Troutdale staff outline draft Climate Friendly Equitable Communities code package; commissioners raise parking, transit and economic concerns

Erica Palmer, Troutdale’s Community Development Director, updated the Planning Commission on March 12 about a draft code amendment package to implement the state’s Climate Friendly Equitable Communities (CFEC) requirements (Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 660, division 12, the Transportation Planning Rule).

Palmer summarized the rule framework: parking reforms were adopted in stacked phases (“parking reform A” effective Dec. 30, 2022; “parking reform B” effective June 30, 2023). Cities had three compliance pathways; Troutdale staff recommended pursuing the Option 2 “fair policies” menu and developing a commercial-parking-tax program as one compliance element. The city obtained a two-year extension from DLCD to implement the rules and staff circulated a first rough draft of amendment language to DLCD and internal legal reviewers for a courtesy review.

Palmer said the staff survey of local employers (businesses that employ 50 or more people) produced about six responses; those respondents reported relatively few employees using alternative modes daily. She told commissioners staff will return with a revised package on April 9, will brief the Citizens Advisory Committee prior to that meeting, and expects Planning Commission public hearings in May and City Council hearings in June to meet the state deadline of June 30, 2025.

Commissioners raised practical concerns about the proposals. Key points of commissioner and public commentary included: - Transit and “frequent transit” definition: Commissioners noted a mismatch between the Transportation Planning Rule’s definition (used by DLCD) and TriMet’s operational-frequency definition (e.g., 15-minute service). Staff confirmed Troutdale must use the TPR definition in the local code and that, in Troutdale, the defined frequent-transit corridor is currently served by bus route 77; the CFEC buffer also includes a quarter-mile town-center buffer. - Parking and local economy: Several commissioners and members of the public warned that reduced or eliminated parking minimums in parts of the city could complicate operations for grocery and other retail uses that rely on customer parking; speakers noted smaller stores often require critical mass to be economically viable and predicted practical parking-management needs such as permit programs, enforcement, and signage. - Map and buffer questions: Commissioners asked staff to re-check GIS buffers and the map showing the half‑mile and quarter‑mile areas from frequent transit and the town center, and to confirm which parcels would be affected by CFEC provisions. - Implementation details: Paul (public commenter) requested that a $50 commuting stipend be labeled as per month; staff said it would be corrected.

Palmer said staff will incorporate courtesy-review comments from DLCD and legal counsel, refine definitions and map buffers as requested by commissioners, and bring an updated packet to the April 9 meeting. No formal action was taken; the commission directed staff to continue edits and return for further review and public hearings.