Question: “Do you favor the change in the City ordinances proposed by the citizens’ petition, that the City be required to adopt a local growth management program and comprehensive plan, with a housing plan for residential neighborhoods as the highest priority?”

The Phoenix recommends you vote no on the May 1 referendum. In an attempt to put teeth into their proposed ordinance, the Citizens for a Comprehensive Plan included a provision that would halt large-scale construction in or near residential neighborhoods until the city creates the housing portion of the comprehensive plan. (No, this is not clear from the question, but go to their Web site, www.campaigncompplan.homestead.com, and read the ordinance and you’ll see what we mean.)

The problem is the teeth are too sharp. Not only would the provision (which includes a retroactivity clause that would halt any project that received its permit after October 16) delay an affordable housing development on North Street, a possible affordable housing project in Saint Dominic’s Church, and an artist live-work space on Anderson Street, it would also cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue it would not collect from development. This in a year of a housing crunch and a budget shortfall.

The Citizens do admit that the provision will cost the city, but they think the cost is worth the benefit of providing Portland with a well reasoned plan. However, it’s likely that the building restriction will prevent the very thing the Citizens want. After all, what committee could carefully and patiently create a housing plan with an entire city breathing down its neck to finish as quickly as possible so homeless people can be housed and businesses can be built?

As to the non-controversial aspects of the referendum — that the city create a citizen advisory committee to assist with the creation of the comprehensive plan, and a neighborhood review process to oversee residential development — the city has already implemented these changes, although not to the Citizens’ satisfaction.

The Citizens for a Comprehensive Plan have succeeded in bringing the lack of resident participation in the planning process to the city’s attention, and have forced City Council to adopt some of their demands. The Citizens feel their referendum is necessary to develop the city thoughtfully and to coerce the city into accepting the rest of their demands. The fact is, however, their development restriction will hurt Portland and prevent an effective planning process.

What do you think? Send an e-mail to portland-feedback@phx.com.