State housing office outlines complaint process and offers to partner with Redmond on code changes

Joel Mattson, manager of the Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO), told the Redmond City Council on April 7 that HAPO was created under the statewide housing package (Senate Bill 1537) and “our purpose is to support local jurisdictions, cities, and housing producers to boost housing production around the state.” Mattson said the office was formed in 2024 and that it provides technical assistance, research and statutory compliance work for local governments.

Mattson told councilors HAPO had received “a formal complaint of housing law violation” involving Redmond in early December and that the office is following procedures posted on its website. He described HAPO’s process as a credibility review followed by a notice of investigation and engagement with local staff: “when the complaint comes in the door, we go from credibility review… then we provide a notice of investigation, at which time we start engaging also with the local jurisdiction.” (Joel Mattson).

Council members pressed HAPO on who may file complaints and whether complainants must first work with local staff. Mattson said there are two categories: complaints tied to a specific development application (limited by statute to the applicant) and general complaints about housing code that can be filed by anyone in the jurisdiction. Mattson added HAPO’s primary statutory role is ensuring compliance with housing laws and that the office also tracks unit production benchmarks based on the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis.

Councilors connected the complaint discussion to several pending Redmond code items, notably a proposal to change alley-limited townhouse rear setbacks from 5 feet to 20 feet to allow a single off-street driveway space. Planning staff explained the change would measure 20 feet from the alley to provide a driveway that counts as the required off-street parking; garages would remain optional. Mattson and other HAPO staff said they aim to be collaborative partners and offered technical assistance and process studies that could be used earlier in local code discussions.

Councilors repeatedly raised livability and safety concerns—fire-truck access in narrow alleys, the wildfire risk of narrow setbacks and wood privacy fences, snow‑plow access and garbage collection—asking how state housing mandates fit local hazard planning. Angie Brewer, the Central Oregon regional representative introduced by HAPO, urged councilors that hazard planning and local policy choices are typically balanced by local planning staff and emergency managers, and she encouraged continued coordination between local and state efforts.

Next steps: planning staff told council the townhouse and open-space code amendments are scheduled for the planning commission on April 15 and for council review on May 12. Mattson said HAPO will continue to share technical assistance and that staff recommended early engagement so issues can be worked out before formal complaints arise.