VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY:
The visionPDX Input Report

URBAN LIVABILITY:
Land Use

  


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Land use planning enhances Portland’s livability.

Section Summary

In this section, Portlanders discuss the role that land use planning plays in making Portland a livable city. Portlanders are proud of the city’s history of progressive planning and want to see that tradition upheld over the coming years. They imagine Portland as a beacon of good planning, providing inspiration to cities across the country and around the world. They want land use planners to implement the people’s vision for the city and help Portland retain its unique flavor and identity well into the future. They also want “land use planning laws to benefit all,” as opposed to specific segments of the population.

Many Portlanders look to planners to provide a counter-balance to developers and others who have their own agenda for how the land should be used. People express their concerns over the extent to which developers influence land use planning decisions as well as the character of the developments being created, which many feel do not reflect their vision for the city. In the face of population growth and market pressures, Portlanders urge the City to remain true to its reputation as a leader in forward thinking, community-oriented land use planning.

Note: This section contains significant overlap with Government: Long Term Planning and Urban Livability: City Appearance.

Summary of Main Ideas

  1. Prior land use planning efforts have helped make Portland livable.
  2. Current land use planning decisions seem developer-driven.
  3. Portland should stay true to its legacy of forward-thinking land use planning.

Summary of Tensions and Disagreements

  1. What do recent land use/development decisions say about Portland’s future direction?
  2. Should height restrictions be maintained or eased?

MAIN IDEAS

  1. Prior land use planning efforts have helped make Portland livable.
  • A large number of respondents are proud of Portland’s reputation as a leader in progressive land use planning practices.
  • Respondents value what they perceive to be the thoughtfulness of prior planning efforts.
  • Many credit past planning efforts with improving Portland’s livability in the following ways:
    • Preserving cherished greenspace;
    • Maintaining farmland close to the city, which allows Portlanders to access fresh, local food;
    • Creating walkable, “human-scale” commercial hubs within residential districts (see Urban Livability: Neighborhood Livability);
    • Supporting the development of small, locally-owned businesses;
    • Fostering a sense of local identity; and
    • Contributing to a strong sense of community within the city.
“It is very important to me to feel connected to my immediate community, and Portland’s land use planning and emphasis on community development helps make this happen.”

“[I value] a widespread commitment to livability and sustainability expressed in support for urban growth boundaries – planning and land-use regulation to prevent sprawl and preserve greenspace, farmland, and communities (neighborhoods).”

“Urban planning has been gotten right. Most areas are mixed-use heavy such that you don’t need to drive to get things done, and lots of people are taking advantage by actually living in those areas.”

Sample Strategies:

  1. Create more mixed-use buildings, particularly in and around neighborhood shopping hubs.
  2. Renovate and use old buildings in downtown and the neighborhoods to provide space for small businesses, artists, non-profits and other groups that benefit the community.
  1. Current land use planning decisions seem developer-driven.
  • Many respondents state their concern that developers have undue influence over current land use planning decisions.
  • Many Portlanders feel that developers are naturally focused on short-term profits rather than long-term community benefit. They therefore look to planners to keep developers oriented towards the long-term good of the community.
  • There are many concerns expressed over the rapid conversion of empty lots across the city into multi-family living, especially condominiums. Many would prefer to see these lots turned into community gardens or greenspace.
“I would like to see the development that is happening to be more progressive and sustainable. I feel a lot of the development happening in Portland right now is developer driven. This usually results in the construction being cheaper. The buildings also lack a strong vision which then affects the user and the longevity of the building.”

“Leave places open! Slow development; stop land/house speculation. Deal with poverty and hunger. We can leave land for new houses in 20 years—we don’t have to fill it all now.”

Sample Strategies:

  1. Increase public involvement in land use decisions/planning.
  2. Implement a zoning overhaul to streamline practices and mandate more green building that reflects the community’s vision around design and materials.
  1. Portland should stay true to its legacy of forward-thinking land use planning.
  • In the face of concerns about current land use decisions, many respondents call for Portland to stay true to its legacy of forward-looking, community-oriented planning.
  • Respondents imagine Portland planners holding their ground in the face of pressures from different groups to over-develop the city.
"[In 2030] Portland will be a jewel of the West Coast – while other cities grew without regulation and did not cherish the character of the past, Portland will have a mix of old and new—Portland will be varied and textured in terms of architecture, people, and uses. Public transportation will be even better allowing people to use single passenger vehicles less. The air will be clean and fresh and people will flock to the public spaces.”

“Encourage housing near jobs. Save natural open space. Encourage eco-roofs and bioswales –natural treatment of runoff. Encourage civic engagement, including volunteering. Teach new Oregonians about ‘why’ we plan land uses.”

Sample Strategies:

  1. Planning that meets community need occurs when “planners think like users” and incorporate essential services and infrastructure needs into new developments/re-developments.
  2. Plan like a parent: think about what families and children need to be happy, such as greenspace, parking and access to clean bathrooms.

TENSIONS AND DISAGREEMENTS

  1. What do recent land use/development decisions say about Portland’s future direction?

    Some people praise the development currently taking place in the South Waterfront and the Pearl district. These Portlanders see such developments as a sign that Portland is evolving into a “world-class city” and they hope to see more such developments occuring in the future.

    The majority of respondents, however, have a different interpretation, seeing these developments as signs that “the wealthy” are taking over. They cite developments such as the South Waterfront as evidence that land use planners and policymakers have sacrificed the people’s needs and vision to the needs and visions of developers and out-of-state residents.

  1. Should height restrictions be maintained or eased?

    An area of disagreement in this section relates to building heights both downtown and in neighborhoods. Some individuals would like to see buildings become taller and advocate for more skyscrapers on the Eastside as well as in downtown. These individuals feel that “building up” is the only way to accommodate new residents while preserving greenspace and preventing urban sprawl (this viewpoint is expressed in Urban Livability: Growth Management as well).

    Other residents are strongly opposed to easing height restrictions, particularly on the Eastside. These individuals praise the current “human scale” of Portland, which they attribute to buildings that do not block the sky or views of trees, mountains or the river. Some of these individuals support denser development, but do not think skyscrapers are the answer. These viewpoints are expressed throughout a number of sections, including Urban Livability: City Appearance, Urban Livability: Neighborhood Livability and Urban Livability: Small-Town Feeling.