WEST PORTLAND TOWN CENTER

City staff from the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability are requesting feedback on the draft West Portland Town Center Character Statement. The purpose of the Character Statement is to augment the new Portland Citywide Design Guidelines, specifically to support, Design Guideline 01. This statement will guide future development on how to address issues and conditions specific to the West Portland Town Center area. The Character Statement provides a brief background description of the area’s history and existing conditions, followed by desired and emerging character within three sections: Community, Architecture & Urban Design and Nature.

To date, feedback to staff has primarily come from communities within the West Portland Town Center area, the Design Commission and the Planning and Sustainability Commission. This forum presents an opportunity to engage members of the design profession who will most often be utilizing this Character Statement in the future to meet design guidelines.

We would appreciate hearing from you on what works, what needs improvement, or what may be missing. As you read the draft Character Statement, please consider the following:

• Is it clear what the desired character is along Barbur Boulevard, within the Multi-cultural hub and within the district in general?

• Are there words or images that would help to strengthen this guidance?

When complete, West Portland Town Center will become the second Character Statement within the new proposed guidelines. This is still a very new and evolving process, so your input is critical.

BPS STAFF:
Cassie Ballew, BPS, City Planner (presenting)
Lora Lillard, BPS, Senior Planner (support for questions)
Joan Frederiksen, BPS, City Planner (support for questions)