Portland’s ReCode

Portland is in the process of updating its land use code (zoning).

Portland is in the process of updating its land use code (zoning).

The Planning Department has begun their overhaul of the City’s Design Manual, a document that contains standards and guidelines for new construction in various districts across the city. Following a kick-off meeting for the project in early 2021, a working group, that includes a representative from Landmarks is working to advise city staff on several key sections of the manual. As chapters are available for review, the city will post them for public feedback.

the issue

Following the completion of the city’s new comprehensive plan in 2017, the planning department, with advice from the Council’s Ad Hoc ReCode Committee and the Planning Board undertook Phase I of a comprehensive rewrite of the land use ordinance. Phase I was largely a reorganization of the existing code. Removing duplicate information and simplifying dimensional standards into more easily read charts reduced the bulk of the text considerably. Although some changes were incorporated into Phase I, more substantive changes are under consideration for Phase II. Phase II, which got underway in Spring 2021, will have a considerable impact on how Portland grows for the next 10-25 years. We hope that the future changes will facilitate the creation of additional housing units in new and existing buildings in all zones, focus development and revitalization efforts to reinforce a network of walkable neighborhoods that are interconnected by trails and public transportation, and begin to prepare Portland to be more resilient in the face of climate change.

Our Position

Greater Portland Landmarks supported the redraft of the land use code into a more user-friendly document. We provided comment and met with city staff throughout the Phase I reorganization on proposed text changes that affect historic landmarks and districts, as well as historic but undesignated neighborhoods. We supported proposed changes to the Historic Preservation Ordinance and allowances for accessory dwelling unit options throughout the city. We are currently part of a working group assisting the City of Portland on the design manual update.

Phase II will be an enormous task for the city and will have an large impact on the city’s development for at least a generation. We believe it is critically important for neighborhoods and concerned citizens to be as involved as possible in the process. During Phase I there was limited public engagement in the many workshops held by the planning board. Land use code is a daunting and dense subject to many people. In the coming months, Landmarks will focus our advocacy to help our membership and the community become more familiar with the existing code and become more engaged with the city’s process so that Portland in 2030 reflects the city we envisioned during the comprehensive planning process.

 
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