CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED) POLICY STRATEGY
Binding City Policy
BCP-ENB-22.01
PURPOSE
WHEREAS, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a well-established and well-researched field of knowledge that has demonstrated various methods to increase the responsible, positive use of property while decreasing the likelihood of criminal behavior; and
WHEREAS, properly implemented safe-by-design practices offer the dual benefit of long-term savings in City resources through improved ease of management and reduced calls for service and of increased safety and livability for city residents; and
WHEREAS, the City has an interest in supporting successful public safety practices in multi-family housing and multifamily housing is an important part of meeting Portland’s growth management and comprehensive plan objectives; and
WHEREAS, working to make best practices common practice is in the interests of residents and managers of housing throughout the city; and
WHEREAS, while multi-family properties funded by the City are often, but not always, designed on sound safe-by-design principles, there is no method in place to ensure that basic safe-by-design principles are integrated into every such development funded by the City; and
WHEREAS, ensuring the consistent implementation of certain safe-by-design practices will further enhance the City’s role as a leader-by-example in the effective development and management of multi-family housing; and
WHEREAS, fire and life safety codes defined for residential housing, while effective in promoting structurally safe, fire-resistant living conditions, do not include certain design elements known to reduce the likelihood of property harboring or attracting criminal behavior; and
WHEREAS, because the City of Portland’s existing zoning, planning, green building, housing maintenance, and other codes and regulations do include various elements that are consistent with CPTED principles, the City has the opportunity to improve the crime prevention value of residential property by the introduction of a limited number of additional requirements without the need to develop a separate, comprehensive set of CPTED regulations.
POLICY
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Portland City Council directs City Bureaus and the Portland Development Commission to adopt and implement CPTED policy guidelines described in Policy Strategy number one of Exhibit A of this resolution for all multifamily residential housing constructed, owned, or financed by the City, including incorporating such guidelines into all such newly financed development and into existing property when the relevant elements or features of the property are remodeled, upgraded, or replaced; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the policy guidelines described are intended to result in a total-cost-of-ownership for the City that is equal to, or less than, such costs if the policy guidelines were not implemented, and as such, the guidelines shall allow for waiver of individual requirements with credible certification that a net increase in cost to the City, or a reduction in the number of otherwise available housing units, would result from strict compliance with any individual policy guideline; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Portland City Council directs City Bureaus and the Portland Development Commission to adopt and implement policy guidelines described in Policy Strategy number two of Exhibit A of this resolution to require all private sector individuals or organizations seeking permit for the development of three dwelling units or more of new multi-family property, or for a major remodel or upgrade of existing multi-family property, to gain the benefit of non-binding CPTED-design recommendations prior to plan approval; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the non-binding guidance for private sector development described in Policy Strategy number two of Exhibit A of this resolution include, at minimum, providing the private sector developer a copy of the CPTED guidelines mandated for City-funded multi-family property by this resolution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that procedures for delivering the non-binding guidance for private sector development described in Policy Strategy number two of Exhibit A shall be designed and implemented whenever practical, in such a manner as to avoid extending either the number of days or the number of meetings otherwise necessary for the permitting process; and
BE IF FURTHER RESOLVED that administrative policies, procedures, and practices necessary to implement this resolution shall be the responsibility of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement with support as appropriate from the following partners: the Bureau of Development Services, the Bureau of Housing and Community Development, the Bureau of Police, the Bureau of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, the Planning Bureau, the Housing Authority of Portland, and the Portland Development Commission; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution is binding City policy.
HISTORY
Resolution No. 36648, adopted by City Council November 26, 2008.