Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Klamath County staff brief commissioners on state‑funded housing code audit, staffing shortfalls and fees
Summary
At the May 26 meeting staff summarized a DLCD‑funded housing code audit that will identify code amendments to align with state housing goals (smaller lot options, duplex ownership, cottage clusters). Staff also reported lean planning staffing (about 2.7 FTE) and proposed fee adjustments to cover services.
Klamath County planning staff told commissioners on May 26 that a DLCD‑funded audit has identified gaps between county land‑use code and recent state housing requirements and that the county plans a joint work session with the city planning commission to consider updates.
Staff said the audit will examine changes such as allowing smaller lot sizes, introducing townhouse/duplex ownership options with separate titles, and testing cottage‑cluster approaches to increase attainable housing within the urban growth boundary. A joint work session with the city planning commission is expected this summer, and staff suggested public outreach such as an open house to gather community input.
In the same discussion staff described constrained department capacity: staffing was reported at roughly 2.7 full‑time equivalents, down from earlier levels, which staff said limits the county's ability to keep pace with state code changes. The department has used ARPA funds to hold fees steady in recent years but staff said fee adjustments for 2026 were adopted to reflect services and peer comparisons.
Commissioners discussed the interplay between county planning fees and separate utility system‑development charges (SDCs) levied by water and sewer providers; staff noted the county does not set SDCs but that those charges factor into developers' cost calculations and housing affordability.
Staff said next steps include public outreach, a joint code‑update work session, and further fee/processing reviews to support implementation of the audit's recommendations.
