On Feb. 6, 2018, the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability held its fourth public roundtable for the Historic Resources Code Project (HRCP). The last of the HRCP’s initial input sessions, this event asked participants to develop and consider options for local historic district designation. Although no local historic or conservation district has been created in Portland since the early 1990s, new guidance from the State now allows cities to develop local alternatives to National Register designation.
Approximately 40 Portlanders gathered at the North Portland Library to discuss options for the designation process and regulatory framework that might characterize a new program for local historic resource designation. Conversations revealed an interest in community-initiated nominations, designation by an affirmative majority vote of property owners, and district-specific design guidelines or standards. A summary of the event, including participants’ transcribed comments, is now available:
Concepts collected at the HRCP’s first four roundtables will inform planning staff in their development of zoning code language for the inventory, designation, and protection of historic resources. While all concept development roundtables have now been completed, comments will continue to be accepted until Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, after which time City staff will begin formulating code concepts. If you were unable to attend a public roundtable or would like to contribute further, please consider completing the project’s online survey. Interested persons are also invited to join the historic resources program email list for regular project updates, including opportunities to provide comment on the discussion draft zoning code when it is released in the spring.