Director's Corner

Welcome to the Bureau of Development Services’ (BDS) website.  Our site is designed to provide our customers with comprehensive information about the bureau, the development process, and the wide range of programs and services that we offer.

You may have noticed that recently, we’ve done some “remodeling” to the BDS website.  We’ve not only added a soothing green color palette to the homepage, but we’re continually rearranging and adding information based on feedback we receive from our customers and talented internal BDS Web Team.

Despite the current economic challenges our city currently faces, I remain excited, motivated and committed to advancing the bureau’s goal and mission to be the best development review agency in the country.  I believe our customers deserve nothing less.

As Director of BDS, it is vitally important to me that the bureau continue to provide a high level of service and responsiveness to our customers, implement new technologies and innovations that will promote green building practices and create local jobs, and implement a strategic plan that will chart the bureau’s course for the next several years.

My current initiatives and priority issues for the bureau include:

• Sustainable Development & Green Building – BDS has seen growing interest on the part of developers to use innovative building products or construction practices to increase a project’s sustainability.  The newly created Alternative Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC) will evaluate and make recommendations for innovative, sustainable technologies in the context of building code requirements.  First in the nation, this new process will open up an avenue to allow more experimentation with new building methods and help advance green building science.
  
  The Bureau has also formed the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to develop standards to require more sustainable building practices in Portland by augmenting the existing State building code requirements.  If adopted, this code amendment could be come a template for other jurisdictions statewide.



• Strategic Plan – The ultimate goal of the BDS Strategic Plan is to create a living, relevant plan that is fully integrated with the bureau’s mission, goals and budget, and that helps BDS keep pace with customers’ changing needs and development processes.



• Small Business Development Team – BDS is in the process of implementing a Small Business Development Team to expand outreach and services to small businesses wanting to develop, expand or relocate in Portland.  This team is available to answer questions, help find a good location for a business, navigate the permit process and provide outreach and advocacy services for small businesses to succeed in Portland.

I am constantly looking for new, creative and improved ways to best serve and inform our customers. If you have comments about our current services or ideas for innovations that you would like to see, please feel free to contact me at scarlettp@ci.portland.or.us.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Paul L. Scarlett, Director