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Community Development outlines development-review workload, housing metrics and long-range projects
Summary
Community Development Director Lee Crabtree briefed council on the department's eight divisions, the development review process and housing production metrics, saying development review remains the largest time and resource demand and projecting about 700 land-use applications this fiscal year.
Beaverton ' The city's Community Development Department told council it manages eight divisions and that the development review process (DRP) remains the department's most resource-intensive work, handling a range of applications from sign permits to comprehensive plan amendments.
Director Lee Crabtree said the department acts as facilitator for development and construction in Beaverton while also providing programs for first-time homebuyers, small and minority-owned businesses, childcare providers and nonprofit partners. "C D D is the facilitator of development and construction of Beaverton," he said.
Why it matters: Planning and permitting activity affects housing production, tax base growth and development timelines. Staff told the council the department must coordinate many technical reviews and partner agencies to deliver decisions within statutory timelines.
Main points from the presentation: - Development review and timelines: Crabtree explained DRP involves multiple checkpoints and partner reviews; Oregon's "shot clock" requires land-use decisions within 120 days after an application is deemed complete. - Application volumes and housing production: The department reported steady application volumes with 616 land-use applications in FY23, 666 in FY24, and projected about 700 for the current fiscal year. In 2024 the city reported 886 housing units produced: 303 single-family and 583 multifamily units. - Site development and building permits: Site development issues permits for public infrastructure and right-of-way work; the building division enforces state building-code standards and issues building permits for private lots. - Long-range planning projects: Staff highlighted work on transportation system plans, Milliken Way improvements, the downtown loop, Cooper Mountain planning and the housing production strategy. The division also contributes to annexation and Metro/FEMA regulatory changes. - Economic development and urban renewal: The city's enterprise and downtown programs use tax increment financing and partnerships (for example with the Oregon Startup Center, the Beaverton Downtown Association and the chamber) to support business growth, murals, events and targeted grants for small businesses.
Council follow-up: Councilors asked about cost-recovery options for development services, use of AI in staff report drafting and planning, and benchmarking fees against peer cities. Crabtree said development services currently recover a minority share of their full costs and said staff plan a deeper cost-recovery analysis later in the year.
