Reappoint Brian McCarter to the Portland Design Commission for term to expire November 19, 2026
As Mayor, I request Council confirmation of the following appointment to the Portland Design Commission.
The Portland Design Commission has one upcoming change that needs action. The Design Commission provides leadership and expertise on urban design and architecture and advances the purpose of the Design overlay zone. The Design overlay zone ensures that Portland is both a city designed for people and a city in harmony with nature. The Design overlay zone supports the city’s evolution within current and emerging centers of civic life. The overlay promotes design excellence in the built environment through the application of additional design standards and design guidelines The Portland Design Commission hears Land Use applications for proposals within design districts (Type III applications and Type II appeal applications).
I am recommending one candidate for reappointment to the Landscape Architect position on the Portland Design Commission for a 4-year term running from November 20, 2022, through November 19, 2026.
| Reappointment | Membership Category | 2nd Full Term |
|---|---|---|
| Brian McCarter | Landscape Architect | November 20, 2022 - November 19, 2026 |
Brian McCarter has a 46-year career in Landscape Architecture and Urban Design and has actively participated in the past four years with the Portland Design Commission in the Landscape Architect category. Brian has commented that during the past two years of significant change in the City of Portland, the role of design review is perhaps even more critical as our downtown and neighborhoods recover from the pandemic, social unrest and uneven vitality. Brian’s commitment to service on the Design Commission these past four years as a Landscape Architect has been extremely productive, as is his commitment to high quality design and the community input that design review affords. Brian asked for the opportunity to continue to be a part of that effort in a second term, noting he specifically wants to help revamp our Central City Fundamental Design Guidelines which critically need to be brought up to speed with the 2035 plan and our new zoning code.
Statement from Brian McCarter:
We are in a moment of Portland’s trajectory where growth is putting pressure on the central city’s transportation system (existing and planned - Southwest Corridor, future Bus Rapid Transit projects) and its public realm (existing and planned – the Green Loop, Broadway Corridor Project, Willamette Greenway extensions). The Portland Design Commission has a crucial role in shaping private and public projects that build on Portland’s legacy of great urban design. I would like to contribute to that effort.
I recommend that Brian McCarter be appointed to the Portland Design Commission for a second term dated November 20, 2022, through November 19, 2026.
Official Record (Efiles)
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
The reappointment of this Commissioner is required by Portland City Code [Title 33] to fulfill quorum requirements for Type 2 Appeals and Type 3 Land Use Reviews.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
The Commissioner reappointments are citizen-volunteer positions, so no revenue or expenses are incurred by these positions.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
The Bureau of Development Services continually advertises positions for the Commission through its webpage, City of Portland job opportunities webpage, NeoGov, through media announcements of upcoming positions, and through phone calls by Staff. Media announcements are widely circulated in the design, development, and neighborhood community news outlets and web pages.
100% Renewable Goal
This proposal is for an appointment of an individual to a volunteer commission; therefore, this goal is not applicable to this action.
This legislation appoints citizen volunteers to serve on the Portland Design Commission and will therefore have no impact on the City’s energy use. This legislation neither contributes to nor detracts from the City’s goal of meeting 100% of community-wide energy needs with renewable energy by 2050.
Agenda Items
940 Consent Agenda in November 9, 2022 Council Agenda
Confirmed
- Commissioner Mingus Mapps Yea
- Commissioner Carmen Rubio Yea
- Commissioner Dan Ryan Yea
- Former Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty Absent
- Mayor Ted Wheeler Yea