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 reviewed internally with staff by mid-March.

The audit will examine state land-use requirements and Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) administrative rules, and it will consider Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) requirements intended to strengthen walkability. Campbell noted the distinction between standards that are already “clear and objective” and those that are not, and gave two examples the consultant identified as unclear: a nodal development compatibility standard that currently requires breaking up “uninteresting box-like forms” (which Cascadia found not clear and objective) and a riverfront mixed-use district requirement calling for ground-floor transparency. Campbell said potential replacement language could require specific, measurable techniques — for example, glazing that covers a minimum percentage of the ground-level façade.

Commissioners and staff discussed outreach steps the engagement plan recommends, including creation of a project web page, a newsletter announcement, a media release, social media posts, tabling at community events and one-on-one meetings with industry professionals. Campbell described proposed recruitment methods for a technical advisory committee (TAC), including an application link on the project page, posters at the Development Community Center and direct outreach to downtown and gateway businesses. She said the governance committee was proposed to include two city council members and two planning commission members; the governance committee concept was previously presented to city council under Resolution No. 2023-28.

City staff and several speakers emphasized flexibility in TAC membership and outreach methods so industry professionals with limited capacity can still provide input through meetings, office visits or informal conversations. Campbell said the concepts phase will focus public engagement on proposed code changes and that the adoption phase is expected to occur in early 2026, with staff taking the final adoption package through the formal hearing and adoption process.

The Planning Commission approved the community engagement strategy as presented in Attachment 1 of the agenda packet. Commissioners voting aye in the roll call were Thompson, Schmunk, Weber, Greenwell and Driggs; the motion carried 5-0.

Implementation steps staff outlined include immediate recruitment for the TAC, a public survey and tabling at summer community events, with Cascadia Partners assisting on graphics and materials. Staff said amended code concepts will be presented to the public in the concepts phase and that final amendments would be drafted and taken through the adoption process after public workshops and hearings.