Council study session on affirmatively furthering fair housing: staff to propose comp‑plan policy and brief planning commission Sept. 8

Lake Oswego City Council on July 15 hosted a study session on affirmatively furthering fair housing (AFFH). The meeting included a presentation from Shail Reuter of the Fair Housing Council of Oregon and a policy briefing from Eric Olsen, the city’s long‑range planning manager. After discussion, council members directed staff to prepare a concise comprehensive plan policy on AFFH and bring that draft to the Planning Commission on Sept. 8 for public hearing.

Shail Reuter, education and outreach director at the Fair Housing Council of Oregon, reviewed federal, state and local protections and the historical context for residential segregation in Oregon. Reuter described AFFH as the obligation of jurisdictions and federally funded entities to administer housing and related programs in a way that reduces segregation and increases housing choice for persons in protected classes.

Reuter told the council that fair housing law covers disparate treatment and disparate impact and described examples local governments should avoid, including imposing additional hearings or extra design requirements on housing serving protected populations. "All new housing developments should be held to the same standards, and cities shouldn't be creating more barriers to developing needed housing types," Reuter said.

Eric Olsen, long‑range planning manager, explained that adding a compact AFFH policy to the comprehensive plan would implement Strategy 13 in the city's Housing Production Strategy (HPS) and serve as a near‑term, surgical change rather than a full chapter rewrite. Olsen presented draft policy language that would direct the city to "employ strategies to affirmatively further fair housing by fostering inclusive communities, overcoming disparities in access to community amenities, and enhancing housing choice for people in protected classes." He said staff would respond to the new policy as part of the standard findings when the city reviews housing‑related code or map amendments.

Council members discussed the proposal at length, raising how broad or specific the policy language should be and how the city can better communicate existing successes and new commitments. Councilor Wendland asked whether the city is out of compliance with state or federal law, and staff responded that Lake Oswego already complies with federal and state fair housing requirements; the comprehensive plan policy would make that commitment explicit in the city's planning documents. Several councilors said they wanted the city to both acknowledge the local history and highlight recent progress so the city can better communicate its current practices and values.

On direction and timing, Olsen recommended a narrow amendment to the housing chapter — a single policy with follow‑up actions — and proposed sending the draft to the Planning Commission for a Sept. 8 public hearing. Council members indicated support for that approach and asked staff to prepare both the policy language and a short list of implementation items and educational materials for the public and staff. Staff said they will provide written resources and could post educational materials and procedures on the city's website to help residents and applicants understand complaint and fair‑housing resources.

The council did not take a formal vote; instead, members reached consensus on directing staff to prepare the comprehensive plan amendment and return it to the Planning Commission on Sept. 8 for public hearing and subsequent council review.