Resolution No. 36410

Accept recommendation of the Portland Planning Commission and Portland Design Commission to accept South Waterfront Public Views & Visual Permeability Assessment report and recommendations (Resolution)

WHEREAS, during the legislative process for the 2005 South Waterfront Height Bonus Analysis Project, City Council determined that regulations and design guidelines in adopted reports provide protections for public view corridors and visual permeability through the South Waterfront Subdistrict; and

WHEREAS, City Council heard public concerns that the proposed process to allow modifications to minimum separation requirements for buildings taller than 250 feet in height could negatively impact public views and visual permeability; and

WHEREAS,   City Council determined that views from designated public view points could be obstructed if proposals for development in the South Waterfront Subdistrict are not adequately reviewed and considered by the Portland Design Commission; and

WHEREAS,  City Council determined the need to create effective design guidelines and development standards to ensure preservation and enhancement of public view corridors, visual permeability, the creation of a diverse and interesting skyline, maintenance of a pedestrian environment with access to sunlight, and other design issues intended to create a visually interesting district that is rich in urban variety; and

WHEREAS,  Mayor Tom Potter and the Portland City Council through Resolution No. 36293 directed the Bureau of Planning to convene South Waterfront developers and landowners, community representatives, and City bureaus to work together in the preparation of a refined and ongoing urban design process for the South Waterfront Subdistrict; and

WHEREAS,  the ongoing urban design process initiated by Council was intended to result in the development of additional tools, including a South Waterfront Urban Design and Development Framework and a more objective tool to consider and analyze public views and visual permeability when specific modifications requests are processed through design review process; and

WHEREAS,  the Bureau of Planning conducted a year-long public process to analyze public views and visual permeability issues related to South Waterfront that engaged community and neighborhood representatives, land owners and developers, district residents, City bureaus, representatives of the Portland Design and Planning Commissions, and other interested stakeholders; and

WHEREAS,  through this comprehensive public process the Bureau of Planning created a three- dimensional digital computer model by which to assess impacts to public views and visual permeability that was reviewed, refined and accepted by a citizen’s Project Advisory Group as well as the Portland Design and Planning Commissions; and

WHEREAS,  the Portland Design and Planning Commissions jointly seek City Council acceptance of this new digital modeling process to be incorporated as a tool for use in the design review process;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Portland City Council accepts the recommendations contained in the South Waterfront Urban Design & Development Update Project: Public Views & Visual Permeability Assessment Report; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Portland City Council directs the Bureau of Planning to include the recommended amendments to the Zoning Code included in Appendix B of the South Waterfront: Public Views and Visual Permeability Assessment in the next Regulatory Improvement Code Amendments Package.

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 615-2006

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 36410