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Portland Water Bureau officials this week submitted the first of two land use review applications for a $76 million project to build a new underground reservoir in place of Washington Park‘s existing open-air reservoirs.

With this application, officials are seeking Portland City Council‘s OK to demolish the historic Weir Building and remove portions of two reservoir basins to make way for the proposed Washington Park Reservoir Improvements Project.

Next month, the Portland Bureau of Development Services will issue a notice of public hearing and open a 71-day public comment period for that portion of the project. The public hearing date has not been set yet, Water Bureau spokeswoman Jaymee Cuti said via email.

Project plans call for a fountain consisting of a series of tiered pools and a nature area atop a planned 15-million-gallon underground drinking water reservoir in the footprint of one of the existing reservoirs. Washington Park’s other reservoir would be decommissioned and a lowland habitat area and reflecting pool would replace it.

Water Bureau officials plan to next spring submit a second land use review application for construction of the new covered reservoir, reflecting pools, lowland habitat area and walkways as well as rehabilitation of historic structures nearby.

Before building permits can be issued, land use review applications must gain city approval. This includes a historic resource review by the Historic Landmarks Commission and a conditional use and environmental review through the city hearings officer.

Water Bureau officials announced last year that they plan to proceed with the project after receiving a mandate from the Oregon Health Authority to follow a federal regulation that outlaws the use of uncovered reservoirs to store finished drinking water. The rule is intended to reduce the risk of exposure to contaminants.

Hoffman Construction crews are scheduled to start work on the project on July 1, 2016 and wrap up in late 2020.