METRO's Density  Increase Recommendations

For the area of each of the 2040 Growth Concept design types, METRO recommends the following average densities. We added the starting density (when Metro started) and percentage increase that Metro plans for us. (While not mandates, these are in the Metro code.)

1 - Find Your Neighborhood here (also find nearby streets that aren't protected) 2 - Look Here for Metro's Density Target  Increase for your Neighborhood

region  

definition

Starting density *

Metro's target density

Percent Increase
permitted under 26-29

Central City

Downtown Portland

168

250 persons per acre

49%

Regional Centers

Other downtowns

24.6

60 persons per acre

144%

Station Communities

one mile circle centered on every light rail station

11.4**

45 persons per acre

294%

Town Centers

Gateway, Cedar Mill, etc.

26.5

40 persons per acre

51%

Main Streets

Click for list

32

39 persons per acre

22%

Corridor

Most streets with good transit lines

19

25 persons per acre

29%

Employment Areas

see map

14.4

20 persons per acre

39%

Industrial Areas

see map

?

9 employees per acre

--

Inner Neighborhoods

Residential areas . . .with smaller lot sizes

11.4

14 persons per acre

23%

Outer Neighborhoods

Residential neighborhoods further out. . .

8.6

13 persons per acre

51%

* "Starting" densities are from 1992, the latest available from METRO as of March 2002. However, they should accurately reflect densities before METRO's influence.
* *METRO had no current density listed for station communities, so we used the Inner Neighborhoods density since stations are placed in ordinary neighborhoods.

Recommendations are from: METRO code 3.07.170 (Ordinance No. 97-715B, Sec. 1
Starting densities from METRO publication: REGION 2040, Recommended Alternative Technical Appendix, September 15, 1994

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