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Clackamas County board approves comment letter opposing elements of state 'More Homes' rulemaking
Summary
Clackamas County staff told commissioners the proposed 'More Homes' rules would undercut local zoning and add administrative burdens; the board voted 5–0 to send a county comment letter to the Land Conservation and Development Commission ahead of a July 29 hearing.
Cheryl Bell, assistant director of Transportation and Development, and Jennifer Hughes, planning division program director, asked the Board of County Commissioners to authorize a comment letter to the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) on proposed "More Homes" rulemaking tied to House Bill 2138 and House Bill 2258.
Hughes said the draft rules would create a new land‑use process allowing developers to use the "more homes" pathway to override local zoning and development standards for qualifying vacant lots within urban growth boundaries. "We have a lot of concerns about these proposed rules," Hughes said, arguing they "constitute continued erosion of local control" and would increase county administrative burdens by layering new review procedures.
Bell said the LCDC is holding a public hearing on July 29 and that several jurisdictions have raised similar technical and policy concerns during the rule‑making advisory committee process. Commissioners discussed whether a joint letter from county associations would strengthen the message; staff said many jurisdictions are submitting their own letters rather than a joint letter.
Commissioner Helm moved to approve the comment letter as presented; Chair Roberts seconded the motion. The clerk called the poll and the motion passed unanimously, 5–0.
The county's letter will be submitted to the LCDC before the July 29 hearing. Staff also noted they will file technical comments separately addressing drafting issues within the proposed rules.
