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With a 4-1 vote on Thursday the Portland Design Commission approved the five-building addition to the Northbound 30 Collaborative development.

Eight of the development鈥檚 buildings (designed by Waechter Architecture and Jones Architecture) were approved previously. The additional five were designed by Leeb Architects.

Developer Noel Johnson is the developer for the development that will be the companion project to his adjacent Wilson Forest Park Homes; construction of its final units has nearly finished.

After weighing commissioners鈥� criticism about inequitable access (delivered on the first day of the design review hearing two weeks ago), the project team added an entrance to Building 12. Previously, the only accessible entrances into the site were at Northwest 29th Avenue through the vehicle and pedestrian gates and through a portico at Building 4 on the corner of Northwest 30th Avenue and Wilson Street.

Commissioner Jessica Molinar cast the only vote against approval on Thursday, saying that the project still did not meet the design guidelines that call for a comfortable and safe environment for all residents. People with accessibility devices would still need to use rear entrances.

Though Commissioner Don Vallaster voted to approve the proposal, he acknowledged that 鈥渋t鈥檚 still a bit of a stretch to see that this meets the accessibility code. But with that said, I think this is probably as good as they can do without redesigning the whole project.鈥�

The project team did reconfigure the courtyard to include a buffer between the vehicle and pedestrian areas via stormwater planters. They also took the commission鈥檚 suggestions to add a covering above the pathway from Building 4 to Building 13 as well as change the vehicle gate to metal.

Bureau of Development Services聽staff also recommended approval of the project. The Design Commission鈥檚 approval came with minor conditions, including that all metal trims be at least 22 gauge.