Portland City Council Housing & Permitting Committee 06/02/26

The Portland City Council Housing & Permitting Committee convened on June 2, 2026, to discuss several housing-related agenda items, including public testimony on housing concerns, progress reports on the unified housing strategy and social housing study, and consideration of the Regulatory Improvement Code Amendment Package 11 (RECAP 11). Public testimony highlighted issues such as the moderate income revolving loan program, social housing models inspired by Vienna, and neighborhood concerns about parking and infrastructure related to new housing developments. The committee received detailed updates on the unified housing strategy, focusing on goals to produce 20,000 new housing units by 2035, preserve 1,400 affordable units, innovate housing production and preservation, and secure sustainable funding. The discussion emphasized aligning existing housing plans, prioritizing family and intergenerational housing, and improving community engagement. The RECAP 11 package, aimed at technical zoning code improvements to support housing production and development efficiency, was presented with a focus on parking, exterior areas, and shelter regulations. A significant discussion centered on proposed amendments to shelter size limits, with concerns raised about the impact of increasing shelter capacities on community outcomes. An amendment to reject the increase in shelter size limits was proposed but later withdrawn after committee deliberation. The committee ultimately voted to forward the RECAP 11 ordinance to the full council with a recommendation to pass. The meeting underscored ongoing efforts to refine housing policies, streamline permitting, and address affordable housing challenges in Portland.