Newberg council unanimously authorizes DLCD housing planning grant application

The Newberg City Council on July 21 unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing the planning department to apply to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) for a housing planning assistance grant to support the city’s compliance with state housing goals.

Scott Segal, the city’s community development director, said the city previously sought a schedule adjustment with DLCD and received approval to adopt a housing capacity analysis by 2027 and a housing production strategy by the end of 2028. Segal said the city must submit a grant application now because state grant cycles align with the 2025–27 biennium and projects selected in that cycle will be in the queue to complete work before the 2027 deadline.

Segal said DLCD staff indicated Newberg is well positioned for the grant because of its approaching deadline and that the grant typically pairs jurisdictions with one of the state’s on-call consultants; the city would have input on the firm selected. The approach is not a conventional reimbursement grant, Segal said: the state scopes the project and appoints a consultant to work with the city, and an intergovernmental agreement may follow.

Associate Planner Leanne Wagner described the application process as straightforward and said the city is applying specifically for assistance with a housing capacity analysis.

Councillor Derek moved adoption of Resolution 2025-3982; the council approved the motion by unanimous voice vote. Segal said successful applicants may receive consultant support and that the city expects to return to council if an intergovernmental agreement is required.