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West Linn staff launch implementation of housing production strategy; council names working-group volunteers
Summary
City planners outlined near-term implementation of the Housing Production Strategy adopted in May 2025 under House Bill 2003: zoning/code amendments, a financial-incentives working group, SDC methodology updates and potential targeted tax exemptions were discussed; Councilors volunteered to join the working group.
City planners presented the start of implementation for West Linn's Housing Production Strategy and asked the council for guidance on review bodies and volunteer council representation on the financial-incentives working group. "House Bill 2003 was passed by the Oregon legislature in 2019," principal planner Darren Wise said, describing statutory requirements that led to the city's housing capacity analysis (adopted October 2023) and the housing production strategy (adopted May 2025).
Senior planner Erica Smith said the immediate set of near-term actions will focus on land-use code and zoning amendments and on financial incentives that are not land-use items. "The 1st set of actions are related to zoning changes... and the other side of the action items are related to financial incentives," Smith said, explaining consultants will help design SDC methodology updates, potential SDC waivers or exemptions for accessory dwelling units and affordable housing, and tax-exemption options enabled by state law for low-income rental housing and limited-term owner-occupied homes.
Staff asked whether the Planning Commission could be used as the reviewing body for land-use amendments (to keep the process on a tighter timeline) and whether councilors would serve on the financial working group. Councilors Bonnington and Bridal volunteered to serve; staff said the group would include city finance, public works and community development staff plus representatives of affordable-housing developers, homebuilders and the county assessor's office.
Council requested housing-production statistics and reporting to track outcomes. Staff said the state reporting and earlier check-ins (for example, a two-year check-in after middle housing rules) can provide figures and that the city will evaluate progress at the three-year mark as required by DLCD.
