In 2010, the City of Portland combined the Portland Planning Commission and the Multnomah County / Portland Sustainable Development Commission to create the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC). Since then, the oversight responsibilities related to both land use planning and sustainability in Portland have expanded to become greater than one commission can undertake effectively. In addition, issues related to sustainability and climate change have become more prominent and urgent.
To ensure that both areas of policy and decision-making can be addressed with the focus, time, and attention each needs, the City plans to create two separate public bodies. A future project will amend the City Code to create a separate commission focused on sustainability and climate.
A working group of the PSC members has been meeting to advise staff on amendments to the scope of the new Planning Commission. Project staff have also consulted with the Community Involvement Committee.
This project will amend the City Code to rename the Planning and Sustainability Commission to the Planning Commission and modify its scope. The new Planning Commission will focus on land use planning, while continuing to advance the policies in Portland’s Comprehensive Plan, including those related to sustainability.
A Proposed Draft of the code amendments is now available for public review. Portlanders can testify on the code amendments in writing via the Map App or verbally to the PSC at a public hearing on November 8 at 12:30 p.m. Those interested in testifying at the PSC hearing must sign up in advance.