May 15, 2013

Christine Llobregat
Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
503-823-7007

Mark Ross
Portland Parks & Recreation
503-823-5300

Portland City Council voted today to accept funds from the Oregon Community Foundation's (OCF) Penstemon Fund in the amount of $100,000. The acceptance of these grant funds will enable the installation of a solar electric system at Portland Parks & Recreation's (PP&R) Southwest Community Center (SWCC) and will provide an opportunity for a wider range of Portlanders to engage in the expansion of clean local energy production.

“This $100,000 grant from the Penstemon Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation will allow us to install our first 'community solar' system, which will give an opportunity to renters and others who want to do their part to promote renewable energy, but can’t install a system on their own homes or apartments,” said Susan Anderson, director, City of Portland Planning and Sustainability (BPS).

OCF has provided grant funds to ‘kickstart’ construction of the first system at SWCC, but the goal of this pilot is to raise community contributions that will go into a revolving, community solar fund. Within six years, the community solar fund will be able to finance the installation of a second system. If the program works as planned, the community solar fund could run in perpetuity.

Community contributors will have the option of making a straight donation to the fund or they can elect to receive all of their funds back at the end of 6 years. In return, all of the contributors receive permanent recognition at the host site and the feel-good benefit of ‘paying it forward.’

Partners in this effort include Portland Parks & Recreation, Solar Oregon, SW Neighborhoods, Inc. and the City’s solar installation contractor, EC Company. Due to current utility regulations in Oregon, community contributors are not able to receive their electricity or a bill credit for the energy generation from this installation.

“One of Portland Parks & Recreation’s primary missions is to be stewards of our environment,” notes PP&R Director Mike Abbaté. “The new solar panels will generate clean power and lower carbon emissions, which are stated goals in both the City of Portland’s 2009 Climate Action Plan and PP&R’s current Strategic Plan. We are excited to partner with BPS. Without this grant and their efforts, this project wouldn’t be feasible.”

SWCC is offsetting a portion of their electricity consumption with clean power generation that will lower community carbon emissions. This helps Portland meet carbon reduction goals as outlined in the City of Portland and Multnomah County’s Climate Action Plan.

Community solar represents a new addition to Portland’s tools for transforming the local market for solar energy. Community solar is intended to make participation in the installation of PV systems available and accessible to a wider, more diverse audience of Portlanders, including renters, homeowners with shaded properties, and those wanting to fund PV in smaller increments than a typical residential system.

Follow this project at www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/communitysolar or call Andria Jacob at 503-823-7616.

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In the 45 days from Earth Day (April 22) to World Environment Day, a variety of public events will celebrate Portland’s leadership in sustainability and green living. The City and UNEP are encouraging community groups, businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals to join in by organizing or participating in public events during this time. Follow events for UNWED at www.portlandoregon.gov/wed and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2013wedportland .

From Portland’s Solarize and energy efficiency programs to our world renowned green building services, green streets and curbside composting and recycling program — which has reduced household garbage by nearly 40 percent — we have a lot to celebrate this year. Hosting the United Nations World Environment Day is a great opportunity to showcase Portland’s story and legacy of leadership to the world.

So how did we get here today?

In the 1990s and 2000s, many new efforts were begun by Portlanders that focused on sustainable building, energy and water efficiency, recycling and waste reduction, biking infrastructure, solar and wind power, stormwater management, and creating walkable, connected neighborhoods.

In 1993, Portland became the first U.S. city to adopt a climate action plan for its entire community. At that time, few Americans cared much about what was then called “global warming.” The focus of the plan was to reduce carbon emissions — but to do it in a way that would help families save money, reduce local air pollution, cut operating costs for businesses, and build more livable, walkable neighborhoods.

The 1993 plan has been updated regularly and has been a success. Per capita carbon emissions are down by more than 25 percent, with total emissions down six percent (below 1990 levels). At the same time, carbon emissions in the United States have increased by about 10 percent.

In response to this increasingly urgent need to shift to a low-carbon economy and community, in 2009 Portland adopted a new Climate Action Plan with a goal of reducing 1990 level emissions by 80 percent. To reach that goal, the City has focused on both innovative and practical solutions in such areas as transportation and land use, energy efficiency, renewable energy and solid waste reduction.

Portland is moving in the right direction, and the gap between Portland’s success and the U.S. average tells a compelling story — that American cities can be both prosperous and reduce carbon emissions.

What’s Next for Portland?

Achieving an 80-percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 remains a very ambitious goal. Proposed new efforts on the horizon include:

• More bikeways and an additional seven miles of light rail.
• Enhanced energy efficiency programs.
• New rules for energy performance disclosure for commercial buildings.
• More solar and wind power generation.
• Investments in district-scale energy systems and community-owned solar energy installations.
• Improved zoning and a new Comprehensive Plan that focuses on creating more healthy, connected neighborhoods.
• More technical assistance for companies pursuing sustainable operations.
• The City’s first climate preparedness plan.

Portland’s success relies on its strong partnerships between residents, businesses, nonprofits, academic institutions and other governments. Together these individuals and organizations work to be a catalyst for action, as they continue to seek new partnerships with cities around the world.

This is our chance to shine and our challenge to stay in a leadership position. It’s also a chance for the rest of the cities in the world to push us forward toward greater innovations. How will you celebrate Earth Day?

Susan Anderson

Director

Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

Developing a comprehensive plan requires many conversations between community members, staff, technical experts and stakeholders. We’re fortunate to have such highly engaged and committed participants and partners in the process, ensuring that the final product will be reflective of Portlanders’ values and vision.

Policy Survey and Online Commenting

Portland’s existing Comprehensive Plan was developed in the 1970s and adopted in 1980, when the city’s primary concern was revitalizing downtown. But the 1980 plan doesn’t mention watershed health, climate change or equity … major issues facing Portland today. These and other concerns around housing and jobs are complex and many layered, requiring thoughtful consideration and broad input from Portland’s many different communities and interest groups.

To help address these issues and answer some larger questions, the project team developed a policy survey . Feedback from the survey will help staff refine the goals and policies in the Working Draft Part 1. Staff have been using the survey questions to prompt discussions at the workshops and other group settings, and solicit valuable input about the community’s many preferences and opinions.

So far, nearly 300 people have filled out the survey online and another 200 have submitted comments via an online feedback form, correspondence and talking with City staff. Thank you to the hundreds of Portlanders who have taken the time to respond so thoughtfully.  

The online survey is open until May 1. You can help us hit our goal of 500 responses by taking the survey here.

Other Outreach Efforts and Next Steps

Even if you missed the community workshops on the Comprehensive Plan goals and policies, there are still several ways to get involved and share ideas about how and where the City should develop as it grows. In addition to the online survey, staff are meeting with several community groups each week, and will soon start tabling at community-wide events (e.g., Sunday Parkways, Portland Parks Summer Concert Series, street and community fairs) in the spring and summer. Feedback from the community during this time will help guide refinements to Part 1 as well as the upcoming land use maps in Part 2.

Coming next: Working Draft Part 2

Part 2 of the Comprehensive Plan Working Draft will be published in mid-summer. It will include a series of maps (including an updated Urban Design Framework, land use designations, etc.) and first drafts of the Citywide System Plan, including infrastructure project lists.

To prepare Working Draft Part 2, the City’s District Liaisons will be talking with stakeholders during the spring to gather district-specific information, comments, preferences and ideas to shape draft maps and connect the policies with geographically specific mapping possibilities. For more information, please contact your District Liaison  or call 503-823-7700.

In early fall, the City will hold another series of community workshops focused on mapping questions and infrastructure choices. The goal is to refine land use maps and infrastructure plans based on fall workshop input and publish a Proposed Draft Comprehensive Plan Map in December 2013, for Planning and Sustainability Commission and City Council consideration and discussion in early 2014. 

On Feb. 26, after hearing from the community, the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) voted unanimously to forward the recommended Concept Plan to City Council. The Commission also heard a compelling story about the vision for this important corridor.

That vision takes advantage of existing strengths in each area, situated in four unique segments (Lair Hill, The Woods, Historic Highway and Far Southwest) and proposes several innovative ideas to enhance each unique area and promote public and private investment (see page 26 of the Concept Plan).

The vision is supported by an economic analysis of what the market would support and when. The report’s key finding is that future high capacity transit (HCT) is a necessary ingredient to making the vision real. Public investments in high capacity transit (light rail or bus rapid transit) have been shown to stimulate redevelopment. High capacity transit would be a key piece to realizing many of the changes envisioned in the Concept Plan.

Barbur Boulevard’s Past

Barbur was first a railroad route that was converted to an auto boulevard in the 1920s, linking downtown to other parts of Southwest Portland. When Barbur became part of the state highway system (99W), early commercial development was tailored to the automobile and traveler services. When I-5 was built in the 1950s, Barbur continued to serve regional traffic — but without the funding and attention that a standalone highway might receive. Consequently, the southwest neighborhoods continue to advocate for basic pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements. With Metro's SW Corridor Plan underway, the time is right to consider how to complete this roadway’s transformation from a rail line, to a highway, and now to a civic corridor that offers an enjoyable place for people to live, work, play and learn.

What’s Next?

A week after the hearing, the City Council will vote on the plan by resolution as non-binding City policy. The plan identifies future actions that will need to correspond to future regional decisions about HCT and other major infrastructure investments in the corridor. This will ensure that Barbur, the adjoining neighborhoods and the City can take advantage of opportunities when they arise to move the community's shared vision forward.

A copy of the recommended concept plan is now available for the public to review.

Your comments are appreciated in person or via:

Email: karla.moore-love@portlandoregon.gov

Fax: (503) 823-4571 (attn Council Clerk)

Mail: 1221 SW 4th Ave, Room 140, Portland, OR 97204.

SW Corridor Plan

Metro is leading a comprehensive planning effort to create livable and sustainable communities along the corridor between Portland, Tigard and Sherwood through integrated community investments in land use and transportation. A major component of this effort is to determine the mode of transit (e.g. light rail, bus rapid transit) and alignment (e.g. Barbur or I-5). Metro is in the early stages of evaluating alternatives and is expecting to narrow the wide range of alternatives into a handful by this summer. For more information, please visit www.swcorridorplan.org.

The project team is working to schedule the following events and public involvement tools. Once confirmed, the events will be added to the project calendar on the SW Corridor website www.swcorridorplan.org.

• April online open house - Beginning mid-April, catch up with the Southwest Corridor Plan by viewing the online open house.
• Project bundle evaluation results - Evaluation results of the project bundles will be released by mid-May.
• Opt In survey, May 20 through 28 (unconfirmed) - Using Metro's Opt In program, participants will be able to respond to the evaluation results and how they connect to regional and local values. Learn about and join the Opt In panel.
• Community Planning Forum, May 23 (unconfirmed) - Learn more about the evaluation results and offer your thoughts on what priorities should be included in the plan's investment package.
• June online open house - Beginning mid-June, review the initial concepts for the final investment package and offer your comments for the steering committee's decisions on how to move forward.

Guided by the Central City 2035 Concept Plan, the West Quadrant Plan will examine a range of issues  in the western areas of the Central City, including:

• land use
• urban design
• transportation
• environmental impacts
• economic development

This effort will result in recommendations for policies to guide future public and private investment and development in the western areas of the Central City, including the River District (the Pearl District and Old Town/Chinatown), Downtown, Goose Hollow, University District and South Waterfront areas.

Under the 1972 Downtown Plan and the 1988 Central City Plan, public, private and nonprofit investment on the west side resulted in the development of Tom McCall Waterfront Park, the MAX lines, the Transit Mall and Retail Core, Saturday Market, the streetcar system, Pioneer Courthouse Square and new public art. With all that development momentum, the Central City 2035 and West Quadrant Plan will build upon the vision and direction provided by these earlier plans, while reinforcing the new strategic concept of the Central City as the center of innovation and exchange for the region.

Planning process

This season, the Fix-It Fair served a diverse mix of 1,900 primarily low-and moderate-income residents in North, outer Northeast and outer Southeast Portland. More than 60 community partners exhibited, offering valuable resources and information to help attendees grow food at home, reduce water and energy usage, avoid lead paint exposure and much more.

From offering interactive training on basic home repair, planning nutritious meals, to demonstrating tree care, this season’s fairs featured 110 workshops. The information booths and workshops offered tools and inspiration to help attendees take charge of their personal health, finances, and their homes, inside and out.

The Ron Russell Fair in southeast Portland featured five workshops conducted in Spanish on topics specifically serving the needs of the Latino community.

Commenting on a budgeting workshop at a Fair, one resident said the presenter  “was super positive, incorporated audience ideas with enthusiasm, and helped me realize budgeting is fun, quick, and not another life stress.”

Another person who attended a kid-friendly gardening workshop said “I was here for [a later class] and just came in early to sit, but this was great. Easy to plant and easy to grow with high likelihood of success. That’s what I need!”

To ensure that the Fairs served a diverse range of residents, grassroots outreach efforts were employed. These included ads in community newspapers such as El Hispanic News, Portland Observer, Asian Reporter and The Skanner; radio promotion on KBOO’s Armando Puentes program and Bustos Media; and cable promotion on Univisión. Community partners also leveraged their communication networks and canvassed neighborhoods and popular local venues with fair material.

Fix-it Fairs are sponsored by BPS, Energy Trust of Oregon, Legacy Emmanuel Medical Center, Pacific Power, Portland Housing Bureau and Portland General.

A special thank you also goes to those City bureaus and offices that participate in the Fairs: Bureau of Development Services, Bureau of Environmental Services, Bureau of Emergency Management, Bureau of Transportation, Housing Bureau, Parks and Recreation, Water Bureau and the Portland Children’s Levy.

Mayor Charlie Hales said the vision of urban planning remains, but must be modified from time to time to address the changing reality.

“We had a vision for main streets and we still do,” Hales said. “This doesn’t mean we’re moving away from our vision; it just means we’re adjusting. And you know what? We likely will have to do this again in the future.”

Read the adopted New Apartments and Parking Zoning Code Amendments 

Highlights of the Code Amendments

The revised regulations will apply to new apartment buildings with more than 30 units that are within 500 feet of a street with frequent transit service or 1,500 feet of a MAX station, and in certain commercial zones. The amount of parking required depends on the size of the building. For example, buildings with 31 to 40 units will have to provide one parking space per five units, while larger buildings will be required to provide more. But developers will be able reduce their parking obligations up to half by providing various amenities, such as spaces for car- or bike-sharing services.

Background

Portland's first Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 1980, includes goals and policies to “... regulate off-street parking to promote good urban form and the vitality of commercial and employment areas.” In the early ’90s, City officials rewrote the Zoning Code and included three new commercial zones to promote main street storefront character with mixed use/residential development.

Today, historically low vacancy rates, especially in inner Portland, have resulted in a boom of apartment construction, many without onsite parking. In response to community concerns about potential parking impacts, the City Council directed the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to research the issue and develop Zoning Code amendments that require some parking for larger multi-unit buildings.

For more information about the research and study reports or to read the FAQ, visit the project web page.

The 2009 City of Portland/Multnomah County Climate Action Plan (CAP) calls for ten percent of the energy used in Multnomah County to be produced from on-site renewable sources by 2030. The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) established a solar energy program in 2006 and, along with key partners, has helped increase the installed solar capacity in Portland since that time.

However, seventy-five percent of residential consumers in the U.S.aren’t able to install solar on their own rooftops because they rent, have too much shade, can’t afford it or have the wrong rooftop orientation. In recent years, community-shared solar has emerged as an innovative strategy to expand the use of renewable energy to underserved populations. Community solar is a model in which residents can invest in solar electric installations that are located elsewhere, such as a school or community center rooftop, providing a pathway to community ownership of clean power production.

The City of Portland attempted a community-shared solar pilot in 2012 which faced many constraints as part of the existing net-metering laws and available market incentives (i.e., Oregon Volumetric Incentive Rate, Federal Investment Tax Credit). Therefore, the pilot did not ultimately result in solar installations, though a number of valuable lessons were learned.

One of the key findings from the City’s pilot was that community net-metering, instead of standard net-metering, would offer a pragmatic solution to the current legislative and regulatory obstacles to implementing community-shared solar projects.

What is the difference between net metering and community net metering?

Net-metering laws establish how utilities must treat the power produced by a grid-connected solar electric (photovoltaic or PV) system. Under typical net-metering agreements, consumers receive a credit from the utility for the power generated by their solar electric system, valued at the same retail rate that they pay for the power consumed from the grid.

Community net-metering is an expansion of net-metering policy which allows consumers to receive the same benefits enabled by direct ownership of solar electric and standard net-metering, but from a larger, community-scaled solar electric system.

The City of Portland is working with other parties to develop legislative solutions that enable equitable, lower-cost access to solar energy for many more Oregonians than are served by the current net-metering law.

A Public Health Hero is a person or organization that promotes public health in their daily lives. This individual, organization or business is the driving force behind public health efforts that embody the following criteria:

1. Makes a significant difference in the lives of the people served.
2. Builds on individual and community strengths and assets.
3. Mobilizes individuals and community groups to work in collaboration and cooperation.
4. Are unique, innovative or fill an identified gap in a specific community Is characterized by social justice and a celebration of diversity.

Michelle has been a lead author for BPS on sections of several key planning projects:

• Lead author for the Health and Safety Background Report (Comp Plan/Portland Plan). 
•  Primary author for the “Healthy Connected City” strategy in the Portland Plan.
•  Led background research for the Health Impact Assessment that was done for West Hayden Island project. 
•  Created the Health Policy Scan (together with Beth Sanders at Oregon Public Health Institute, as part of a grant project) to help inform the Comprehensive Plan Update project.

City staff were asked to nominate co-workers to honor the women in our bureau who stand out in some way as role models, mentors, or generally exceptional employees. This year seven BPS employees received the award:

• Mindy Brooks
• Shannon Buono
• Valerie Garrett
• Karen Lucchesi
• Nan Stark
• Desiree Williams-Rajee
• Sandra Wood

This month the Local Voices team is focusing on ways we can “steward our stuff” (e.g. responsibly dump our junk). Even if we reduce and reuse as much as possible, we all eventually end up with things that we don’t want or need anymore. But what do we do with all that stuff? Visit www.omsi.edu/badges to find the answer and earn a Clever Choices “Steward Your Stuff” badge at the same time. You might even win a (very useful and eventually recyclable) prize in the process!

While you’re there, you can also go behind-the-scenes at OMSI with exhibit builder Kim Hall in his story about how OMSI learned to “steward its stuff” while building the Clever Together exhibit. (The City helped with the exhibit too!) http://choices.omsi.edu/stories/29

The City of Portland and 20+ other local organizations worked with OMSI to make this project happen. BPS staff, led by Michele Crim, have offered their expertise on sustainability topics, tested and provided feedback on the design and interpretive descriptions for the exhibits, and continue to assist with promotion of these educational opportunities to our broad range of contacts in the community.

CONTACT
Eden Dabbs
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
503-823-9908

Dana Haynes
Office of the Mayor
503-823-4799

PORTLAND,Ore.— Today, the Portland City Council voted to adopt Zoning Code amendments for parking minimums that will apply to some future apartment buildings, depending on their location and size. The new code will go into effect in 30 days. Projects that have already received a building permit or that have submitted a complete permit application will not be affected.

The vote today followed a five-and-a-half-hour public hearing on April 4 before the City Council, at which dozens of people testified for and against the parking minimums. The amendments proposed by Commissioners Nick Fish and Amanda Fritz were included in the adopted code.

Mayor Charlie Hales said the vision of urban planning remains, but must be modified from time to time to address the changing reality.

“We had a vision for main streets and we still do,” Hales said. “This doesn’t mean we’re moving away from our vision; it just means we’re adjusting. And you know what? We likely will have to do this again in the future.”

Read the adopted New Apartments and Parking Zoning Code Amendments

Background

Portland's first Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 1980, includes goals and policies to “... regulate off-street parking to promote good urban form and the vitality of commercial and employment areas.”

In the early ’90s, City officials rewrote the Zoning Code and included three new commercial zones to promote main street storefront character with mixed use/residential development.

Today, historically low vacancy rates, especially in inner Portland, have resulted in a boom of apartment construction, many without onsite parking. In response to community concerns about potential parking impacts, the City Council directed the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to develop Zoning Code amendments that require some parking for larger multi-unit buildings.

For more information about the background reports or to read the FAQ, visit the project web page at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/59974.

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About the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS)

Through partnerships and collaboration, BPS provides: Citywide strategic and comprehensive land use planning; neighborhood, district, economic, historic and environmental research, planning and urban design; policy and services to advance energy efficiency, green building, waste reduction, composting and recycling, solar and renewable energy use, and local sustainable food production; as well as actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. For more information, visit www.portlandoregon.gov/bps.

CONTACT
Eden Dabbs
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
503-823-9908

Eric Engstrom
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
503-823-3329

PORTLAND, Ore.– The Amended Proposed Draft for West Hayden Island is now available for public review. The document, which represents the third draft of proposals for the planning and annexation of West Hayden Island, was released yesterday at a Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) briefing. Read the WHI Amended Proposed Draft

In July 2010, the Portland City Council passed a resolution (No. 36805) directing the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) to develop a legislative proposal for the possible annexation of West Hayden Island to the city.

In August 2012, BPS released the first draft proposal for PSC consideration. In November 2012, a second draft was released, which responded to further input from the project advisory committee. The PSC held two public hearings in November 2012 and discussed the draft proposal in a number of work sessions in early 2013.

This third draft responds to initial direction from the PSC and will be the subject of a PSC hearing on May 7, with a work session and possible vote to be considered on May 28. Upon receipt of a recommendation from the PSC, the City Council may consider this proposal.

Planning and Sustainability Commission Public Hearing
Amended Proposed Draft for West Hayden Island
Tuesday, May 7, 5 p.m.*
1900 SW 4th Ave, Room 2500A
Testimony will be taken.

The public can testify in person or submit testimony in writing by emailing psc@portlandoregon.gov or by mailing a hard copy of comments to PSC, 1900 SW 4th Ave., Suite 7100, Portland, OR 97201. To find out more about how to testify in front of the PSC, download their Tips for Testifying page.

For more information, visit www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/whi.

* Check the PSC calendar one week prior to confirm the time of the hearing: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/35452

The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is committed to providing equal access to information and hearings. If you need special accommodation, please call 503-823-7700, the City’s TTY at 503-823-6868, or the Oregon relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.

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About the West Hayden Island Project

In July 2010 the Portland City Council passed a resolution directing BPS to develop a legislative proposal for the possible annexation of WestHaydenIslandto the City. Because the island is valuable for both its marine industrial potential as well as wildlife habitat, Council specified that the proposal should incorporate a concept plan that designates at least 500 acres as open space and no more than 300 acres for future deep water marine terminal development. The City worked with the project’s advisory committee and the Planning and Sustainability Commission to prepare a draft plan based on this concept plan as part of the legislative package for City Council consideration. For more information, please visit www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/whi.

About the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS)

Through partnerships and collaboration, BPS provides: Citywide strategic and comprehensive land use planning; neighborhood, district, economic, historic and environmental research, planning and urban design; policy and services to advance energy efficiency, green building, waste reduction, composting and recycling, solar and renewable energy use, and local sustainable food production; as well as actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. For more information, visit www.portlandoregon.gov/bps.

March 28, 2013

CONTACT

City Council Public Hearing
Recommended Zoning Code Amendments for Parking Minimums
City Council Chambers
1221 SW 4^th Avenue
Public testimony will be taken.

Written testimony can be submitted to the Council Clerk at 1221 SW 4^th Avenue, Room 140, Portland, OR 97204, or FAX comments to 503-823-4571. Emailed testimony can be sent to karla.moore-love@portlandoregon.gov. Testimony must be received by April 4. 

The Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC) held a public hearing regarding new apartments and parking on March 12, 2013. The commissioners heard testimony from a variety of stakeholders and community members on a proposal presented by City staff. Following public testimony and deliberations, the PSC recommended minor changes to the proposal.

Read the PSC’s Recommended Draft

For more information or to read the FAQ, please visit the project web page at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/59974.   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 11, 2013

CONTACT 

Eden Dabbs
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
503-823-9908
eden.dabbs@portlandoregon.gov

PORTLAND, Ore. — On Tuesday, March 12, 2013, the Planning and Sustainability Commission will hold a public hearing to consider proposed code amendments for new apartments and parking. The public is invited to attend.

WHAT: Planning and Sustainability Commission Public Hearing on New Apartments and Parking Proposed Zoning Code Amendments

WHEN: March 12, 2013, 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: 1900 SW 4th Ave, Room 2500A, Portland, OR 97201

WHY: In the last year, there has been an increase in new multi-dwelling buildings along commercial streets in Portland's close-in neighborhoods, including projects that do not include off-street parking. These projects are being built under current City policies and Zoning Code provisions. Some community members have reacted with concern about the number of these projects and lack of parking, while others have expressed support for current policy. At the direction of City Council, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability staff have put together the proposed code amendments, which are focused on creating minimum parking standards for new large multi-unit buildings.

Read the proposal: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/434428.

The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is committed to providing equal access to information and hearings. If you need special accommodation, please call 503-823-7700, the City’s TTY at 503-823-6868, or the Oregon relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.

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The City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS), www.portlandoregon.gov/bps develops innovative and practical solutions to create and enhance a prosperous, educated, healthy and equitable city. The bureau provides: Citywide strategic and comprehensive land use planning; neighborhood, district, economic, historic and environmental research, planning and urban design; policy and services to advance energy efficiency, green building, waste reduction, composting and recycling, solar and renewable energy use, and local sustainable food production; as well as actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. 

Portland City Council is slated to vote on a new energy rebate offering, Bucks for Buildings, that will help Portland’s small businesses save energy and money. Starting today, owners can apply to be considered for this limited-time rebate, pending Council consideration on February 13, that will reduce the cost of making energy-efficiency improvements to their buildings by as much as 75 percent.

“Small businesses make up 92 percent of the businesses in Portland,” said Portland Mayor Charlie Hales. “Bucks for Buildings will help us build stronger, more resilient neighborhood businesses by lowering their operating costs.”

The City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability created the new project with funding through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Neighborhood program.

“Partners in the Better Buildings Neighborhood Program are leading by example, showing firsthand how energy efficiency improvements can save money by saving energy,” said Dr. Kathleen Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency at the U.S. Department of Energy. “The investments they’ve made through this program are helping to cut energy waste while saving American businesses millions in energy costs, creating jobs nationwide and helping to position the United States to lead in the global economy.”

Details of Rebate Opportunity

• This rebate will cover up to 50 percent of the cost of eligible energy-efficiency improvements made to Portland buildings up to 50,000 square feet in total size.
• Non-profit organizations will be eligible for a rebate of up to 75 percent of project costs.
• Eligible improvements include insulation, heating and cooling equipment, lighting and controls, and food service equipment.
• A fund of $300,000 will be available for these rebates, which will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
• For more information call 503-823-3919 or visit: www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/bucks.

Rebate Eligibility Criteria

• Available to owners and tenants of commercial buildings that are located withinPortlandcity limits and are 50,000 square feet or less in total size.
• Rebates will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis while funds last.
• Rebates available from $1,000 to $30,000 per project.
• Improvements must meet Energy Star® or Energy Trust of Oregon efficiency standards.
• Work must be performed by an approved contractor.
• Additional restrictions apply.

Not Sure What Upgrades are Needed?

There’s even more help on the way to determine the most cost-effective investment: For a limited time, BPS is offering a free energy assessment for buildings 10,000 square feet and under. From this assessment businesses will receive a report that prioritizes energy upgrades, estimates savings and identifies relevant tax credits and financial incentives. For eligibility and enrollment information, visit www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/assess.

Questions?

Interested business owners or property managers may contact the Bucks for Buildings Project Coordinator, Marlowe Kulley, at 503-823-3919 or marlowe.kulley@portlandoregon.gov.

Portland’s businesses of all sizes can continue to save money, use greener products and technologies, cut costs and gain efficiencies through the Sustainability at Work program at BPS. Visit www.sustainabilityatworkpdx.com.

• Together, we adopted the Portland Plan, our strategic plan for a prosperous, educated, healthy, equitable and resilient future.
• Through the expanded composting and recycling program, Portland residents reduced the amount of garbage we send to the landfill by nearly 40 percent — in just one year. No other city in the world has done this much in such a short period of time. And all that food and yard waste tripled the production of nutrient-rich compost for farms and gardens.
• We updated our zoning code to make it easier for people to grow, sell and buy locally grown food here in Portland.
• Through our Sustainability at Work program, we helped more than 900 companies save money, use greener products and technologies, cut costs and gain efficiencies.
• We rezoned SE 122nd, a major thoroughfare in East Portland, so that over the coming years residents will be able to enjoy more of the retail and commercial amenities found in our inner neighborhoods.
• Closer to the Willamette, we completed a plan for the future of the northeast quadrant of the Central City, a place rich with history and development potential.
• In 2012, we made significant progress implementing the Climate Action Plan. In Portland, total carbon emissions are now down 6 percent below 1990 levels. This compares to an increase of more than 12 percent for the rest of the United States. Clearly we are headed in a different direction.
• In the Cully neighborhood, we celebrated the opening of a green street and developed a new plan to address community needs for more neighborhood-serving commercial development and improve the safety and accessibility of Cully’s neighborhood streets, as more people move to this neighborhood and discover its charm.
• We instituted a policy banning plastic bags and applauded as Portlanders increased their use of reusable bags by 300 percent.
• We launched the Killowatt Crackdown, a friendly competition to inspire energy efficiency in Portland’s largest commercial buildings.
• In collaboration with several city bureaus, we officially came into compliance with Metro’s Title 13, Nature in Neighborhoods. The approach features both regulatory and non-regulatory actions to protect and enhance thousands of acres of regionally significant natural resources.
• On a more personal note — BPS staff are known for volunteering in the community, and even raised more than $5,000 for the Oregon Food Bank at our annual winter auction. All in all, it’s been an extremely productive year.

So what’s next?

2013 brings new City leadership and the opportunity for new vision and collaboration. A major effort underway for BPS is the development of our new Comprehensive Plan. As a once-in-a-generation update, it is a comprehensive task requiring all hands on deck! Dozens of community, business, academic and neighborhood leaders are working on this project as part of the Policy Expert Groups. These advisory groups are focused on such topics as housing, economic development, watershed health, community involvement, infrastructure, neighborhoods and transportation. Their work will be stitched together within the new Urban Design Framework, which forms the basic structure for the physical components of the Comprehensive Plan.

As you’ll read further on, the Comprehensive Plan – Working Draft Part 1 has recently been published, and public feedback is needed. We hope to see some of you at workshops around the city in February and March. Or visit us at www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/pdxcompplan and tell us what you think.

Many other efforts are underway this year:

• The annexation ofWestHaydenIslandis moving toward a decision by the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC). Staff is working hard to support the commission as they devote several meetings from now until April to further understand and consider the many complex environmental, economic and social issues related to the annexation decision. The PSC is scheduled to make a recommendation to City Council in April.
• A new code improvement project is underway to make it easier for homeowners in our historic and conservation districts to make minor improvements to their homes.
• We’re also working on a concept plan for the future of Barbur Boulevard, in cooperation with Metro.
• Elsewhere on the Westside, we’re launching the Central City West Quadrant Plan to address longstanding issues in places like Goose Hollow and Old Town/Chinatown, and take advantage of the energy and investments occurring in the education district around PSU, theNorth Pearland South Waterfront.
• And, we will begin the Central Eastside Quadrant Plan, including a focus on the challenges and opportunities related to industrial, commercial, transportation and housing issues, and transit–oriented development as part of Milwaukie light rail area planning.
• We are in the early stages of improving garbage and recycling services for renters, to ensure that all residents, whether they own their home or rent, have access to the same information and quality of service for their household.
• Parking for new apartments being built in the inner eastside neighborhoods continues to be an issue. A proposal will be brought to the PSC and City Council that will likely include some additional parking requirements and options to help ensure better access for people with disabilities.
• We’re preparing options to help create a more resilient community through a Climate Adaptation Strategy, which includes recommendations on how the City and the County can minimize the impacts on our community of climate-related risks, such as extreme weather, floods, droughts and heat waves.
• And we’ll continue to provide technical assistance to other bureaus on how to cut energy costs in City facilities. Projects over the past two decades have resulted in more than $40 million in electricity and natural gas savings, while total savings for 2012 were more than $5.5 million.
• We will wrap up the first three years of our partnership with Clean Energy Works Oregon with energy efficiency improvements in more than 5,000 homes.
• For residents, the Fix-It Fairs continue to be hugely popular events held in neighborhoods and serving more than 2,000 households each year.
• And businesses can take advantage of a new service offering free energy assessments and financial incentives for energy efficiency improvements. In addition, we will continue to offer onsite assistance to hundreds of companies focused on waste reduction, energy and water efficiency, solar and transportation options.

So as you can see, 2012 was a busy year, and we have much exciting work ahead. We hope our efforts, and our business and community partnerships, have provided a benefit to your household, neighborhood or business. Let us know how we can work with you to build a more prosperous, healthy and resilient community.

Susan Anderson, Director 

Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

The goal of the Historic Resources Code Improvement Project is to streamline the regulatory process around historic design review. The project team has been looking at ways to create a quicker, easier-to-understand and more predictable review process for projects with minor impacts on historic resources, as well as clarifying code definitions and other code clean-up measures.

On Jan. 22, 2013, the Planning and Sustainability Commission held a public hearing to consider the Proposed Historic Resources Code Improvement Project Zoning Code Amendments, and voted to forward a package of recommended Zoning Code Amendments to City Council.

What happens next?

Council is expected to hold a hearing on the code amendments on Feb. 27, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. The recommended report will be available the first week of February. The adopted code amendments will be effective 37 days after the City Council vote.

After adoption, the project team will continue its work to improve the regulatory process and provide benefits to homeowners in the historic and conservation districts. The code amendments may also allow the Bureau of Development Services to reduce historic review fees for smaller projects in the near future.

For more information about the project and how to get involved, please visit the project website at www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/58976 or call 503-823-5869.

The commission expressed their commitment to resolving the complex issues and making a recommendation within three to six months. The work plan lays out a schedule for the next few months and aims to address the questions the PSC  raised about the planning project and previously proposed amendments .

Several work sessions have been scheduled in January and February, covering the following topics:

• January 22: Draft Intergovernmental Agreement and Timelines
• January 29: Environmental and Sovereign Nation Involvement and Treaty Interests
• February 12: Community Health and Transportation
• February 26: Economic, Financial and Land Supply

Based on these work sessions, staff will release a revised Proposed Draft in March. The PSC will hold another hearing on the revisions in April, after which they will make a recommendation to City Council.

To find out more about these events please check the WHI Calendar.

2012’s event surpassed 2011’s efforts by $2,000 with 108 more items. The BPS Silent Auction has been organized by a volunteer committee and has remained a popular way for staff to give back to our community since 2006. To date BPS has raised $23,150  for local charities.

The Oregon Food Bank’s Fresh Alliance program provides nutritious, perishable food, like meat, milk and dairy, to people who are hungry statewide. Since its inception, the program has kept 16-million pounds of food from being wasted and has become a national model.

While reducing a building’s energy use is important, so is the selection of materials used in its construction. Each year building construction and remodeling consumes many tons of materials,  creating significant waste. While designing and building a project there are multiple ways to reduce waste, saving time, materials and money.

How to reduce construction waste and decrease material purchases

Reducing waste is an important first step in construction debris management: 

• Whether a do-it-yourselfer, or hiring a design-build team, identify which materials you will reuse or recycle before you start your project.
• Talk to your contractor and waste hauler about your waste management goals and how to reach them.
• Make the best use of materials through thoughtful design, measurement, ordering and installation. Recycled-content porcelain tiles and steel roofing panels are examples of these types of building materials becoming more easily available.
• Build flexible additions or rooms serving multiple functions, saving space, materials and reducing waste.
• Reuse salvaged materials like finish lumber, doors, lighting and hardware – an added bonus is the patina and added character these bring to your design.
• Protect materials from moisture and exposure to reduce maintenance or replacement (and save money) down the line.

Waste reduction can also be broken down into strategies that happen before breaking ground (design phase) and strategies that happen on the site during building (construction phase). Here are some examples of design strategies: 

Design in two-foot and four-foot increments: Lumber and sheet materials are typically milled in two-foot increments. Designing your building using these modules will maximize the use of materials and minimize waste.

Deeper eaves — it rains in Oregon: Deeper eaves or overhangs protect siding and windows from the elements, meaning they will need repair and replacement less often. Deeper eaves may also keep your building cooler in summer by blocking the sun's heat from penetrating windows and exterior walls.

Use fewer materials and design for simplicity: Designing spaces with open-frame ceilings and shelves without cabinet doors are a few examples of how less is more.

Adaptability: Think about how a building will evolve over time. How can it be remodeled or reconfigured with minimal impact to elements such as flooring and utilities? Design multi-use spaces, not just a room for each activity. Eliminate the need for hallways. Consider dedicating a small area to grouping utility connections for easy replacement in the future with minimal disruption to interior spaces.

Aging-in-place: Designing a house with universal design principles (accessible to both people with and without disabilities), allows elders to remain in a house without having to make major modifications to the structure when needs or abilities change. Doorway widths, counters, toilets, grab bars are examples. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are an excellent example of a way to accommodate change in the various stages of life.

New form makes it easier to plan recycling of construction debris

BPS recently revised the Pre-Construction Recycling Plan Form that general contractors or property owners receive after issuance of a building permit. The updated form is now a postage-paid self-mailer, making it more user-friendly. The revised form, now known as the Construction and Demolition Debris Management Form, is distributed at permit application for all building projects regardless of value. Owners or general contractors of building projects equal to or greater than $50,000 (including both demolition and construction phases) are still required to complete and return the form. However, completing and returning the form is optional for building projects less than $50,000.

For more information on the City’s construction and demolition debris requirements, the revised form, and additional ways to reduce construction waste (or reuse/recycle it) please visit BPS’s Construction and Demolition Debris website, RecyclingNutsAndBolts.com.

Visit us at an upcoming Fix-It Fair

Pick up a free handy waste minimization bookmark at the Regional Green Building Hotline booth at the upcoming neighborhood Fix-It Fair February 23 at Ron Russell Middle School. 

Not sure what upgrades your building might need, or what will be the most cost effective investment? We can help with that too. For a limited time BPS is also offering a free energy assessment to buildings 10,000 square feet and under. From this assessment you’ll receive a report that prioritizes energy upgrades, estimates savings and identifies relevant tax credits and financial incentives. For eligibility and enrollment information please visit http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/assess.

The vision takes advantage of existing strengths in each area, situated in four unique segments  (Lair Hill, The Woods,Historic Highway and Far Southwest) and proposes several big ideas to correct current deficiencies and promote public and private investment.

The vision is supported by an economic analysis of what the market would support and when. The report’s key finding is that future high capacity transit (HCT) is a necessary ingredient to making the vision real. Attracting substantial private investment will likely require a significant change to the look and feel of Barbur that only an investment in HCT can deliver.

Barbur Boulevard’s Past

Barbur was first a railroad route that was converted to an auto boulevard in the 1920s, linking downtown to other parts of the southwest. When Barbur became part of the state highway system (99W), early commercial development was tailored to the automobile and traveler services. When I‑5 was built in the 1950s, Barbur continued to serve regional traffic, but without the funding and attention that a standalone highway might receive. Consequently, the southwest neighborhoods continue to advocate for basic pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements. With Metro's SW Corridor Plan, the time is right to consider how to complete this roadway’s transformation from a rail line, to a highway, and now to a civic corridor that offers an enjoyable place for people to live, work, play and learn.

What’s Next?

After the hearing, the PSC will make their recommendation to City Council, which will adopt the plan by resolution and direct City staff to craft coordinated amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Code and capital improvement plans. These legislative actions will need to correspond to future regional decisions related to high capacity transit and other major infrastructure investment in the southwest corridor over the next 2-5 years. This will ensure that Barbur, the adjoining neighborhoods and the City can take advantage of opportunities when they arise to move the community's shared vision forward.

A copy of the proposed concept plan will be available on the project website in early February.

Relationship Between the Barbur Concept Plan and the Southwest Corridor Plan

The Southwest Corridor Plan is a multi-jurisdictional effort focusing on the corridor between Southwest Portland and Sherwood. This effort examines land use, transportation improvements and strategies for improving the built environment. Priorities are to increase prosperity, health and mobility within and through the corridor. The Barbur Concept plan is a subset of the Southwest Corridor Plan, providing land use analysis and identifying key transportation and other infrastructure improvements.

For more information on the Southwest Corridor Plan, please visit the website at www.swcorridorplan.org.

While the Portland Plan set goals and policies for economic development, housing, education, transportation and watershed health, the new Comprehensive Plan will help implement them through more specific city policies to help us make better on-the-ground decisions in our neighborhoods. With the Comprehensive Plan as the foundation, we can improve zoning and provide direction prosperous and sustainable development throughout the city. These ideas will then be represented through a set of maps and a list of capital projects.

The bureau recently published the Working Draft Part 1 of the Comprehensive Plan Update, which includes initial draft goals and policies for public discussion and review. The accompanying Companion Guide  provides an introduction to the Working Draft Part 1 and highlights the document’s main ideas. 

Collective Effort Requires Community Input

The Comprehensive Plan Update is being developed with the help of more than 160 community members, technical experts and City staff from a variety of bureaus who serve on eight different advisory committees called Policy Expert Groups (PEGs). Now it’s time for the entire city to have a say in how this long-range land use plan will evolve.

“We need your help to bring this document from a “60 percent draft” to 100 percent,” says Bureau Director Susan Anderson. “The draft Comprehensive Plan is a work in progress, which means there are still areas to be fleshed out and detail to be added. I encourage all Portlanders to join me at a workshop or give us your feedback in whatever way you can.”

Portlanders are invited to review and comment on the Working Draft Part 1, available on the Comprehensive Plan Update project website at www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/pdxcompplan. Printed copies are also available at Multnomah County libraries throughout the city and at the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.

The Working Draft Part 2, available this summer, will include draft maps and a draft list of capital projects. 

Citywide Workshops Offer Chance to Learn and Comment 

In February and March, City staff and partners will be sharing information and soliciting feedback through a series of community workshops in six different locations.

Workshop Dates and Times 

West: Tuesday, February 19, 6 – 9 p.m.
Multnomah Arts Center
7688 SW Capitol Highway, Portland

North: Tuesday, February 26, 5:30 –  8:30 p.m.
De La Salle North Catholic High School
7528 N Fenwick Avenue, Portland

Southeast: Thursday, February 28, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Franklin High School
5405 SE Woodward Street, Portland

East: Saturday, March 2, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
David Douglas High School
1001 SE 135th Avenue, Portland

Central: Tuesday, March 5, 5 – 8 p.m.
Smith Memorial Student Union, Portland State University
1825 SW Broadway, Portland

Northeast: Saturday, March 9, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Beaumont Middle School
4043 NE Fremont Street, Portland

Business: Thursday, March 14, 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Location to be announced

For more information about how to engage, visit the Get Involved section of the Comprehensive Plan Update website at www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/pdxcompplan.