Portland's $2 billion Bull Run Filtration Project halts construction after permit denial
According to The Oregonian/Oregon Live, Portland city officials have paused construction on its $2 billion Bull Run project after failing to secure a crucial land-use permit required for construction to move forward. The project, first approved in 2017, includes plans for a new filtration plant and associated water pipelines to comply with EPA regulations that require removal of certain contaminants found in drinking water samples.
On Jan. 22, the Land Use Board of Appeals sided with opponents, denying the conditional land-use permit, with the application now being sent back to Multnomah County for further review. City officials say the county review process could take up to 120 days, during which construction will stop.
The Bull Run water filtration plant lacks proper zoning due to its location in a section of forest owned by the city, which is why it requires a conditional land-use permit.
It was one of several locations the city considered when planning started nearly 10 years ago.
The project has faced opposition from some who claim that construction on the filtration plant and water pipelines will harm the area’s natural resources. Due to opposition and other factors, the filtration plant has seen several delays, causing the cost estimate to surge to $2 billion from the originally approved $500 million.
Portland officials finally broke ground on the project last year, leaving just over two years to complete construction before its September 2027 deadline.
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