Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Workplan 2026 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission outlines 2026 priorities: housing strategy implementation, rezoning, Foothills and a code audit
Summary
Staff presented a preliminary 2026 work plan focused on Housing Production Strategy implementation, rezoning-for-housing, Foothills visioning, a code audit supported by Metro funding, and related outreach; staff cited state approvals, grants and consultant teams and invited commission input.
At a Jan. 12 work session, Lake Oswego planning staff outlined the commission’s preliminary 2026 priorities, placing implementation of the Housing Production Strategy (HPS), a rezoning-for-housing project, the Foothills planning effort, and a citywide code audit near the top of the list.
"We will have a larger need in terms of the number of units than we did under the previous kind of framework," said Eric Olsen, the city’s long-range planning manager, describing how the new statewide housing needs framework will change local targets and calculations. Olsen said staff expects many HPS-related projects in 2026 and will align commission work with upcoming city council goals.
Olsen reviewed recent accomplishments and upcoming milestones: the 2024 annual community development code amendments (adopted by council), a staff-requested exemption to the mandatory adjustment provisions of Senate Bill 1537 approved by the state Housing Accountability and Production Office with conditions, and the recently adopted comprehensive plan amendment to affirmatively further fair housing.
On the rezoning-for-housing project, Olsen said Lake Oswego received a DLCD Housing Planning Assistance grant and staff is working with DLCD-assigned consultants, noting Cascadia Partners and Jamin Kimmel as part of the consultant roster; Michael McNamee will lead local work on the rezoning effort. A separate Metro-funded code audit and housing/business amendments effort is moving toward an intergovernmental agreement and an RFP expected in February; staff estimated project completion around August 2027.
The Foothills project team (consultant: First 40 Feet) will present initial existing-conditions analysis at the commission’s Jan. 26 meeting, Olsen said, followed by visioning sessions in the spring. Olsen also flagged a possible low-income rental housing tax exemption for future council consideration and described a "think tank" boards-and-commissions summit to inform council goal-setting.
Commissioners generally agreed with staff’s proposed top priorities for 2026: affirmatively furthering fair housing/HPS implementation, rezoning-for-housing work, and Foothills. Several commissioners noted the 4000 Cruiser Way Place land-use application had engaged the public and illustrated how high-profile cases shape commission workload.
Olsen asked commissioners to continue refining priorities as council goal-setting conclusions become available; staff emphasized that the work plan is preliminary and will be updated once the council finalizes its goals.
