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The Portland Bureau of Development Services is working with builders on development of a process wherein they would be encouraged to notify neighbors of upcoming demolition.

Currently, contractors are not required by code to issue notice in cases when a single-family residential structure is replaced with another, BDS spokesman Ross Caron said. A courtesy notice, such as a door hanger, would help residents nearby prepare for dust and noise that will come with demolition, he said.

While the demolitions and infill projects are supported by city code, neighbors are more likely to respond favorably when they are given adequate warning, Caron said.

“The feeling on the part of the city is that we want to encourage the development community to be neighborly and do this on its own,” he said. “We’re not interested in adding more requirements.”

The idea of courtesy notices is being considered by the Development Review Advisory Committee, a 17-member group of building industry stakeholders. Some people in the industry support a proactive approach, but also are concerned that neighbors could respond with appeals – and generate delays.

The amount of advance notice could range from 24 hours to 14 days, said Justin Wood, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Metro Portland. Appeals could stretch the demolition process out as long as 120 days, he said.

“Most builders and developers don’t have an issue with giving a heads-up on what’s happening,” he said. “If it’s just truly a notification to give a heads-up, we’re fine with it. But we know in the past, builders have not wanted to give notice because they’re afraid of it being stretched out.”

Wood would like to see the courtesy notice enacted without a specified number of days. He added that homebuilders would be more likely to embrace the idea if appeals were not allowed following issuance of the courtesy notice.

Wood will be part of a panel that discusses the topic at a June 11 meeting at Concordia University, at 2811 N.E. Holman St. The discussion will take place from 6:30-8 p.m.