Oregon

Portland: Homes for Everyone, or Not in My Neighborhood
Even progressive Portland wrestles with conservatism when it comes to housing in single-family neighborhoods

House Bill Would Streamline Construction of New Dams and Reservoirs
House Republicans from Washington are hoping to cut red tape for the development of surface storage facilities as the American West grapples with intensifying droughts.
Portland's Jade District Is a Planner's Nightmare (and Dream)
The Jade District on Portland's distant east side is a typical geography of wide streets and sprawl, but is also a relatively complete, self-contained community.

'Community Supported Kitchen' Idea Seeking Support in Portland
A crowdfunding campaign recently launched to support a new kind of commissary kitchen in Portland.

Oregon's New Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Litigated
The half-cent sales tax will fund new rebate programs for zero and near zero-emissions vehicles and multimodal transportation. Opponents claim the privilege tax, as it is called, violates the state constitution because revenues aren't used for roads.

Study: Economic Displacement Is Bad for Transit Ridership
A TriMet transit agency analysis has identified a culprit in the decline of transit ridership in Portland: gentrification and displacement.

White House Denies Funding to Replace Tribal Villages
The federal government appears to be reneging on yet another promise to Native American tribes.

The Business Case for Bike Lanes
Local businesses in Beaverton, Oregon hope new walking and biking infrastructure will attract young talent.

Small Oregon Town Welcomes Robotic Deliveries
The town of Philomath, Oregon has just approved the testing of robotic deliveries on public rights-of-way.

Analysis Debunks Equity Criticism of Congestion Pricing
Oregon's recently approved gas tax legislation also calls for tolling of I-205 and I-5 in the Portland metro area, with the application of value or congestion pricing so peak period tolls would be higher, which have raised equity concerns.

Car2Go Says Goodbye Smart Car, Hello Mercedes
Car2Go is giving an upgrade to its car sharing service in Portland, OR by phasing out the tiny Smarts in favor of larger Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicles.

Portland to Consider New Residential Infill Regulations
The city of Portland's new residential infill ordinance would reduce the number of 1:1 demolitions—which often convert older, affordable homes into expensive McMansions.
ADUs Are Having a Moment
Granny flats, mother-in-law units, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or secondary units—whatever you call them, more and more cities, regions, and states are making it easier to deliver subtle density in the backyard.

Planning Director Susan Anderson Separates Fact from Fiction in Portland(ia)
Planetizen's "Planners Across America" series continues in the city that put many contemporary best planning practices on the map: Portland, Oregon.

Funding for Electric Vehicle Rebates Approved in California
On the final day of the legislative session, the California Legislature approved a budget bill that directs $1.5 billion in carbon auction revenues. A prior post described a bill that would have quadrupled state EV rebates: but it died.

National or Regional? Finding American Identity in Architecture
In an extended discussion, Keith Eggener examines what it means for a work of architecture to be "naturally" American, and why looking at modern American styles through an intensively regional lens may be unhelpful.

Op-Ed: What Oregon's DOT Gets Wrong on Roadway Safety
Faced with an uptick in roadway fatalities, Oregon is looking at how to increase safety. But it's concentrating on highways while arterials actually account for the region's most severe crashes.

Columbia River Gorge Resilient After the 30,000-acre Eagle Creek Fire
Good fire news from Oregon offers some relief from several weeks of scary environmental news from around the country.
Oregon Launches EV Rebates Funded by Auto Sales Tax
Oregon is one of five states that has no sales tax, but that will change on January 1, with Gov. Kate Brown's signature on a landmark transportation funding bill that applies a half-cent sales tax to auto sales and increases gas taxes by 10 cents.

Permeable Parking Surfaces and Parking Minimums
Rather than trying to make parking lots with expensive surfaces that cost to maintain, Portland should eliminate its parking minimums, according to this article.
Pagination
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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