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The Portland City Council voted Wednesday to adopt the Central City 2035 plan, culminating years of work with a sweeping plan that will set rules for future development, including allowable building heights.

As the plan moved close to adoption, a rift developed among commissioners regarding allowable heights on the property adjacent to Lan Su Chinese Garden in Old Town-Chinatown.

The maximum height on that property was lowered from 400 feet under old rules to 200 feet in the Central City 2035 plan, but some commissioners wanted it lowered further to 125 feet. Allowable heights vary from 100 feet to 460 feet on nearby blocks.

Commissioner Amanda Fritz said the allowed height undermines years of work to protect the Chinatown/Japantown Historic District. She added that the development guidelines violate city policies meant to preserve historic resources. Fritz said future buildings could shade the garden, making plants unable to grow and koi fish unable to survive in the garden’s ponds.

鈥淭he time to protect Lan Su Chinese Garden for sure was now,鈥� she said.

Mayor Ted Wheeler bristled at the suggestion the allowed height will hurt the garden, saying he proposed to his wife there.

鈥淲e are more than reducing by half the height, and yet I am being told I am destroying an important historic asset in this city,鈥� Wheeler said. 鈥淚 don’t buy it, not for a second. Nor should you.鈥�

Commissioner Chloe Eudaly said she did not want to restrict development potential on the block.

鈥淚 think it’s in the best interest of the neighborhood and the businesses down there for the development potential of this site to be maximized while protecting the garden,鈥� she said.

Commissioners also approved a measure to require a master plan in certain portions of RiverPlace. NBP Capital has requested a master plan for a series of towers in the area of Southwest Portland.

As part of the 2035 package, commissioners also adopted a concept report for the Green Loop, a proposal to make biking and walking easier downtown and in the Central Eastside through measures such as protected bike lanes and enhanced pedestrian crossings.

鈥淲e are growing as a city; we cannot stop the growth,鈥� Wheeler said. 鈥淧eople are going to continue to come here. This is going to continue to be a bigger city. But we acknowledged there are better places than others for height and density.鈥�