Springfield Planning Commission approves engagement plan for housing code and plan update

The Springfield Planning Commission on March 18 approved a community engagement strategy for a housing-related code and plan update aimed at bringing the city’s development code and plans into compliance with state housing statutes and reducing regulatory barriers to housing production. The motion to adopt the engagement plan passed on a 5-0 roll call.

Senior planner Haley Campbell told commissioners the project has two linked parts: a code-and-plan audit for state statute compliance and a set of policy-driven changes intended to make it easier to build multifamily and mixed-use housing in Springfield. Campbell said a consultant, Cascadia Partners, will review the development code, the comprehensive plan and refinement plans for compliance with state rules and will flag sections that are “non-compliant or needing change.” She said Cascadia Partners estimates the majority of findings will be…