July 31, 2004

Honorable Vera Katz and City Commissioners

City Hall

1221 SW Fourth Avenue

Portland, Oregon 97204

Re:  Planning Commission Report and Recommendation on Code Maintenance 2004

Dear Mayor Katz and City Commissioners:

On behalf of the Portland Planning Commission, I am forwarding the Commission’s favorable recommendation on the remaining two amendments of the Code Maintenance 2004 project. These amendments address setbacks for accessory structures and design standards for accessory dwelling units. The Commission’s recommendation is presented for the Council’s consideration in the document Code Maintenance 2004: Portland Planning Commission Report and Recommendation: Accessory Structures dated July 19, 2004.

The Code Maintenance 2004 project is one of several amendment packages that make up the City’s annual Regulatory Improvement Workplan (RIW). In adopting the RIW, City Council directed the Bureau of Development Services to present Code Maintenance 2004 for the Planning Commission’s consideration and directed the Planning Commission to submit a recommendation on the proposed amendments to the City Council. Code Maintenance 2004 is the fifth annual package of amendments to improve the clarity and structure of the Portland Zoning Code.

The Planning Commission heard public testimony on the Bureau of Development Services’ proposal at public hearings on February 24, 2004 and March 9, 2004. After careful consideration of the package the two amendments featured here were pulled from the rest of the Code Maintenance package to allow for more research and discussion. Staff from the Bureau of Development Services provided additional information for discussion by the Commission at our May 11, 2004 meeting. After further deliberation, the Commission voted to forward the staff proposal to City Council.

The Planning Commission recommends that Council adopt these final Code Maintenance 2004 amendments. The Commission finds that the two sets of amendments are consistent with the objectives of the Regulatory Improvement Workplan, in that they reduce conflicts in land use regulations and eliminate the need for some unnecessary land use reviews. Importantly, these amendments will add clarity to the Zoning Code, thereby facilitating its daily use by both Development Services customers and City staff.

Sincerely,

Ethan Seltzer, President

Portland Planning Commission