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Town Center Advisory Board weighs hotel loading zone and short‑term downtown parking options
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Summary
The advisory board discussed a business request for a loading zone adjacent to a new boutique hotel on Harlow, debating whether a zone should be hotel‑specific or open to all businesses and whether timed 15‑minute spaces on Harlow and Dora could meet both guest drop‑off and delivery needs.
The Town Center Advisory Board on April 16 took up a request from a nearby restaurant and boutique hotel for a loading zone on the East Historic Columbia River Highway that the owner plans to ask Multnomah County to install.
A staff member explained that the request would likely cover about three spaces (roughly 40–60 feet) on the county‑managed highway and that county approval was required. The staff member said the business had asked for a sign that would read something like “hotel guests loading zone,” but added that a business‑specific sign would risk privileging a single downtown merchant and recommended using a public short‑term loading sign instead: “we shouldn't call out specific businesses in this loading zone area, just to be fair for downtown businesses.”
Public commenters and several committee members echoed that concern. One committee member suggested the requests actually represent two separate needs — passenger drop‑off and deliveries — and recommended converting an angled parking space on Harlow or Dora to a 15‑minute drop‑off space to accommodate guests and quick customer pick‑ups while leaving longer delivery needs to a dedicated loading area. "You could have the green and white signs that say parking 15 minutes, loading and unloading," the staff member said as an example.
Board members raised enforcement and equity questions. One member said designating hotel‑only signage could lead other businesses to request identical treatment, while another noted double‑parking and drivers using the bike lane for brief deliveries create safety and accessibility issues. Several speakers recommended adding more ADA‑accessible drop‑off spaces downtown and said short‑term parking could help lunch‑time pickup traffic.
The staff said the county will seek input and that the city can pursue local options including 15‑minute spaces on side streets. No formal action was taken; staff will share the board’s feedback with Multnomah County and meet with downtown business owners to explore short‑term, shared solutions.
What’s next: Staff will relay advisory board comments to county transportation staff and follow up with a conversation with downtown business owners and county representatives before any change is implemented.
