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Neighborhood groups have appealed Portland Design Commission approvals last month of two planned projects in Northwest Portland.

Neighbors of the proposed Tess O’Brien Apartments, at 1950 N.W. Pettygrove St. and 1953 N.W. Overton St., and Block 136, at 1241 N.W. Johnson St., have filed separate appeals to the Portland City Council questioning the commission’s project approvals and the city’s design review procedures.

The Northwest District Association appealed approval of FFA Architecture and Interiors‘ design for the 125-unit Tess O’Brien Apartments. Members of the group claim in the appeal that the proposed development does not blend into the surrounding neighborhood and that procedural errors occurred during the design review process.

Meanwhile, Pearl District neighborhood group Preserve the Pearl LLC appealed approval of the design for Block 136, by Seattle-based architecture firm Mithun. Members claimed that the public process was flawed, including insufficient communication with the Pearl District Neighborhood Association. They also questioned allowing added height to the housing portion of the development.

An appeal hearing before the City Council for the Tess O’Brien Apartments is scheduled for March 4. A hearing for Block 136 is scheduled for April 8. Both hearings will start at 2 p.m. at Portland City Hall, 1221 S.W. Fourth Ave.

The Design Commission voted 3-1 last month to approve the design of the Tess O’Brien Apartments. It was the fourth design review hearing for the project, which had been criticized by commissioners and neighboring residents.

Plans for the $15 million project call for two six-story apartment buildings with a large courtyard in between including outdoor seating, stormwater planters and bike storage. Construction is scheduled to start this spring, according to the project’s developer, Kehoe Northwest Properties.

Design commissioners gave overwhelmingly positive comments last month when they approved designs for Seattle-based Security Properties‘ Block 136 project. Concerns voiced by neighbors were that the development’s planned 150-foot residential tower would be inconsistent with shorter surrounding buildings.

Plans call for a five-story office building facing 13th Avenue and a 15-story residential tower on 12th Avenue separated by a public courtyard connecting Johnson and Kearney streets. The 13th Avenue building will contain approximately 15,000 square feet of retail space and 60,000 square feet of office space. The 12th Avenue building will have approximately 208 residential units and 211 underground parking spaces.

The two buildings will occupy a full block bordered by Northwest 13th and 14th avenues and Johnson and Kearney streets.