Archive for the 'Land Use Review (Adjustments)' Category

We’re Approved!

Friday, July 27th, 2007

Break out the champagne! As of July 12 we are officially approved to build our larger ADU. The even better news is that no one appealed the decision within the two week appeal period (July 12-July 26th). This means the decision is FINAL.

NIMBYism and lessons learned

Thursday, July 12th, 2007

Some developments in the land-use process. The short version: one neighbor (several houses removed) decided to do his best to torpedo things with the city. He approached my neighbor to the south and got her riled up enough to write a letter objecting to the building. As a result, I had to downscale the [...]

Land Use Review Timeline

Tuesday, May 29th, 2007

The city officially declared my application complete on May 22, 2007.
What this means: According to the letter, the city has 28 days to publish their decision. The letter gives neighbors 21 days (June 15th) to provide written comments on the project. The city must make a ruling by June 19th. UPDATE: due to [...]

Planner Assigned

Thursday, May 24th, 2007

I’ve been assigned to work with Suzanne Savin from the Portland Bureau of Development Services. Her job is to review my adjustment application and rule on the larger ADU. Needless to say, her role is pivotal in the development.

Final Land Use Review Application

Wednesday, May 9th, 2007

Here it is, in all its glory - the final land use review application.
Final Proposal (PDF) - 4 megabyte file.

Land Use Review Application Materials

Saturday, May 5th, 2007

I’m spending this weekend filling out forms and preparing to submit to the city next week. Specifically, I’m preparing a Land Use Review Application. Here are the forms I’m submitting:
Land Use Application Checklist
Land Use Review Application
Adjustment Approval Criteria
In the next post I’ll upload my approval criteria and supporting documents.

Feedback from BDS Planning Committee

Thursday, February 15th, 2007

Marguerite Feuersanger called this morning. She presented my preliminary design plan to the Thursday morning planning group. Here’s the feedback:

Building design didn’t present any big red flags. We can present the split-roof design, though there is no guarantee we won’t get a planner that requires a standard gable-roof design. She suggests that we apply [...]

Preliminary Land Use Review Meeting

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007

Met with city planner Marguerite Feuersanger today to discuss my Land Use Review Application. At the suggestion from my designer, I took a preliminary proposal down to BDS to discuss the viability of my application. Here’s a copy of the proposal (PDF):
Preliminary Land Use Review Proposal

An Argument for a Larger ADU

Monday, January 22nd, 2007

As part of the land use review process, the applicant must demonstrate that their zoning adjustment will meet or exceed the purpose of the zone (here’s the criteria: Adjustment Approval Criteria (PDF))
As part of this process, I am citing other properties in the neighborhood that either have a similar amount of building-to-land ratio or where [...]

Applying for an Adjustment (Land Use Review)

Sunday, January 21st, 2007

There are several steps to getting the city to accept designs that fall outside the zoning code. These steps are:

Review your basic idea with a city planner (free)
Determine what adjustments will be needed (free)
Work with a designer or architect to create a site plane, elevation drawings, utility plans, and landscape plans (cost TBD)
Submit an application [...]

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