News

ARTICLE
Date ArticleType
9/17/2019 Member News

White Paper of the Week: The Urban Growth Boundary and Housing Unaffordability


Randall Pozdena, Senior Economist at Econorthwest authored a white paper earlier this year that found anti-sprawl policies, such as Oregon’s urban growth boundary system, have been implemented in a manner that has pernicious effects on housing availability and affordability. Specifically, the work highlights the fact that regulatory constraints are a primary driver in the housing crisis gripping urban areas throughout the country. In many markets, the development of land for housing is regulated too aggressively. The report recommends relaxing regulations that limit land availability to spur housing development. Without reform, builders will remain unable to meet regional housing needs, housing prices will continue to spike, and home buyers will compete for a shrinking housing stock. Speaker Kotek and the Oregon Legislature is beginning to recognize this fact, and importantly, recently passed House Bill 2003 included language that forces cities to expand their urban growth boundaries when they fail to adequately zone for needed housing. To learn more about Oregon’s urban growth boundary system and how HBA advocates at the state and local level for pro-housing policies, contact Ezra Hammer at ezrah@hbapdx.org.

Previous Article