The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability released updates on April 14 regarding several ongoing long-range planning projects in the city. The update outlines progress, recent public engagement opportunities, and next steps for multiple initiatives focused on housing, infrastructure, business support, environmental protection, and urban development.
These projects are significant as they address key challenges facing Portland’s communities. Efforts include supporting economic recovery downtown, increasing affordable housing options outside the central city, reducing risks at critical energy facilities, preserving legacy businesses, improving public infrastructure management in natural areas, fostering equitable development in historic districts like Albina, updating zoning regulations to remove barriers to development citywide, aligning environmental protections with industrial growth needs in the Columbia Corridor and other industrial lands, ensuring an adequate supply of developable land for jobs through the Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA), and setting a framework for future development along the northern Willamette River.
Among highlighted initiatives is the Central City Code Amendments Project. This project seeks creative solutions to promote housing production amid continued high vacancy rates downtown following pandemic trends. Public input was recently collected through online and in-person events; a Proposed Draft will be released for further review later this month before a scheduled hearing at the Planning Commission.
Another major effort is addressing safety concerns at Portland’s Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub—a six-mile area that stores most of Oregon’s liquid fuel supply but faces earthquake vulnerability. Recent recommendations call for stricter regulations on bulk fuel facilities including a planned reduction in storage tank capacity by 2036. The proposal will move to City Council later this year after extensive commission review.
Other projects advancing include proposed changes to boost affordable multi-family housing outside Central City; steps toward establishing a Legacy Business Preservation Program; code amendments supporting replacement of public infrastructure while protecting natural resources; partnership-driven restorative development plans for Lower Albina; minor regulatory improvements via RICAP 11; realignment of environmental overlays with green infrastructure needs; refinement of job growth projections through EOA work sessions; and mapping efforts related to future policies along North Willamette River.
Several opportunities remain open or upcoming for community members to engage—especially as new drafts are published or hearings scheduled throughout spring and summer. Project websites provide up-to-date information about participation.
