Updates to TRN-1.27 (Bureau of Transportation Public Works Alternate Review Process)

What’s changed 

TRN 1.27 is a PBOT administrative rule describing the Public Works Alternative (PWA) Review process. Members of the public who plan to develop their property use this process to request an alternative to the standard required frontage improvements. Requests to construct or maintain a less than standard width sidewalk for the entire frontage or at a particular point are eligible for this process and are evaluated by City staff. 

This update modifies Section V (Governance and Decision-Making) in light of the new Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D) Bureau. PBOT delegates administration of the PWA process to the Alternative Review Committee (ARC), which is comprised of staff who moved to PP&D on July 1, 2024. The revised rule adds a PBOT representative to the ARC and defines staff from PP&D and PBOT as the decision-makers. The PBOT Director will delegate this authority by updating an existing delegation memo. 

Why these changes 

The movement of development review staff from PBOT and other Public Works bureaus to PP&D created the need to modify and clarify decision-making in the PWA review process. Consistent with the council directive for the infrastructure bureaus to retain signatory approval for deviations or waivers of City standards, these changes help ensure PBOT shares in decisions to grant changes or removal of its requirements. Most requests for an alternative review relate solely to PBOT requirements. When infrastructure under the purview of other bureaus (e.g., trees, stormwater management, or water infrastructure) is relevant to the request for relief from PBOT frontage requirements, staff responsible for PBOT requirements will continue to solicit input from these bureaus and their counterparts in PP&D. If PP&D and PBOT do not agree on the response to a PWA request, the decision will be escalated via the new variance process currently under development for PP&D.