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Sutherlin planning staff outlines Oak Street Commons workforce housing plan, $2.86M in infrastructure funding secured
Summary
Planning staff told the Sutherlin Planning Commission the city has purchased land for Oak Street Commons, secured $2,860,000 for infrastructure, and will issue an RFP for engineering work ahead of a plan amendment and zone-change recommendation to city council.
Planning staff told the Sutherlin Planning Commission on Jan. 21 that the city has purchased property for a proposed Oak Street Commons workforce housing project and has secured $2,860,000 in infrastructure funding to begin water and sewer work.
The project is intended as workforce housing “not high end, not low end,” staff said, and will include mixed housing types. Staff said the initial buildout concepts include two nine-unit buildings, a fourplex, roughly 35 single-family dwellings, 17–18 cottages and a community center.
The project team will advertise a request for proposals for engineering services to provide design and construction management. “Tomorrow, actually, is our first advertisement for an engineer on that portion of the project,” a planning staff member said. The city also plans to meet with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to surface potential environmental issues early; staff said a DEQ meeting is expected in February.
Why it matters: Sutherlin staff framed Oak Street Commons as an attempt to add workforce housing that employers in Douglas County could use to house employees. Staff said the city has started a stakeholder task force and is exploring a land-trust model so properties might be held in trust while individuals or employers occupy or buy units.
Staff said the funding the city has received so far came via Senate Bill 1530 (identified in the meeting as the funding source) and that more funding may be available. Because the property is currently zoned light industrial, staff said the city will act as the applicant for a plan amendment and zone change; the commission is the first review body and will make a recommendation to city council in the coming months. Staff noted that Oregon’s Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) requires a 35-day notice period for plan amendments, and that a traffic analysis will likely be required as part of the application.
Commissioners asked how the planning commission will be involved going forward. Staff said the commission will review the plan amendment and make a recommendation to council and that public outreach — including town halls — will be scheduled once design and funding details are firmer.
Next steps outlined at the meeting: advertise the engineer RFP, meet with DEQ (anticipated in February), complete engineering and design work, perform a traffic analysis as required, and bring a plan amendment/zone-change recommendation to city council after DLCD notice and required studies.
No formal vote on the project was taken at the Jan. 21 meeting; the discussion was an informational update and preview of the development review and public outreach steps to come.
