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The third appearance before the Portland Design Commission was not the charm for the Ankeny Apartments project. In a rare move, the commission on Thursday went against the recommendation of city staff and denied the project by a 5-0 鈥渟traw poll鈥� vote.

However, the decision won’t become official until the commission meets聽Jan. 17聽because a revised staff report must be prepared so that an official vote can take place.

The Ankeny Apartments development team indicated that it intends to challenge the commission’s decision by appealing to the City Council.

The proposed project calls for three six-story mixed-use towers connected by outdoor stairwells at 1122 S.E. Ankeny St. The developer wants to construct 17 luxury apartments and ground-floor retail space on two adjacent lots 鈥� one measuring 34 feet by 100 feet and the other measuring 30 feet by 66 feet 鈥� in an L-shape that would extend to Southeast 12th Avenue.

The commission focused much of its attention on the proposed project’s scale and bulk.

鈥淪omewhere between a duplex and what is proposed would be a slam dunk,鈥� Commission Chairman David Wark said.

Commissioners did praise the team’s efforts to create a net-zero building, meaning it would create as much energy as it uses. YGH Architecture‘s design would accomplish that by incorporating photovoltaic panels on the roofs and walls as well as triple-pane, passive-house-rated windows and highly insulated walls and roofs.

鈥淥ur goal at Our Land (Development) was to develop the first net-zero building,鈥� developer Landon Crowell said.

Design commissioners were not as concerned with the proposed height as much as the proximity of the project’s walls to the property line. They also believe the development, as proposed, would not fit with the surrounding residential neighborhood.

Multiple people who reside near the proposed development site testified against the project on Thursday.

鈥淚 would prefer to work with my neighbors,鈥� Crowell told the commission. 鈥淚t hasn’t always worked out that way.鈥�

Frustrations were visible at times as, during the public comments portion of the hearing, Wark had to remind meeting attendees to be respectful of people speaking. He also had to ask design team members to refrain from commenting.

Neighbors were highly critical of the project’s height and expressed fears that building’s towering presence would cut off much of the sunlight their homes receive currently. They also said they believe that because of the new development’s proximity to their homes, they would be affected during maintenance on the building’s stucco surface.

William Phillips, whose house at 113 S.E. 12th Ave. sits near the proposed 鈥渆lbow鈥� of the L-shaped structure, was concerned that the apartments would shade his house from sun most of the day. He said that would make growing plants in his backyard impossible.

鈥淧utting that building there is going to take away our complete way of life,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don’t see why this building should be allowed to go in and take away our way of life.鈥�

During design commissioners’ deliberations, development team members appeared visibly frustrated. Project construction manager Greg Vick told commissioners that he felt that the commission was changing what was expressed at a design review hearing in October.

Julie Livingston, who was present at both meetings, said that concerns about the bulk of the building were consistent at both meetings. While the commission recommended possible ways to make the building pass muster, the developer and architect expressed concerns that such changes would impact the energy efficiency of the project and its ability to reach net-zero status.

鈥淲e support the project, the ideas of it 鈥� everything about it except the form when it gets to the guidelines,鈥� Wark said.

Also on Thursday:

Modera Buckman

The design for a proposed seven-story building for the corner of Southeast 12th Avenue and Belmont Street was sent back for more changes. The Mill Creek Residential Trust project team is due to return before the commission on Feb. 9.聽The proposed building would include 189 residential units, ground-floor retail space and 88 ground-floor parking and loading spaces.

While commissioners praised the changes such as an increased setback, from 10 feet to 22 feet, from the neighboring historic building, they requested further cosmetic changes and design refinement.

Leeb Architects is designing the project.

Modera Glisan

The design commission followed the city staff recommendation and sent back another Mill Creek Residential Trust project for refinement. The proposal is for a 12-story, three-quarters-block, mixed-use building in the River District on a site bounded by Northwest 14th Avenue and Glisan and Hoyt streets. The development would include 291 residential units.

The staff recommended approval of parking modification. Staffers noted three main issues that prevented approval: architectural coherency, ground-floor plaza activation and material board and samples.

The commission did recommend to developers several options that could meet commission guidelines and secure approval.

The project will return before the design commission on Feb. 9.

SERA Architects is the project’s designer.