Business owner says city required $132,000 in corner work already funded by state project; bill would bar duplicative permit conditions

Representative Paul Evans introduced House Bill 26 58 a during the Senate Committee on Housing and Development’s May 14 work session and public hearing, saying the measure would bar cities or counties (population 15,000 or greater) from conditioning a permit or zone change on improvements that have already been financed, planned or approved.

Evans said the bill arose from a concrete example: Cammie Price, a Portland small‑business owner, told the committee she purchased a small commercial building in October 2018 and began interior renovation in January 2019. Price testified that the city withheld permits until she agreed to upgrade a sidewalk and ADA ramp at her corner because of a permit condition. She said initial estimates from the city indicated a sidewalk permit fee of about $2,900 and a possible…