Abstract:
The City of Portland has updated its tree regulations. The project purpose was to create a consistent, cohesive, regulatory framework for trees in the city, AND to protect and enhance Portland's urban forest through development and redevelopment. The regulatory components of the project consists of two parts. The first part is a compilation and update of the City's non-land use related tree regulations into a new city code, Title 11, Trees. The new title updates provisions for the City's Urban Forestry Program and the tree permit system that applies in non-development situations. The title also contains basic non-discretionary tree standards for development sites. The standards will be applied outside the land use approval process through building permits and demolition permits. The second regulatory component involves amendments to the zoning code and related guidelines, and is the subject of th is required notice. Proposed amendments to the Zoning Code are intended to standardize, streamline and strengthen City regulations affecting trees in the context of land use reviews and in natural resource overlay zones and plan districts. The amendments establish flexible development standards to encourage tree preservation. The amendments clarify and strengthen discretionary approval criteria to encourage preservation of large healthy trees and groves in land divisions and add tree preservation as a factor to consider in specified conditional use and design reviews. The amendments also delete tree standards that apply through development permits from the Zoning Code. The Zoning Code amendments clarify and standardize limits on removal, replacement requirements, and exemptions in specified natural resource overlay zones and plan districts. A new chapter 33.860, Comprehensive Natural Resource Plans, is included that provides an option for long-range master plans to be developed for si tes containing one or more natural resource overlay zone. Definitions are also amended. The Ladd's Addition Conservation District Guidelines are amended to clarify that tree species shown on the district's street tree plan that are identified on the City's Nuisance Plants List may not be planted as street trees, consistent with Title 11 regulations. Attached is the ordinance authorizing amendments to Title 33, Planning and Zoning and Ladd's Addition Guidelines, which represent the land use regulations affected by this project, and the Recommended Draft Report to City Council (Dec, 2010), which describes the entire proposal as presented to City Council. DLCD File No. 001-10 (18044) [16611]