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The HBA Portland Building and Urban Development (PBUD) Council advocates for all types of residential housing in Portland, including both single and multi-family and mixed use. PBUD meets monthly to discuss, prioritize and report on the most recent development and building issues. Council members organize and advocate on both emergent and long-standing issues that affect land use and construction within the city. Recently, PBUD has been engaged in several different areas, including “plan review windows” which City staff will present on at the upcoming December meeting. Plan review windows will affect all types of permits within the City of Portland. Lead representatives for the project Mr. David Kuhnhausen (BDS Permitting Svcs Division Mgr) and Mr. Ross Carone (BDS Project Manager) will attend the December 4th meeting, along with public info officer Alex Cousins. They will give a short presentation followed by Q&A. Desired talking points shared with these folks include: • Public Relations timeline including public input/vetting and decision to implement Plan Review Windows • Research methodology • General online (E-plan) review software capabilities with review windows • Supporting evidence for increased efficiency, for both review staff and customer • Evidence of economic impact, including on housing affordability • Concurrent vs. consecutive review example scenarios • Include human error on both review and applicant side • Meeting service goal timelines Pre-and Post E-plans • ‘Relief Valves’ The City’s press release on plan review windows can be viewed here (link: press release on plan review windows), and informational guide here (link: information guide on plan review windows). If you do not normally attend PBUD meetings, but are interested in more information or attending the December 4th meeting on plan review windows, please contact Roseann Johnson roseannj@hbapdx.org. Additionally, here are some other update items in Portland. All of these items may not be covered at the next Council meeting, but here is what’s happening: • Upcoming initial meeting with Jo Ann Hardesty, newest Portland City Council Member-elect • Current standing meeting w/ BDS Director: includes recent mayor-directed permitting process recommendations • Mayor’s Office: working to get a standing ‘housing’ meeting • Sponsorship of VanPort Placement Project: working with those involved in the project to determine how the HBA can sponsor part of this project to place signs around what was the VanPort Community/Current Day Portland Raceway. Side note: recently it was discovered that George H. Buckler Co & Wegman and Sons were contractors on VanPort – if anyone has/had connection to these contractors please let us know. • Development Review Advisory Committee (DRAC): next meeting is Thursday, December 20, 8-9:30am at 1900 SW 4th Ave, Portland, Room 2500B. There are two positions still open on DRAC: Citywide Neighborhood Interests, Minority Construction Contractors and Development Professionals. • Residential Infill Project (RIP) is still with the Planning & Sustainability Commission; vote delayed until likely March, and the project will then move to City Council for public hearings. The HBA is working with other organizations to coordinate testimony for the RIP. PBUD meets on the first Tuesday of every month. For more information on PBUD or HBA’s advocacy work in the City of Portland, contact Roseann Johnson roseannj@hbapdx.org.