5.72.060 Housing - Initial Review, Standards.

City Code Section

(Amended by Ordinance No. 177259, effective February 19, 2003.)

A.  Upon receipt of an application, the Portland Development Commission shall review the application to determine whether the application should be further processed.  In reaching such a determination, the Commission may request additional information from the applicant as well as assemble any and all data deemed relevant to the decision.

B.  The Portland Development Commission shall, after review and comment by all relevant City bureaus, recommend approval, approval with conditions, or denial of the application, after consideration of the following:

1.  The economic feasibility of the project, with and without the use of revenue bonds.

2.  The need for housing resulting from the project.

3.  The general benefits to the City of the proposed project.

4.  The City’s ability to supply or support other needed services required by the project.

5.  Employment and property tax income from the project.

6.  Suitability of the project as proposed in the specific proposed location.

7.  (Amended by Ordinance No. 157998; Nov. 21, 1985.)  Projects applying for permanent financing must be determined to provide housing at rent or price levels 85 percent of which shall be affordable by households with incomes up to 150 percent of the area median income.

8.  Projects in the downtown, particularly the RX Zone, designated urban renewal or redevelopment areas shall receive highest priority.

9.  Conformance with Internal Revenue Service Regulations and the Oregon Revised Statutes.

10.  No application shall be recommended for approval unless the Portland Development Commission, after review and comment by all relevant City bureaus, determines that the project does not conflict with adopted City plans and policies.

11.  Projects applying for construction financing may be at rent or price levels up to 150 percent of median income, but must have available a firm commitment for long‑term project financing.

C.  No project may be approved which would result in the conversion of existing occupied residential rental units to condominium or cooperative projects.

D.  The applicant, to be eligible for financing assistance under this program, must agree not to discriminate against any purchaser or tenant who is a parent or legal guardian with whom a child resides or is expected to reside, except in projects designed exclusively for households, the heads of whom are 62 years of age or older;  or in projects designed for households, the heads of whom are 55 years of age or older, if the project meets the requirements of the applicable federal law.

E.  Revenue bonds may be issued secured by revenues from mortgage payments from individual owners of condominium and cooperative units within multiple unit housing projects which are newly constructed, rehabilitated from other uses or rehabilitated in abandoned residential buildings.  Applications for such projects shall be considered by the Portland Development Commission if:

1.  No individual or company may have more than one loan outstanding at any one time under this program for individual condominium or cooperative units.

2.  No mortgage loan funds under this program may be used for refinancing by existing owners, and no loans may be assumed by persons not eligible for condominium or cooperative units.

F.  The applicant shall submit a relocation plan for any households, individuals, or businesses which may be displaced by the proposed project.  The Portland Development Commission will be responsible for analysis of that proposal and recommendation of that plan, that plan with amendments, or an alternative plan.  The relocation plan shall assure that such households, individuals, or businesses are relocated to affordable housing of comparable or better quality.