Planning Commission votes to forward the Draft Economic Opportunities Analysis to City Council for consideration

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On May 12, 2026, the City of Portland's Planning Commission approved the Proposed Draft of the Economic Opportunities Analysis. This action represents Planning Commission's recommendation to City Council.

About the Economic Opportunities Analysis

The Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA) is a State required study that provides the foundation for job growth in Portland over the next 20 years. It outlines where job growth is expected to occur, which industries are poised to grow, and how much land and infrastructure the city needs to support them.

These updates will help guide the city in its efforts to bolster inclusive job growth, environmental stewardship, and a resilient employment land supply that aligns with long-term community goals.

Planning Commission Amendments

Overall, the Planning Commission accepted the EOA's conclusion that there is enough land in Portland to meet expected job growth, even in industrial areas where land is more constrained.

As part of its vote, the Planning Commission incorporated minor refinements to the plan draft, including improved mapping of steep slopes, and clearer direction on the importance of the Portland Harbor.

The EOA does not include changes to the zoning code or zoning map. Instead, the EOA provides information that may guide future updates to specific zoning regulations, each of which would include its own public review process.

Amendments include:

1. Refining steep slope assumptions in industrial areas by adjusting the constraint threshold from 25% to 10% slope to more accurately represent development challenges.
2. Updating environmental overlays and constraint layers to reflect the final recommendations of the Columbia Corridor Industrial Lands (CCIL) project - a related project that is updating environmental zones in the Columbia Corridor based on a more accurate mapping of natural features. The Planning Commission concluded that the moderate environment updates proposed by this project will only constrain a small percentage of overall development capacity.
3. Clarifying how small industrial sites (0.5-3 acres) are assessed in the Buildable Lands Inventory to better reflect observed redevelopment patterns.
4. Adding narrative on the Portland Harbor and clarifying how the Marine Industrial Land Analysis (MILA) informs the demand forecast.
5. Minor adjustments to strategies around industrial areas and home-based job growth to further guide future policy considerations.

Next Steps

Following the Commission's vote, project staff will prepare a Recommended Draft that incorporates the adopted amendments. The updated EOA will be forwarded to City Council for hearings and potential adoption in fall 2026. There will be opportunities for the public to submit testimony to City Council.

The CCIL project will be considered alongside the EOA and will influence updates to environmental protection maps in Portland's industrial areas.

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