In the summer of 2022, the state Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) approved the Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities rules, which require communities to change land use and transportation to reduce the need for Oregonians to rely on driving vehicles long distances to meet their daily needs and have more safe and comfortable ways to get around. There are several components to these rules, one of which is for communities to reduce or eliminate one-size-fits-all parking regulations, which is the focus of the Parking Compliance Amendments Project. Portland must implement these rules by June 30.
Excess vehicular parking has a significant negative impact on housing costs, business costs, the feasibility of housing development and business redevelopment, walkability, air and water pollution, climate pollution, and general community character. Parking mandates force people who don’t own or use cars to pay indirectly for other people’s parking. Planning practices of the past have imposed a one-size-fits-all requirement everywhere, creating incentives to own more cars and drive more.
The Parking Compliance Amendments Project (PCAP) includes four proposals to bring Portland into compliance with the state’s new rules:
1. Remove minimum parking requirements
2. Update and simplify parking maximums
3. Add new development standards for surface parking lots
4. Miscellaneous technical items
These proposals are outlined in detail in the Parking Compliance Amendments Project Proposed Draft, which is now available for public review and comment. The Proposed Draft will be presented to the Planning Commission at a briefing on March 28 at 7:30 p.m. A public hearing will be held on the proposals will be at the Planning Commission on April 11 at 12:30 p.m.
Have your say
Portlanders are invited to review these code amendments and provide testimony on them to the Planning Commission either in person or in writing.
In person
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the PCAP amendments on April 11 at 12:30 p.m.
Register to testify during the hearing
In writing
Written testimony can be submitted via the MapApp.
Next steps
The PSC will meet again on April 25 to discuss potential amendments to the proposals and vote on any amendments and whether to recommended package to City Council on April 25. A hearing on the proposals will be held at City Council in June.