PORTLAND, Ore. — A controversial "odor" ordinance in the city of Portland could be changing. This comes after a Northeast Portland restaurant was forced to close its doors in February after being fined multiple times when a neighbor complained about the smell of cooking food.
Eddie Dong, the owner of Pho Gabo, chose to close their location at Northeast Fremont Street and 74th Avenue as fines mounted. A city inspector said Dong could purchase an air filtration system for around $40,000 to address the issue but couldn’t guarantee that would stop the complaints and fines.
“The foods of his culture shut down his business because somebody complained, so I think he is just kind of struggling with that,” Julie Parrish, Dong’s attorney, told KGW in April 2024.
A change to the ordinance presented on Wednesday during a Portland City Council meeting would exempt restaurants from being fined for smells. The change in policy is supported by the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association (ORLA).
“ORLA is absolutely in support of the ordinance change we believe that it will level the playing field and takes away that subjectivity that has been so damaging in the past,” said Greg Astley with ORLA.
Astley says he had never heard of any other restaurant in Oregon being subjected to repeated fines like Pho Gabo.
“Because it was such a subjective measure, we were very concerned, especially when it came to light that again it was just one person who was making multiple complaints about a restaurant that had been there for years,” Astley said.
Property owner Scott Everist addressed the city council on Wednesday. Everist says the property is for sale and has had trouble finding a buyer because of the past fines: “Minority restaurant buyers do not want to purchase a building that after HVAC improvements will not guarantee that they can still be a restaurant.”
The first reading of the ordinance and public comment happened at Wednesday’s meeting. A second reading before council will happen on Nov. 13. The change in ordinance will go into effect on March 1, 2025, if it's approved by council.