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The city of Portland in the next several weeks will host a series of open house events that will allow residents to provide input on two city projects influencing neighborhood growth.

City planners are working on draft versions of Design Overlay Zone Amendments (DOZA) and the Historic Resources Code Project (HRCP). New roles for design overlay zones are being proposed for commercial areas throughout the city, while proposed historic resources code amendments would allow the city to have more control over demolition and major alterations to historic resources.

At the upcoming open house events, city planners will give presentations on both projects and receive public input on both.

The first open house is set for 2 to 4 p.m. on March 16, at Taborspace, 5441 S.E. Belmont St. The next one will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on March 19, at the Center for Architecture, 403 N.W. 11th Ave. A third one will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on April 9, at Bureau of Development Services offices, 1900 S.W. Fourth Ave. A fourth and final one, not yet scheduled, will be at an East Portland location to be determined.

New rules for design overlay zones are being proposed for many commercial areas. City staffers at the meetings will speak about the purpose of design overlay zones, where they would apply, the review process used for applicable projects, and tools used for evaluation.

Meanwhile, the HRCP addresses Portland’s historic buildings and other resources that heretofore have been protected by federal regulations. Proposed amendments to the zoning code would allow the city to have more control over what should be protected from demolition and major alterations. They’re based on public feedback received during an earlier concept development phase.

More information about the two efforts is available at and .