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Oregon City approves redesignation of enterprise zone; expansion qualifies under per-capita income criterion
Summary
The City Commission approved Resolution 25-18 to redesignate the Oregon City Enterprise Zone, changing boundaries to meet state eligibility (per-capita income) and adding commercial/industrial parcels; hotels will be eligible only on a case-by-case basis determined by the commission.
The Oregon City Commission on Wednesday approved Resolution 25-18 to redesignate the city’s enterprise zone and submit the redesignation to Business Oregon.
James Grama, development manager for Oregon City, and Barrett Lewis of Echo Northwest presented staff analysis showing the existing zone was ineligible for renewal under current state criteria and that a reconfigured boundary would meet the per-capita income eligibility test. Lewis, the lead analyst, said the proposed enterprise zone meets the per-capita income threshold using 2023 American Community Survey data for the Portland–Vancouver MSA.
Lewis explained the analysis used census block groups that touch the proposed zone to compute aggregate socioeconomic values. "The only threshold the proposed enterprise zone met is that per capita income criterion," he said.
Staff said the proposed expansion increases the number of commercial and industrial tax lots inside the zone and improves alignment with commercial and industrial zoning. The redesignation also adds hotel and motel uses to the zone; however, the resolution states that eligibility of certain hotel and resort developments to receive property tax abatement will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Oregon City Commission.
Commissioners asked for clarification about where specific properties fall on the map and whether including certain affluent block groups could make the redesignation ineligible. Staff explained the analysis is sensitive to which block groups are included and that some areas were excluded to preserve eligibility. Business Oregon submission and school-district support were discussed; staff said the school district submitted a resolution of support (James Grama said he believed it was submitted on July 1; Barrett Lewis said the school board provided a resolution on June 30).
The motion to approve Resolution 25-18 passed on a roll call vote: Commissioner Morrow — yes (mover); Commissioner Mitchell — yes (second); Commissioner Wilson — yes; Commissioner Smith — yes; Mayor Mary McGrath — yes. Staff said the next step, pending council adoption, will be submission to Business Oregon for renewal processing.
