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Design Advice Requests

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Source: Design Advice Requests ↗ Last modified: Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:02:45 GMT

What is it?

A Design Advice Request is an optional request for feedback from the Design Commission or Historic Landmarks Commission before applying for a Design or Historic Resource Review.

In a few instances, it is required before submittal of a Design or other Land Use Review. This feedback is advisory and preliminary. This meeting is not a land use review. Decisions are not made in the design advice requests process. 

For further assistance with land use and zoning regulations that apply to your site, please contact Planning and Zoning at 503-823-7300.

Applications and informational documents

  •  Complete this form to apply for a Design Advice Request.

  •  Typical meeting agenda with order and timing.

  •  Provides an overview of the procedure and deliverables.

Our criteria

Design Guidelines are the approval criteria used in Design Reviews and Historic Resource Reviews. These guidelines guide the conversation during the DAR. Design Commission feedback will relate to the concept’s response to the context, public realm, and quality. Guidelines generally address one or more of these design tenets.

The Historic Landmarks Commission organizes its feedback based on macro and micro-level issues related to the applicable approval criteria. 

Copies of the Design Guidelines are available in the hearings room and can be found online: Design Guideline Documents ↗

Possible topics for a design advice request

You and staff will identify four to five issues for the Commission to discuss. Possible topics include (but are not limited to):

  • Compatibility with Historic Resources
  • Design Coherency
  • Form / Massing
  • Materiality
  • Outdoor Spaces
  • Parking / Loading
  • Pedestrian / Public Realm
  • Placemaking
  • Potential Modifications / Adjustments
  • Response to Context

Outside our scope

The Design Advice Request Information Sheet describes the procedure and deliverables. Design Advice Requests are intended to align with the schematic design phase of the architectural design process. 

The following information and drawings should not be presented at a design advice request discussion:

  • Fully developed site, floor, and roof plans
  • Detailed elevations
  • Fully rendered images
  • Final material selections
  • Cutsheets for specific building
  • Detailed Landscape Plan

The Design Commission only has the authority to influence elements of a project that relate to the approval criteria. For example, guidelines do not address private views. 

Resources for questions and feedback on issues that the Design Commission cannot address: