City Council to consider zoning code changes to adjustments that bring the city into compliance with Senate Bill 1537

News Article

Community members can testify about the Housing Adjustment Compliance Project in writing online via the Map App or in person or virtually at a public hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m.

The City Council will consider amending the City's Zoning Code to allow adjustments to a range of development standards that impact minimum lot sizes, maximum heights, bike parking locations and cottage cluster standards at a public hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 30 starting at 2 p.m. The Recommended Draft of the Housing Adjustment Compliance Project is now available for review and public testimony is welcome.

Background

The Housing Adjustment Compliance Project amends several sections in Portland's Zoning Code, Title 33, to comply with Senate Bill 1537 (SB 1537), especially Sections 38 and 39 of the bill, which were adopted by the State in May. SB 1537 requires local jurisdictions to allow applicants to request adjustments to a variety of development and design standards. Jurisdictions must either apply the state language directly to a development review, incorporate the bill's language into their local zoning codes, or request a state exemption if their existing local zoning code and process achieves the same principle.

With the proposed amendments to Portland's Zoning Code, any current prohibitions on adjustments addressed by the bill are temporarily lifted to allow an adjustment or modification until Jan. 2, 2032. Some of the standards addressed in the proposed amendments include minimum lot size and dimension standards, maximum height thresholds, bike parking locations, and some middle housing provisions. In most cases, the adjustment allowance is limited to the amount of variation dictated by SB 1537, although height adjustments in Central City can be allowed to vary at a greater amount. After Jan. 2, 2032, the provisions allowing these adjustments will automatically be rescinded, and the Zoning Code that is currently in effect will apply again.

While the City's proposed code changes initially followed the minimum requirements for compliance, the Planning Commission's recommendation does allow height adjustment requests in the Central City to exceed the 20 percent variance stated in the bill. On Sept. 10, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the amendment package to City Council with this height change.

Read the Recommended Draft

Tell City Council what you think

Tell the commissioners what you think about the proposed code changes developed by staff and recommended by the Planning Commission. Community members can review the Recommended Draft and testify in writing or in person to the City Council.

Testify in writing

Community members are encouraged to testify in writing on the Recommended Draft via the Map App. Submitting testimony through the Map App is as easy as sending an email (be sure to click the "testify" button). Written testimony must be received by the time of the hearing.

Testify in writing via the Map App

Testify verbally

The City Council hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. will be a hybrid format with options to participate in person at 1900 SW Fourth Avenue, Room 2500, or virtually using a computer, mobile device or telephone. You must sign up to testify in advance. The Council Clerk will post the agenda with the public testimony registration links on Friday, Oct. 25 at 9 a.m. To testify before City Council in person or virtually, visit the Council hearing event page for instructions.