Gil Kelley is Planning Director for the City of Portland, Oregon. He oversees the Bureau of Planning and is responsible for coordinating the planning and development functions among all city agencies. Mr. Kelley also directs several key community development initiatives on behalf of the Mayor and Council, including Portland’s River Renaissance, Centers and Neighborhoods – a Community Investment Strategy, the Next Economy Initiative, and the Mayor’s Urban Design Excellence initiative.

Best Practice presentation talking point
How does one plan for a waterfront with a mix of uses that are constantly evolving?  For instance, the Delaware has incredible opportunities for public open space, but it also has a strong history of port uses that are still active on both the southern and northern ends of our project area.  The port economy continues to change, and with two 5000-slots only casinos on the way, there are many uses that riverfront development must balance.  What are some best practices and models of excellence given these challenges?  In particular, how might we think about balancing the goals of a healthy, ecologically-sound river, with the needs of an active, working port?