by Wright Gazaway
Fri, May 10th 2024 at 12:56 PM
PORTLAND, Ore. — Monday at 6, KATU continues a year-long investigation into requirements Portland places on some small business owners when they apply for building permits.
Prior investigations found the city makes these businesses spend tens of thousands of dollars on improvements to public infrastructure outside their business as a condition of interior building permits in some cases.
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We’ve now found those same requirements are waived in at least one other city in exactly the same scenario.
Does it put Portland behind competing cities for small businesses?
KATU goes straight to the city leader in charge of the bureau that approves these requirements – the Portland Bureau of Transportation. Will he support a rule change? Plus, why are business owners forced to spend six figures on city-mandated work when their business construction costs are the same or even less?
We’ve got those answers and a full breakdown of the city’s rules on KATU News at 6 on Monday night.