Planning commission recommends council approve housing-code amendments to meet state law

The Hubbard Planning Commission voted to recommend the City Council approve legislative amendment LA2025-01, a package of changes to the Hubbard Development Code intended to bring the city into compliance with recent Oregon housing bills.

Glenn Holla, chair of the Hubbard Planning Commission, opened the public hearing and Holly, the contract city planner, presented the staff report. Holly said the package includes changes such as reduced lot sizes for some housing types, allowing duplexes on single-family lots and provisions for middle housing land divisions. She summarized state-level comments and said the intent of the package “is to facilitate local housing options.”

Key changes highlighted by staff include a reduction in duplex parking to a total of two spaces (one per unit) consistent with OAR guidance; ADU parking language was changed from “shall provide” to “may provide;” a local privacy-window standard for upper-floor ADUs was removed to meet clear-and-objective requirements; and some multiunit site development reviews will move from the planning commission to a staff-level decision with appeals to the commission.

Commissioners asked how reduced parking minimums would affect on-street parking and whether typical street widths provide overflow parking. Holly said street classification and the Transportation System Plan determine street width and parking availability; she noted local streets generally allow parking on both sides unless a special design is approved.

Commissioner and regional representative McRae explained the exemption and adjustment provisions in Senate Bill 1537 (section 37), saying the law allows adjustments that can reduce setbacks and parking minimums; McRae cautioned that larger cities have sought exemptions and that small cities like Hubbard are evaluating whether to pursue exemptions. “Parking is a big deal in Hubbard,” McRae said, reflecting commissioners' concern about preserving local parking standards.

No members of the public provided testimony at the hearing, and commissioners then discussed the record. A motion to recommend City Council approval passed by vote; commissioners instructed staff to forward the record and recommended ordinance language. The City Council, not the planning commission, will make the final decision and enact any changes by ordinance.