Depoe Bay agency expands urban renewal boundary, directs staff to study housing, clinic and park options for Kent Street lots

The Depoe Bay Urban Renewal Agency voted to adopt Resolution UR24-25 approving a minor amendment to the Depoe Bay Urban Renewal Plan to increase the plan’s boundary and include several city-owned tax lots on Kent Street.

Agency members said the amendment would allow the urban renewal program to use incremental tax revenues from those parcels for projects such as workforce or low-income housing, a clinic with short-term housing for medical staff, or park improvements. Agency members asked staff to gather more information and to reach out to potential partners, including Samaritan (the local medical provider) and Lincoln County housing officials, before returning to a workshop for public input.

The action followed staff research presented to the agency showing the Kent Street properties correspond to tax lots 1600, 1300 and 1400. The last recorded survey noted in the Lincoln County assessor files dates to 1976; city crews were unable to find survey stakes, so a new survey will be required before final development. Staff also reported that water, sewer, gas and power are available to the city-owned Kent Street lots.

Agency members discussed multiple possible uses. One member urged prioritizing workforce housing (defined in agency materials as housing targeted at households earning roughly 60%–80% of area median income) or low-income housing (at or below about 50% of AMI). Another member said commercial or mixed-use development—such as a clinic on the ground floor with short-term or monthly housing for medical workers above—would fit the lots’ commercial zoning and could preserve limited commercial land. Several members suggested parks or managed short-term-rental conversion as alternatives. The group also noted the Lincoln County Housing Authority is developing 12 townhomes for Otis fire victims nearby and said that agency had expressed interest in Kent Street ideas.

During the discussion agency members repeatedly said they wanted staff to refine a short list of feasible options (clinic/mixed-use, workforce housing, park, or commercial support uses), identify funding incentives, and produce design concepts so residents could give informed feedback. Members agreed outreach should include a public workshop or town-hall style presentation and posting materials on the city website; staff was asked to prepare materials and coordinate outreach without delaying the immediate next steps.

One member raised concerns about adding residential units given existing pressure on local infrastructure and the current number of short-term rentals; others countered that short-term rentals also strain services and that workforce housing would help retain medical and other local workers. Agency members noted the state offers tax-incentive programs for affordable housing that can provide multi-year property tax benefits to developers, though those programs carry eligibility rules the agency cannot override.

The agency also discussed two other city-owned parcels. Collins Street (a separate parcel not contiguous with the urban renewal area) was discussed as a candidate for parking and an electric vehicle charging station but was not added to the renewal area because it is not contiguous. Agency members confirmed disposal of a particular property or final development agreements would involve city council action where legally required.

Action taken: an agency member moved to adopt Resolution UR24-25, described in the meeting as “a resolution approving a minor amendment to the Depoe Bay Urban Renewal Plan to increase the urban renewal area boundary.” The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; the meeting record shows ayes and the chair declared the resolution adopted. The meeting did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript excerpt.

Next steps noted in the meeting included staff outreach to Samaritan to explore interest in a clinic or short-term workforce housing and follow-up contact with Lincoln County housing staff. The agency set a special meeting/workshop date to continue the Kent Street discussion and to assemble a packet of refined options and materials for public feedback.