Portlanders are invited to view the elements of the long-range plan to guide growth, change and improvements over the next 20 years, and provide comments to the Planning and Sustainability Commission
Portland, ORE. — Portland’s current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1980. That year, Mt St Helens erupted, Jimmy Carter was president, the first MAX line was still in the design phase, and the city’s population was 366,000. Now, some 220,000 people later — and another 200,000 on the way — the Proposed Draft of a new 2035 Comprehensive Plan is available for public review and comment.
See the Comprehensive Plan Proposed Draft.
The draft 2035 Comprehensive Plan will guide the City as we leverage new investments and growth to ensure that Portland becomes more prosperous, healthy and resilient for everyone. Much more than simply a map or new zoning code, the 2035 Plan provides a framework for the City to create opportunities for more jobs, affordable housing, a low-carbon economy, a clean environment, increased mobility and greater equity among Portlanders.
The draft 2035 Plan carries forward the best of many successful approaches from the 1980 Comprehensive Plan, such as directing growth and development in vibrant centers like St Johns, Multnomah Village and Hollywood and along bustling corridors like Sandy, Powell and Barbur boulevards, to support a connected network of healthier, more complete neighborhoods. To learn more about Centers and Corridors, watch the video below.
This video is the first in a series of five about Portland’s growth management strategy and what it will look like in the 21st century.
In addition, it considers new priorities and recommends that Portland find more effective ways to fill infrastructure gaps and address equity; provide more land for jobs; improve natural areas and open spaces; and build our resilience to climate change and natural disasters.
Parts of the Plan
The 2035 Comprehensive Plan Proposed Draft comprises four main parts, which together guide land use and infrastructure investment decisions in Portland:
- Goals and Policies – Long-term aspirations for Portland and the work that must be done to achieve them.
- A set of maps – Land use designations for growth, development and conservation.
- List of Significant Projects – Planned infrastructure projects to meet the transportation, sewer, stormwater and water needs of Portland’s current and future residents and businesses.
- Portions of the Transportation System Plan (TSP) – Transportation policies, street classifications and street plan maps.
While most of Portland’s land area will not be directly affected by land use or zone changes, the City is proposing four major changes to increase livability:
1. Complete Neighborhoods – Most new growth will be focused in Centers and Corridors, which include clusters of shops, restaurants, offices and housing. This approach promotes convenience, walkability and access to services. Development will be scaled to the size and character of Portland’s various centers and corridors.
2. Jobs – The draft 2035 Plan includes areas where a variety of new jobs can be created, including campuses for colleges and hospitals, as well as policies to support more efficient uses of industrial land.
3. Risks and Service Gaps – Proposed changes will help protect public health and safety, avoid exacerbating natural hazard risks, and acknowledge limited infrastructure or services. This includes changes to slow the pace and scale of development in East Portland, while maintaining a strong commitment to continued investment in essential infrastructure.
4. Neighborhoods, Parks and Open Space – Changes to some residential densities and updates to open space designations will better reflect existing neighborhood character and acknowledge recent park land acquisitions.
View changes and comment from your kitchen table with online Map App
Maps and significant projects from the draft 2035 Plan can be viewed and commented on through an interactive Map App, accessible from any computer, tablet or smart phone. Viewers can:
- Click through the different map themes to view proposed land use changes, and transportation and infrastructure investments.
- Enter an address to view the area within a quarter mile of that location and learn what changes may affect that property and/or neighborhood.
- Submit comments about a specific proposal (or change) directly onto the Map App. It will be forwarded to the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC).
Built entirely in-house by the geographic information system (GIS) team at the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, the Map App is intended to engage more Portlanders in the planning process. As a tool, it gives people more options to learn about and comment on the Proposed Draft without having to attend a meeting or read long documents.
Feedback and Comments
As a state-mandated plan, the Proposed Draft will be presented to the City’s Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC), a volunteer advisory group responsible for advising City Council on long-range planning decisions. The PSC will hold several public hearings where Portlanders can testify in person, starting in late September:
September 23, 2014 at 5 p.m.
(Focus on Goals and Policies)
1900 SW 4th Avenue, Room 2500A
October 14, 2014 at 5 p.m.
(Focus on Maps)
Community location TBD
October 28, 2014 at 5 p.m.
(Focus on Maps)
Community location TBD
November 4, 2014 at 4 p.m.
(Focus on Citywide Systems Plan and Transportation System Plan)
1900 SW 4th Avenue, Room 2500A
Portlanders may also submit feedback on the Proposed Draft of the 2035 Plan online through the Map App or in writing to the PSC. After considering testimony and revising the Proposed Draft, the commission will submit a Recommended Plan to City Council in spring of 2015.
“As a major opportunity to implement the Portland Plan, the 2035 Comprehensive Plan gives us a detailed roadmap to the future,” said Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Director Susan Anderson. “We invite you to review the draft 2035 Plan and give us your feedback. Your comments are critical for helping to create a healthier, more resilient and prosperous city for us and future generations.”
Helpline and Other Support
The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has set up a helpline to answer questions from the public. The line is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Mondays until 8 p.m. Call: 503-823-0195.
In addition, the City’s District Liaisons will be holding “office hours” at various times and locations throughout the summer to help answer community questions. Check the Comp Plan calendar for dates, times and locations or contact your district liaison.
Background
This new plan builds on dozens of community plans since 1980, including the Portland Plan, Climate Action Plan, the Portland Economic Development Strategy, Parks 2020 Vision, Albina Community Plan, East Portland Action Plan, the Watershed Management Plan, the 1980 Comprehensive Plan and many others.