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11/8/2023 Member News

HBA Advocates for Development Code Flexibility in Gresham


Following weeks of engagement with city leadership, HBA and several of our members building in Gresham appear to have notched several big wins for the industry that will likely ease regulatory standards for single family detached and middle housing construction. In the city’s Development Advisory Group meeting this week, our members learned that the city will be considering two key recommendations:

Added Flexibility to Design Standards: Thanks to the engagement of HBA member Pacific Lifestyle Homes’ Samantha Zimmer, Gresham is considering revising its development codes to include a “menu-option” for meeting middle housing standards, including added flexibility to meet sidewall articulations, rear height limits, glazing, and garage/parking requirements. The possible changes include increased discretion for builders to develop 2-story detached units while supporting city goals for limiting perceived “bulk” at rear and side of setbacks, in addition to allowing for on-site parking flexibility.

Plat Approvals for Middle Housing Developments: In partnership with a local developer, HBA engaged in advocating for the City of Gresham to consider a change in how it approves plat recordings for middle housing developments. Primarily beneficial to greenfield developments, the city is close to approving a new administrative route that would remove the required submission of building plans for middle housing projects, allowing them to submit and gain approval en masse, rather than lot-by-lot. This is in line with what other cities in the state are considering to foster more flexibility for middle housing projects, including the City of Eugene.