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Proposal would effectively eliminate minimum parking requirements in Portland

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Mayor Ted Wheeler has proposed an amendment to the city’s Better Housing by Design project that would effectively eliminate the remaining parking requirements for new multi-family housing in Portland. Existing waivers only apply to buildings within an arbitrary distance of frequent service transit, requiring some projects just a few steps away from the boundary to build parking.

Tell City Council by Wednesday, November 6th (2PM) that you support proposed Amendment 2 for Better Housing by Design. This amendment will waive parking requirements for any project that includes regulated affordable housing.  You can submit testimony through the Map App https://www.portlandmaps.com/bps/testify/#/mdz. For more information on testifying to support the project check out Portland: Neighbors Welcome #BetterBHD action alert.

Better Housing by Design (BHD) revises development and design standards for new apartment zones in Portland. The project will create more housing options for households of all ages, sizes, and income levels. The recommended draft expanded parking waivers for projects on small (<10,000 sq/ft) lots and cut requirements for projects deemed too far from transit in half, but a few recent projects in Portland have shown the problem that transit proximity based parking waivers can cause.

Screenshot of amendment text. Text is as follows. Affordable housing parking exemption: Amend the Chapter 33.266 affordable housing parking exception so that the exemption from minimum parking requirements for projects providing inclusionary housing units applies regardless of location. The amendment also adds the Deeper Housing Affordability Bonus to the types of affordable housing that can use this exemption. Sponsor: Mayor Wheeler Code section: 33.266.110.D The intent of this amendment is to reduce costs and support the economic feasibility of projects that provide affordable housing units by making parking optional, instead of required. The amendment responds to testimony that requested discontinuing minimum parking requirements, but links this to the provision of affordable units. This amendment would affect projects providing affordable units through inclusionary housing provisions, primarily in the multi- dwelling and mixed-use zones, as well as the proposed Deeper Housing Affordability Bonus. Currently, projects utilizing inclusionary housing bonuses are exempt from minimum parking requirements when located within 500 feet of frequent-service transit lines or within 1,500 feet of light rail stations (applies to 73 percent of multi-dwelling zone properties). Outside of these distances, minimum parking requirements apply although affordable units are subtracted from the minimum parking calculations. 95 percent of multi-dwelling and mixed use zone properties are located within 1,500 feet (just over a quarter mile) of frequent- service transit, meaning that most development is close to frequent transit. A feasibility analysis (see Recommended Draft Appendix C – Part 2) indicated that parking requirements impact the economic feasibility of projects with inclusionary housing units (structured parking typically costs around $40,000 per parking space and takes up building area that could be used for housing units).
The proposed amendment (via https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/746130)

If the proposed amendment is accepted, and the larger proposal is passed, then any multi-family project that builds regulated affordable housing in Portland will be exempt from parking requirements. Mandatory inclusionary affordable housing is required in new Portland buildings a containing more than 19 homes. As such, unless the developer chooses to pay in-lieu fees to meet affordable housing requirements, practically any new multi-family development in Portland will be exempt from minimum parking mandates.

Since 2002, Portland has had a roller coaster relationship with parking requirements for housing. In 2002 the city removed requirements for buildings near transit, but, after neighborhood outcries, a new set of tiered requirements was imposed in 2013. Parking was, again, required in buildings with more than 30 homes until February 2017 when the city passed mandatory inclusionary housing rules. Still, parking was required if a larger project was more than 500 feet from a frequent service bus line or 1500 feet from a light rail station.

Better Housing by Design is one of several important Housing Opportunity Initiative projects being developed by Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. In December, hearings for the Residential Infill Project will begin, this project will legalize smaller “missing middle” types of housing in our current single-family exclusive zones. Concurrent to these efforts, a coalition of stakeholders is working with the city to develop more robust anti-displacement measures and stronger tenant protections.

Tell City Council by Wednesday, November 6th (2PM) that you support proposed Amendment 2 for Better Housing by Design. This amendment will waive parking requirements for any project that includes regulated affordable housing.  You can submit testimony through the Map App https://www.portlandmaps.com/bps/testify/#/mdz. For more information on testifying to support the project check out Portland: Neighbors Welcome #BetterBHD action alert.

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