Lake Oswego planning commission reviews 2025 work plan; Foothills grant, HPS timing and tree code updates highlighted

The Lake Oswego Planning Commission on Feb. 10 reviewed a proposed 2025 work plan that prioritizes the Foothills District plan update, implementation steps for the city's Housing Production Strategy (HPS), a tree code update, annual Community Development Code (CDC) amendments and changes to home-occupation standards.

The work session, led by Eric Olsen, planning staff coordinator, focused on sequencing, outside consulting needs and state review deadlines that affect timing for several items. "We will be releasing an RFP, hopefully, early March," Olsen said about the consultant procurement for the Foothills project. He also cautioned commissioners that staff is delaying some HPS implementation steps while awaiting state input: "We're going to wait a little bit on that."

The plan matters because it sets the department's workload and public engagement schedule for projects that will affect zoning, housing supply and development rules across the city. The commission was asked to accept public comment and provide direction or request additional information on the packaged items.

Key points from staff presentation and commission discussion:

- Foothills District plan: Staff said the city secured a Metro grant for the Foothills District planning work, described as "approximately three quarters of a million dollars," and finalized an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Metro. Olsen said staff will issue an RFP for consultants in early March and expects intensive public outreach and planning commission involvement beginning in late spring. Deliverables will include an updated district plan and related code and map amendments needed to implement the plan.

- Housing Production Strategy (HPS) implementation: Olsen reiterated the city adopted an HPS late last year and described it as driving several projects this year. He told commissioners the city is awaiting a decision from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) and referenced a 120-day review deadline around April 18. Because DLCD may attach conditions to approvals, staff postponed a detailed HPS implementation work session until May 28 to allow time to process state input and adjust the schedule.

- Variance exemption/SB 1537: Olsen said the city applied for an exemption related to mandatory land-use adjustments under SB 1537 and expects a decision on an April timeline similar to the HPS review; DLCD had not advised the city to adopt code amendments beforehand.

- Tree code update and Urban and Community Forestry Plan (UCFP): Staff noted the UCFP has been adopted and the tree-code update will follow. Olsen said a consultant will likely be used and that staff expects the tree-code work to proceed in 2025 with a target to advance amendments by winter 2026.

- Annual CDC amendments: Draft annual Community Development Code amendments are available and staff notified the public that a March 10 hearing will be held on the draft amendments.

- Home occupation standards: Staff described a planned amendment to make home-occupation standards more clear and objective and said the commission's April 14 work session will incorporate results from a home-occupation survey that staff is distributing.

- Fair housing policy and education: Olsen said the city has begun fair-housing work that includes considering a comprehensive-plan amendment to affirmatively further fair housing and an education component. He noted the Fair Housing Council of Oregon presented to the commission previously and described education as potentially ranging from commission training to targeted outreach for real-estate professionals and neighborhood groups.

- Other items: Staff summarized additional 2024 accomplishments that feed into 2025 work, including stormwater-code amendments to comply with state DEQ requirements and comprehensive-plan updates tied to wastewater facility planning. Some recently adopted items are already effective citywide.

Commissioners asked for clarification on public-comment expectations for the work plan and whether consultants will be used. Olsen said public comment taken at the meeting is the standard open-comment opportunity and that formal hearings or targeted outreach will follow for individual projects. He said consultants will be used on large pieces such as Foothills, the tree-code update and likely the code-audit work, while rezoning and some home-occupation work will rely more on in-house staff with limited consultant support for graphics and engagement as needed.

The commission did not take final action on any of the 2025 projects during the session; staff asked for direction and signaled next steps and schedules for hearings and work sessions across the spring and early summer.