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County initiates code amendments to align with Eugene's Urban Growth Strategies
Summary
After a detailed presentation by City of Eugene staff on housing and land-use actions to meet state housing needs, the Lane County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to initiate amendments to the county Urban Transition Area land-use code to begin joint adoption work with the city.
City of Eugene planning staff provided the Lane County Board of Commissioners with an update on the Urban Growth Strategies project and requested that the county initiate amendments to the Lane County Urban Transition Area (UTA) land-use code to begin the formal adoption process as part of Eugene's 2026 package.
Presenters described the project goals (planning for housing and jobs over the next 20 years), community engagement (more than 1,200 participants), and a policy and action timeline spanning 2026 nd 2027 adoption packages and land-supply studies that could lead to UGB expansion by 2030. Staff cited the 2025 Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (ONA) numbers that require Eugene to accommodate more than 26,000 new dwelling units over 20 years and said Eugene will need to produce roughly 1,600 units a year for the next decade to meet the new targets.
Proposed city actions that were discussed included allowing microvillage housing types, exploring systems-development-charge deferral programs, site-specific zoning changes, incentives for compact development in centers and corridors, and a program to encourage voluntary annexations. Staff noted some actions require the county's UTA code updates because the UTA is county-administered land inside the urban growth boundary.
After questions from commissioners about timelines, the role of urban reserves and how code changes will be quantified in the forthcoming land-supply study, Vice Chair moved to initiate the formal adoption process for amendments to the Lane County UTA land-use code as part of Eugene's 2026 package. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Buck and passed 5-0. County staff emphasized that initiation starts the public process and does not indicate board support for specific amendments.
