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1/23/2020 Member News

HBA Advocates for Pro-Housing Approach in McMinnville


In a recent article published in the Yamhill Valley News Register, HBA argued that McMinnville should greatly expand housing opportunities in response to its shrinking housing supply. Last summer, the city adopted its 2019 Housing Needs Analysis, a sweeping document that reviewed existing land available for new homes and compared that land with the existing and future housing needs. The report presented stark conclusions, “McMinnville’s UGB (urban growth boundary) will not accommodate all of McMinnville’s housing needs. Over the planning period through 2041, McMinnville has a deficit of capacity for 1,926 dwelling units.”

As highlighted in the Needs Analysis, the overall lack of housing is forcing lower income residents into a market where they have to compete with middle and higher income families for a diminishing housing supply. At the same time, without new housing, families are forced to find accommodations within existing homes – raising the number of residents per dwelling. However, because new housing is a primary funding source for new roads, parks, and sewer lines, if we fail to build new homes, McMinnville will lack the resources to provide the critical infrastructure needed to accommodate the increasing population.

Since 1970, McMinnville’s population has more than tripled from a little over 10,000 to 34,000 people, good for the 17th highest populated city in Oregon. While the city’s charm is inexorably tied to its small town feel, we must ensure there is housing available for those at all rungs of the economic ladder. Failing to do so will harm young families, older couples, and those struggling to cover their costs. The good news is that there is plenty of room to grow. Yamhill County is 458,240 acres in size, yet the city’s urban growth boundary contains a mere 7,552 acres - less than 2%. Almost 42% of the entire county is set aside for exclusive farm use. By using a mere fraction of that land for desperately needed housing, we can ensure the McMinnville residents are able to find homes for decades to come while at the same time preserving the wonderful things that make the city a world-class place to live. HBA is bullish on McMinnville’s future and knows that, with a collaborative mindset and approach, we can plan for a bright future. For more information about our work throughout Yamhill County, contact Ezra Hammer at ezrah@hbapdx.org.

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