ARTICLE
As Portland works through the process to update their building and land use code to comply with HB 2001 and SB 458, HBA has worked closely with members, other Portland infill builders, affordable housing developers and advocates to educate staff and the Planning and Sustainability Commission on the needs of market rate and affordable housing developers related to infill development. Some of the issues highlighted by the coalition include the need to allow for “detached plexes”, a larger FAR (floor to area ratio) allowance for quadplexes as well as an easier pathway for fee simple land division as required by SB 458. In addition the group is asking the city for clarification on infrastructure easements and separate utility requirements needed to take advantage of SB 458. The Residential Infill Project (RIP), started over five years ago and effective in August 2021, was an “ahead of its time” effort to address the housing crisis in Portland by allowing more opportunities for infill and multi-unit development. The current project, RIP2, is a follow on to that effort, undertaken to tweak the early work of RIP to achieve compliance with HB 2001 and SB 458 by the statutory mandate of June 30, 2021. Although the needs of affordable housing and market rate developers don’t always align, both groups realize the need for a concerted group effort to address the housing crisis in Portland and the need to get “more units on the ground” as one Portland Planning and Sustainability Commissioner stated in a recent meeting. HBA and its members are promoting reasonable code change requests needed by affordable housing developers to create their product while those in the affordable housing community are doing the same for market rate builders. With support from Planning and Sustainability Commissioners, the coalition believes many positive changes will land in the final code amendment package offered to Portland City Council later this spring. To learn more about HBA's work related to RIP or RIP2, contact Ryan Makinster at ryanm@hbapdx.org. View HBA’s formal advocacy letters related to RIP2: HBA Letter to Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission Coalition Letter