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A 434,720-square-foot building set for Goose Hollow will be one of Portland’s largest multifamily developments after winning land use approval from the Design Commission.

Modera Main Street was approved by a 4-1 vote on Thursday. The commission’s chairwoman, Julie Livingston, cast the sole vote against the project. Commissioner Sam Rodriguez did not participate in the hearing; he recused himself because he is senior managing director in Portland for the project’s developer, Mill Creek Residential Trust.

The Design Commission approved project plans despite complaints from Goose Hollow residents that the 17-story building will be too large for the neighborhood and will worsen traffic, among other concerns.

鈥淲e heard from a lot of people, and very heartfelt testimonies on issues that I personally have a lot of empathy for,鈥� Commissioner Zari Santner said. 鈥淩egretfully, we as a body do not have the authority to really respond to those.鈥�

Final findings will be issued by Oct. 8. Then appeals of the Design Commission’s decision may be filed, said Ben Nielsen, a senior planner for the Bureau of Development Services.

The project’s approval comes as city officials push for more housing to meet demand. Modera Main will have 337 apartments 鈥� one more than earlier design iterations included. The building will wrap around a large-scale parking structure with 403 stalls that residents will share with Multnomah Athletic Club members.

The approval is also a milestone for Mill Creek. The national developer, based in Boca Raton, Florida, has been working for at least a decade to bring a multifamily building to the site. Mill Creek has built seven Modera-brand multifamily projects in neighborhoods around Portland, often inciting ire from local residents. Most recently, Mill Creek proposed Modera Woodstock, which would bring 194 apartments to the Southeast Portland neighborhood.

Commissioners were largely complimentary of Ankrom Moisan Architects‘ design for Modera Main. Commissioner Brian McCarter said the podium and tower are well integrated, and he praised the simplified facade, which will be broken into three-story groupings.

Commissioners also praised how well the design hides the parking structure.

鈥淭he fact that the entire garage is surrounded by program use is a very big deal,鈥� Commissioner Jessica Molinar said. 鈥淚t’s not easy to pull off.鈥�

The garage will have only one entrance and exit, reducing conflicts with people using surrounding streets and sidewalks.

Livingston said she voted against the design because it does not activate Main Street on the ground level and thus falls short of meeting public realm guidelines.

鈥淚 look at Main Street, and I see the thinness of the program behind the facade adjacent to the sidewalk, and it’s just not enough to support real activity,鈥� she said.

Livingston nevertheless praised the overall design.

鈥淭his is a really strong proposal and it will be a very strong building,鈥� she said.

Commissioners attached two conditions of approval. One requires additional outdoor lighting in landscaped areas, and the other sets a minimum gauge for metal copings and exposed metal flashings.

The record was closed after a prior Design Commission hearing, so the project team did not speak at Thursday’s meeting, which was conducted virtually.

Opponents may appeal to the City Council. However, the council has not been receptive to opponents of housing projects in recent years, routinely rejecting appeals of Design Commission approvals.