Public Hearing Scheduled for September 23, 2020

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider amendments to the city’s Comprehensive Plan, Development Code, and Zoning Map. These amendments will guide future development in Downtown Beaverton and will help implement the Downtown Urban Design Framework, adopted by City Council in 2018. Due to the health precautions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the public hearing will be held virtually and can be viewed live or archived at the link below.

Planning Commission Public Hearing

6:30 pm, September 23, 2020

Meeting held virtually; CITY HALL CLOSED

Planning Commission Agendas & Minutes

Review the staff report for the proposes Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Development Code Amendments, and Zoning Map Amendments here.

Review the staff report for the proposed Development Code Amendments for Active Ground Floor Uses here. This application will be reviewed in a separate hearing on September 23, 2020 as it has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2021, due to the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unfamiliar with how Beaverton’s Code works? This Guidelines and Standards Overview can help.

Would you like to learn more about how these rules may affect your property or business? Send us a note at MailboxCEDDPlanning@BeavertonOregon.gov.

What is proposed to change?

The Downtown Design Project is designed to help carry out the Community Vision mission to make Downtown an even more vibrant place. The proposed amendments will help achieve this mission by:

Removing obstacles to desired development

Promoting quality design that adds to Downtown’s character and meets community expectations

To reach these goals, the City is proposing changes to the Development Code and Comprehensive Plan.

Development Code Changes

The Development Code regulates land use in the city and includes zoning standards, site and building design rules, and other development regulations. Proposed updates to the Development Code include:

New Zoning Districts: Increasing land use districts from two to four to tailor development regulations to areas with different character.

Increasing land use districts from two to four to tailor development regulations to areas with different character. Promoting Design Quality: Creating new rules to ensure buildings have good design quality while offering ways the city can approve creative, innovative, highly attractive buildings.

Creating new rules to ensure buildings have good design quality while offering ways the city can approve creative, innovative, highly attractive buildings. Increasing Open Space: Requiring or encouraging more usable open space (plazas, lawns, gardens, walkways, courtyards, terraces) as part of new developments.

Requiring or encouraging more usable open space (plazas, lawns, gardens, walkways, courtyards, terraces) as part of new developments. Improved Landscaping: Strengthening standards to add more trees and plants to new development.

Strengthening standards to add more trees and plants to new development. Promoting Street life: Requiring shops and restaurants on the ground-floor of buildings in the downtown core so that streets are more interesting and inviting for dining, shopping and socializing. Due the public health and economic effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, proposed rules that would require shops and restaurants in the downtown core will have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2021. All other proposed changes are expected take effect in early December 2020.

The latest draft of this code has been revised based on feedback from the community through open houses, online surveys, and one-on-one conversations, as well as work sessions with Planning Commission and City Council. You can review the previous drafts of the Downtown Code under the Documents sidebar on the right side of this page. The most up-to-date version of the code can be found at the top of this page.

Other changes are proposed in the Development Code to reduce off-street parking requirements in certain areas of Downtown, modify how phased development can occur, and integrate the new Downtown District code with the existing Development Code.

Proposed zones within the Downtown District.

Comprehensive Plan Changes

The Comprehensive Plan sets land use policy and implementation strategies for the City of Beaverton. The Comprehensive Plan is being amended to complement the proposed Downtown Code changes. Changes to the Comprehensive Plan include:

Expanding the Regional Center Land Use Designation, which will allow more properties to be zoned for dense, mixed-use development in Downtown Beaverton.

Adding a new policy promoting safe, comfortable connections for walkers, bike riders, and other forms of active transportation in Downtown.

Designating Downtown Beaverton as a Multimodal Mixed-use Area, allowing local transportation standards to regulate changes to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning instead of state standards.

Properties added to the Downtown Regional Center are highlight in blue.

A staff report will be published on this page no later than September 16 and will include final versions of Development Code and Comprehensive Plan amendments, as well as analysis and findings demonstrating compliance with state, regional, and local approval criteria.

Do you have thoughts or questions? Would you like to learn more about how these rules may affect your property or business? Send us a note at MailboxCEDDPlanning@BeavertonOregon.gov.

Development Code Adoption Schedule

The Downtown Development Code is scheduled to be adopted this fall. Tentative dates for upcoming public meetings to discuss the latest versions of the code, as well as adoption hearings, are listed below. Public testimony can be provided during adoption hearings, and written comments can be provided at any time at MailboxCEDDPlanning@BeavertonOregon.gov.

September 23, 2020: Planning Commission Adoption Hearing

October 20, 2020: City Council Adoption Hearing

December 4, 2020; Expected Code Effective Date

About the Downtown Design Project

A vibrant downtown is a top community priority, and the city is taking the next steps to make downtown a livelier, more welcoming destination.

Project goals include: