Lane County holds public hearing on $17.5 million in federal housing funds for Holiday Farm fire survivors

Lane County officials on Feb. 11 held a public hearing in Harris Hall to gather comment on proposed uses of $17,483,497 in Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) funds intended to serve renters displaced by the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire.

Disaster recovery manager Matt McCray told the Board of County Commissioners that the $17,483,497 is Lane County’s portion of a larger $422,000,000 CDBG‑DR allocation to Oregon. "These funds are not yet available to Lane County," McCray said, adding that the county is working with OHCS and local partners to finalize contracts and planning before dollars are released.

McCray described three proposed development types and draft dollar allocations: $5,000,000 for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), $5,000,000 for single‑family cottage‑cluster developments, and $5,000,000 for a manufactured/modular home park. He said the remaining roughly $2,500,000 would be held for administration and contingency, bringing the Lane County total to about $17.48 million.

Why it matters: the funds are prioritized for low‑ and moderate‑income households and given preference to Holiday Farm wildfire survivors. If implemented, the projects would create affordable rental or homeownership opportunities upriver in and adjacent to the Mackenzie River Valley, including Blue River, where redevelopment and rezoning work has been under way. McCray emphasized that federal rules attach environmental, accessibility and long‑term affordability requirements to CDBG‑DR dollars, and that the county is trying to complete preparatory work before funds arrive so construction can move faster once contracts are executed.

Key proposal details and constraints

- ADUs: McCray said the ADU program would target building ADUs on private properties within or near the Holiday Farm Fire footprint and on properties owned by homeowners willing to add an ADU. Lane County’s code currently limits ADUs to 900 square feet, he said. The county would contract with property owners requiring that ADUs be rented to…