Three years ago the City of Portland took a step backward and implemented arbitrary parking minimums for new transit oriented multi-family construction containing 30 or more units. These zoning changes didn’t apply in densely populated Northwest Portland because that area of town is governed by the Northwest District Plan (NWDP).
Parking has long been a scarce resource in NW Portland, as anyone who has ever lived, worked, or visited businesses or friends there (by car) can attest. After many years of planning and negotiation, the district is expanding its permit zones and adding meters (although the meters won’t be enforced during the peak evening entertainment hours). Somewhat ironically, the parking management programs finally being implemented there are likely to be obsolete as soon as new overnight permit programs are approved and when performance parking policy is created, hopefully, later this year.
Unfortunately, rather than continue to refine the nascent permit and meter policy in the district, there has been a quiet project to implement the same minimum parking requirements for new buildings with more than 30 units in NW Portland. When rents in Portland are rising at alarming rates, displacement is rampant, and the city struggles to add supply to house newcomers to the city, this is another step in the wrong direction. Portland is set to require more housing for cars when it lacks the will to require housing for people on limited incomes [while mandatory inclusionary zoning is banned, the city could, today, require affordable units as a pre-requisite for any developer bonuses].
On March 8, 2016 the Planning and Sustainability Commission will hear this proposal. Portland Shoupistas encourages testimony, both written and in person, opposing the imposition of new parking requirements. NWPD should be fast-tracking more modern and effective parking management, such as market rate permit prices, limiting permit supply, and longer meter hours, to deal with parking congestion.
The public is invited to provide testimony on this proposal in person at the public hearing in front of the Planning and Sustainability Commission (PSC).
Planning and Sustainability Commission Public Hearing
Northwest Parking Update Project
March 8, 2016 at 12:30 pm.
1900 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 2500A (second floor)
Please call 503-823-7700 or check the PSC calendar (http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/35452) for the scheduled time.
Testimony may also be submitted before the hearing in writing via the following:
By U.S. Mail:
Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission
1900 SW 4th Avenue Suite 7100
Portland, OR 97201
Attn: NW District Parking Update
By email: psc@portlandoregon.gov
Michael Andersen says
Is there any way to estimate the impact of the 2013 parking restrictions on housing supply? Seems hard but I haven’t fully thought it out. Maybe someone at BPS has?
Tony says
Digging through developments filed since then, particularly those with 30-40 units and trying to figure if they’d have parking w/o the regulations? Maybe interviewing some developers?
Kathryn says
I am blanking on his name, but there’s a planner at BPS who we worked at PBOT who i think ran those numbers for us for during the parking planning processes that just wrapped up. I can try and ask/ forward the contact info, I don’t know if BPS staff can talk directly to press either though…