate buffers around natural resources and better align Columbia Corridor and Industrial Lands Environmental Overlay Zone Project 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. Read more about the project.

Status: Staff briefed the Planning Commission on Dec. 2. The Proposed Draft was released Dec. 12. A Planning Commission hearing was held Jan. 13, followed by work sessions on Feb. 24, April 14, and April 28. On May 12, the Planning Commission recommended the Proposed Draft with amendments to City Council. Staff continue coordination with the citywide Economic Opportunities Analysis to ensure adequate protection for natural resources and sufficient industrial and employment land to meet future needs. Read the full announcement about the recommendation and next steps.

Next opportunity to engage: None currently. The Recommended Draft will be considered by City Council later this year. Check the project website, portland.gov/industrial-ezones, for updates. Those interested can also 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 business and job growth. Read more about the EOA.

Status: On May 12, the Planning Commission recommended the Proposed Draft, with amendments, to City Council. Amendments included updated steep slope development assumptions in industrial areas and updated environmental overlay layers aligned with the Columbia Corridor and Industrial Lands Environmental Overlay Zone Project. Read the full announcement about the recommendation and next steps.

Next opportunity to engage: None currently. City Council is expected to consider the recommendation in late 2026 or early 2027. Check the project website, portland.gov/eoa, for updates. Those interested can also sign up for email updates.

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 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 Albina Vision Community Investment Plan (AVCIP), the Lower Albina Streetscape Project (LASP), 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 the physical landscape of the district, as well as to create opportunities for wealth building, urban development, and public spaces. Read more about RAPP.

Status: On Aug. 18, Albina Vision Trust and the City of Portland invited Portlanders to join a conversation called "Translating community values into physical space". This conversation closed out RAPP, a collaborative effort involving Albina Vision Trust and the City of Portland. The feedback from this event will inform district design guideline recommendations for the area's Development Framework Plan to help ensure that the redevelopment of Lower Albina reflects the vision and values of past and future residents.

Next opportunity to engage: None currently. Visit the project webpage, portland.gov/rapp, for updates. Those interested can also sign up for project updates.

Willamette River North Reach Project

What: This project will update policies and regulations in the northern section of the Willamette River to support industrial, residential and recreational uses. The project will establish a framework for future development in the area and consider updates to City policies, zoning code requirements, and programs. Read more about the project.

Status: In October, the project website and an online map showing the location and type of natural resources and preliminary environmental protection scenarios were published. Property owners are invited to review the project map and request a site visit to confirm the location of natural resources to ensure the accuracy of the map. Broader public engagement will begin in the coming months.

Next opportunity to engage: Property owners can request site visits from staff to confirm the location of natural resources through the project map. Check the project website, portland.gov/north-reach, for updates. Those interested can always sign up for email updates.

Adopted projects pending effective dates

Regulatory Improvement Code Amendment Package 11 (RICAP 11)

What: Regulatory Improvement Code Amendment Packages (RICAP) are an ongoing series of minor technical updates, clarifications, and refinements to Portland's zoning regulations. The purpose of this program is to remove barriers to development, improve clarity, and ensure the zoning code stays aligned with current policy direction and state law. RICAP 11 includes 56 technical and minor policy amendments grouped into themes including parking, exterior areas and activities, and general regulatory improvements. These also include corresponding amendments to the City's Sign Code (Title 32). Read more about RICAP 11.

Status: On Aug. 6, City Council adopted the RICAP 11 package of technical fixes and minor policy updates to clarify and streamline the Portland Zoning Code. The adopted code changes will be effective on November 1. Read the full announcement.

The adopted package contains two City Council amendments that were not included in the Recommended Draft from the Planning Commission. The first amendment removed an item that was intended to better define what is considered mechanical equipment under the zoning code so that the issue could be more thoroughly addressed in a future project. The second amendment allows residential uses in the Campus Institutional 1 (CI1) zone to help colleges and universities better serve their missions and maximize the use of existing campus land at a time when Portland's housing needs remain pressing.

Next opportunity to engage: None. RICAP 11 has been adopted and goes into effect on Nov. 1.

Useful resources

Planning Commission

View tentative agendas, upcoming meeting schedules, and subscribe to receive agenda notifications.
Planning Commission meetings are held in hybrid format. Meetings are open to the public to attend in person, live-streamed and available on-demand, and broadcast tape-delayed on Channel 30.
Check individual project pages or the meeting schedule for details on making public comments.