Affordable housing plan gets first OK

Land use — City council will vote on development plan changes; critics say more work is needed to refine the plan

  • By: David Sale  
  • Published: 11/17/2009 11:28:20 AM
   The Newberg Planning Commission approved changes to the development code to promote affordable housing at its meeting Thursday, including lifting a ban on duplexes in R-1 residential zones.
   The development code changes will go before the city council to receive final approval, despite the opposition of commission members Matson Haug and Kathy Stuhr, who voted against the resolution.
   “I’m concerned about the loss of livability if owner-occupied neighborhoods begin to change into rental neighborhoods, and what effect that will have on property value,” Haug said.
   In addition to making duplexes an allowed use in Newberg’s single-family residential zones, the resolution would allow duplexes and multifamily units that are grandfathered into nonconforming uses to be rebuilt if destroyed; establish a point system to give builders incentive to include more affordable units in planned developments; ease parking standards; allow second-story units in C-1 commercial zones; and allow “accessory dwelling units” (ADUs) in both R-1 and R-P zones.
   For her part, Stuhr was concerned with the effect that a large number of ADUs, such as garage apartments, could have on traffic congestion in an already-dense neighborhood such as The Greens, near Chehalem Glenn Golf Course. “I’m not seeing any account of how this will affect parking,” she said.
   The city of Newberg already allows second-story apartments in the C-2 commercial zone (along First Street); the addition of C-1 zones would allow second-story rental units to be added to sites in commercial areas such as those along Portland Road.
   Commission member Phil Smith, who helped prepare the resolution as a member of Newberg’s Affordable Housing Committee, noted the growth in ADUs has been slow, but the city was better served by allowing smaller amounts of infill at numerous sites.
   “The idea of concentrating affordable housing into one neighborhood — to keep ‘them’ away from ‘us’ — has been shown to be a social disaster, while spreading such growth among other housing types prevents ‘ghetto-ization,’” he said.
   The commission also took testimony from affordable housing boosters who felt the recommendations did not go far enough.
   “Bucolic as our community is, the lack of affordable housing is a major problem,” said Lee Means, executive director of Yamhill Community Action Partnership, which operates homeless shelters and transitional housing. “Although you may not see shopping carts and drunks like on Portland’s streets, we’ve had a 48 percent increase in requests for our services in the last three months.”
   “A lot of the changes proposed here would help retain existing inventory, but does nothing at all to promote new construction,” said developer Roger Grahn, who added that he had found lower overhead costs — and better luck securing financing — for affordable housing projects in Portland than in Newberg.
   “If affordable housing is determined to be a worthwhile social goal, (Newberg) will need to make a financial commitment,” Grahn added, suggesting deferred SDC payment schedules and urban renewal districts as possible strategies. “Until you address the issues of fees and land costs, building these types of rental complex won’t pencil out for someone like me.”
   However, there were hints that future resolutions before the planning commission could address the issue of promoting the development of new apartment buildings in Newberg.
   “This is a multifaceted plan, and tonight we’re only dealing with one aspect of it,” Smith said of the affordable housing commission’s work. “These recommendations are not as controversial as others this body will be hearing.”
   Electronic copies of the Affordable Housing Action Plan are available on-line at the city of Newberg Web site.

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dmbprogsv from newberg
11/18/2009 6:28:10 AM

lack of affordable housing is caused by property land use laws...when you wont allow people freedom to develope there OWN land it drives the price up...welcome to the way a progressive takes your freedom..you want lower pricing..stop voting for democrate progressives...notice the little NUDGE they on the point system?..a insentive that says to the builder ,,do this or it will cost you...progressive communism..nice huh?..
 
Spencerism from Newberg
11/21/2009 12:26:33 PM

The prospect of a multifaceted plan is relieving in a scenario such as this one. Almost an "insentive" for responsible development and growth of our fair town.

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