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The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability‘s Better Housing by Design proposal to encourage development of more densely built apartments in certain areas encountered a somewhat mixed reception by the City Council on Wednesday.

Commissioners received about two hours of public testimony from residents, nonprofit advocates and development professionals on the proposal, which is essentially the multifamily companion to the Residential Infill Project that is meant to create more small dwellings in single-family zones.

Better Housing by Design applies to only 8 percent of the city by land area. Areas zoned for multi-dwelling residential (designated by the city as R1, R2, R3 and RH) are concentrated in East Portland, but also include the Alphabet and King’s Hill historic districts in Northwest Portland and sections along Southwest Barbur Boulevard.

The rezoning project would allow many more apartments on some parcels, which would benefit nonprofit affordable-housing developers.

鈥淏etter Housing by Design is a game changer for affordable housing developers,鈥� said Julie Livingston, senior project manager for Home Forward. (Livingston also serves as the Portland Design Commission‘s chairwoman, but said she was representing Home Forward in her testimony).

Livingston gave the example of a 5-acre parcel Home Forward owns in East Portland. Under current R2 zoning, with inclusionary housing, the parcel could host up to 144 units. The proposed zoning would raise the development potential to 330 units, she said.

Better Housing by Design allows for more low-rise housing options, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability project manager Bill Cunningham said.

鈥淭he basic message is houses are out of reach for the majority of Portlanders now,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd knowing that we have a broad range of household types, we know we need a broader range of housing opportunities for people.鈥�

He added, 鈥淗ousing production hasn’t kept up with the growth in the number of households in Portland. So more people vying for not enough housing does drive prices up.鈥�

Commissioners pushed back on some aspects of the proposal. Amanda Fritz said the city should encourage larger units.

鈥淚 want to make sure that we’re going to have family housing in Portland as well as affordable housing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 don’t think the two should be mutually exclusive.鈥�

Cunningham noted the program includes bonuses for three-bedroom homes at moderate income levels.

Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said the city should first release a report, expected later this year, on the racist history of Portland zoning.

鈥淚’m very concerned that we are just solidifying the racially segregating housing policy first, and then we go talking about how we’re not going to displace people after we’ve already confirmed that the racist policy is fine and that we’re going to keep it status quo,鈥� she said.

Representatives of numerous organizations testified in favor of the project, including a Portland Public Schools staffer who said stable housing contributes to learning.

Mayor Ted Wheeler continued the hearing until Nov. 6, when he said the City Council will hear more testimony on Better Housing by Design. Written testimony will be accepted until then.