ARTICLE
HBA working with OHBA to address housing issues HBA, through our housing policy staff, member State Directors, and our Gov’t Relations Committee, is working with our State Association (OHBA) to work on legislation for some priority housing and building issues. These priority issues include the following: Creating stronger guard rails on park SDCs. Park SDCs have gotten out of hand in several jurisdictions, most egregiously the City of Portland. We are working to put reasonable requirements in place that balance the value parks have in new neighborhoods with the impact high Park SDCs are adding to our housing affordability challenges in the region. We also know that there are additional SDC reforms needed and are working on setting those issues up for the next legislative session in ’20. Construction Defect reform. The current rules end up costing consumers in higher housing costs, limit housing production, create challenges with getting needed repairs done, and put freezes on homeowners ability to sell their own property. We are working to find a better balance between consumer protection and providing needed housing mix and price ranges. Mandatory development approval timelines. Years ago, the legislature recognized the need to put parameters on the time jurisdictions have to review building permits. However, we don’t have any requirements on development app approvals. This has led to huge delays in several jurisdictions, which again affects the cost, deliverability and market timing of needed housing. There are a few other issues as well. We’ll provide more info in the November issue of our print publication, HBN.