Oregon City planners review state—limate-friendly parking rules; approve minutes, set public hearing for April

The Oregon City Planning Commission on March 10 heard a consultant presentation on the Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) rules the city must adopt, discussed specific code options for parking, electric-vehicle infrastructure, tree canopy and bicycle parking, and set next steps for hearings and council review. The commission also voted to approve the Feb. 24 meeting minutes.

Consultant Brian Davis of Studio Davis told commissioners the state rules aim to "reduce the construction of underutilized overabundant parking" and to make required parking more climate friendly through landscaping and EV-ready infrastructure. He summarized public outreach and said the project team will return to the commission for a public hearing on April 14 and to the City Commission work session on March 11 before a final code package aimed at meeting the state's June 30 compliance deadline.

Why it matters: the new Oregon Administrative Rules change when cities may require parking, set maximums near frequent transit, require landscaping or solar on lots, and impose EV-ready conduit and bike-parking standards. Those requirements influence development costs, tree canopy in parking lots and where on-street and off-street parking can be reduced or repurposed.

Major points of discussion

- Exempt areas and minimums: Davis said the OAR language removes local authority to require minimum parking inside the city areas defined by the rule (the consultant and staff used a map that…