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4/20/2021 Member News

HBA to Region: Housing Needed in Stafford


Earlier this month, the Lake Oswego Review published this article highlighting the critical role of housing in the Stafford area. Stafford is part of Metro’s urban reserves, land that will come into the urban growth boundary within 50 years from time of designation. The article is timely considering recent state report findings that the Portland Metro region faces a housing deficit of nearly 60,000 units due to underproduction since the Great Recession, and will need to accommodate another 225,000 units through 2040.

Unfortunately, Stafford’s concept planning - one of the foundational steps for acquiring land for new homes - is choked by the 3-City Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) that indefinitely forces households to look for new homes in more outlying areas and creates upward pressure on home prices throughout the region. Meanwhile, Lake Oswego and West Linn continue to de-prioritize Stafford planning efforts even in the face of Tualatin’s 2020 request to discuss jurisdictional urban service areas, leaving Tualatin alone in its endeavors to achieve housig affordability.

The recent Lake Oswego Review article underscores the need and developability of the area, and is the second in a three-part series covering Stafford history, preservation and development efforts, as well as the role of government leadership to ensure all Oregonians have a place to call home. The first article in the series was prompted by the Stafford Hamlet’s Community Vision Plan, which includes conservation easements for area properties. Surrounding jurisdictions, the county and Metro should discuss these easements in a holistic context, preventing unnecessary damage to Stafford’s current and future housing, infrastructure and open space needs.

HBA calls for Stafford’s surrounding cities to move forward with integrated concept planning, including jurisdictional boundary discussions and a frank acknowledgement of the region’s profound need for current and future housing. To learn more about HBA involvement in Stafford, contact Roseann Johnson at roseannj@hbapdx.org.