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Neighbors dislike plans for a Northwest Portland apartment complex with no parking, but the developer says zoning restrictions prevent construction of underground parking.

Property owner Gregg Opsahl applied in September to the Bureau of Development Services for a permit to break ground on a $2.6 million, 19-unit apartment building at 2246 N.W. Pettygrove St.

鈥淲e went before the neighborhood association with plans for what we were doing,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey weren’t happy because we’re not providing any off-street parking.鈥�

The area is zoned for high-density residential, requiring developers to build back from the property line by about 11 feet, Opsahl said.

鈥淲ith a 6,000-square-foot site like this, the zoning makes it challenging, to say the least, to incorporate subterranean parking,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ith that requirement, we’d have room for a handful of cars, if that.鈥�

If the area were zoned for mixed use, Opsahl said he would be able to build closer to the property line, and below-ground parking might be feasible. He added that he knows of other apartment buildings under construction in the area that have more units and aren’t providing any parking.

Opsahl said the price point of these apartments lends itself to tenants who work nearby and are accustomed to commuting by bike. The building will provide secured bike storage.

鈥淎 mid-level executive who works at Intel or Nike and needs secured parking for their car might not be interested in these units,鈥� he said.

The five-story structure will feature a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments with hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances. Opsahl said rents will likely range between $2.30 and $2.50 per square foot.

Construction is scheduled to begin late this year and finish in winter 2015.