ARTICLE
As part of the County’s long range planning goals, county staff has been considering updates to the transportation and safety standards for residential development. The HBA has testified to the planning commission and met with county staff to mitigate impacts to affordability and additional burdens on land development. Washington County is in the process of updating its transportation requirements and procedures for development and has released a new policy paper outlining their goals. The current draft standards are a fundamental shift, and will disproportionately impact mid-size builders and have a significant impact to the affordability of homes in Washington County. The HBA is working with member Pioneer Design Group who has developed a policy paper outlining ways in which the updated standards would have a direct impact on the financial costs for development. The findings show that developments of 20 units our above would be most severely impacted. Interested parties can find the counties’ document here, titled LONG RANGE PLANNING ISSUE PAPER NO. 2017-03 Transportation Requirements and Procedures for Development: https://www.co.washington.or.us/LUT/Divisions/LongRangePlanning/PlanningPrograms/upload/IP2017_03_TransportationRequirements_R-O.pdf HBA, Pioneer Design Group and Washington County Planning staff have met to review the findings and are committed to working together to find policy recommendations for the Planning Commission and County Commission. For more information or to review our findings and help craft recommendations please contact James Adkins at jamesa@hbapdx.org.