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The Portland Design Commission is poised to approve a temporary homeless shelter at the Broadway Bridge, but the appellant said he and other opponents are likely to take the matter to court.

At an appeal hearing Thursday, design commissioners said city design guidelines do not address temporary structures. Nevertheless, commissioners said Oregon Harbor of Hope‘s plan for a Navigation Center in the Pearl District makes efforts toward quality and fitting the surrounding context.

Commissioners did not take a formal vote, but they indicated in a 5-0 straw poll they would approve the Navigation Center. A final vote is scheduled for Aug. 15.

Kurt Sorensen, a Pearl District resident, appealed Bureau of Development Services‘ staff approval of the tent. In a brief interview after the meeting, Sorensen said the commission’s support for the project is to be expected.

鈥淚’m not at all surprised,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s been scripted.鈥�

Sorensen said he will consult with other shelter opponents, but legal action is a distinct possibility. He said he plans to file a lawsuit rather than bring the matter to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.

鈥淚’m going to take it straight to circuit court,鈥� he said. 鈥淚’m not wasting my time.鈥�

The tent comes from Oregon Harbor of Hope, a nonprofit backed by developer Homer Williams. The Navigation Center would provide shelter and referrals to other services. As in other West Coast cities, Portland’s homeless population has exploded in recent years amid rising housing costs and declining federal support for affordable housing.

Commissioners said the structure would serve its purpose. 鈥淚 think it鈥榮 going to work just fine, and in five years, it’s gone,鈥� said Don Vallaster.

Harbor of Hope’s lease with Prosper Portland, the public agency which owns the Naito Parkway property north of the bridge, is scheduled to terminate Dec. 31, 2023. Harbor of Hope representatives have said the shelter is not expected to be in use past that date.

Chairwoman Julie Livingston said the tent fits appropriately within the neighborhood.

鈥淔or a five-year structure, it fits well within the context of Albers Mill and the bridge,鈥� she said. 鈥淓veryone wants it to be a five-story brick structure; it’s not.鈥�

Commissioners declined to reopen the public record, saying further testimony wouldn’t change the outcome.

Livingston said the city needs to provide clear guidelines for temporary structures in the future.

鈥淚 would imagine that we’re going to see more temporary structures, and more requests for temporary structures,鈥� Livingston said. 鈥淚t seems like temporary (structures) somehow needs to be addressed in our guidelines.鈥�