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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2019)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • FEBRUARY 6, 2018 • 11A from A1 Housing adopted new housing policies into the city’s Comprehensive Plan, eff ectively updating poli- cies that had been in place since about 1980. Th ough a housing analysis had been done back in 2006, the nearly 40-year-old policies were replaced last week upon the rec- ommendations given in a Hous- ing Needs Analysis authored by ECONorthwest, a Eugene-based economic consulting fi rm. Th e report took inventory of housing and development po- tential, identifi ed demographic and socioeconomic trends and presented a 20-year plan to meet the city’s housing needs. Adopt- ing the recommended policies into the Comprehensive Plan represents a forward move for Cottage Grove. “Why that matters is that any decision you make regarding your development code or any applications that come before the city council have to be based upon the Comprehensive Plan,” said City Planner Amanda Fer- guson. “And so every time you return to bring in a new subdi- vision or change the direction of the city as far as how it deals with aff ordable housing … any of those decisions have to be made within the context of the Com- prehensive Plan. And if your Comprehensive Plan is 40 years out of date, then you’re not look- ing at it in the current context of the community.” Five policies were adopted, each with its own sub-objectives. Th e topics included monitoring land availability, fi nding oppor- tunities for development, sup- porting aff ordable housing, coor- dinating infrastructure planning and identifying funding sources. Th e Housing Needs Analysis also highlighted salient issues to be addressed. It was reported, for instance, that 47 percent of Cottage Grove’s households are considered cost burdened, which is defi ned as a household pay- ing at least 30 percent of income toward housing costs. By con- trast, 40 percent of Lane County households are cost burdened while the statewide estimate is 37 percent. A dearth of apartments and an estimated vacancy rate of under two percent in Cottage Grove are oft en cited as reasons individuals and families rent or mortgage above their means. As such, the analysis also emphasized a need for low- and middle-income housing development. Th e city’s options for address- ing these development needs are limited, though, and mostly in- volve removing barriers within code or increasing incentives for organizations and developers. Cottage Grove, on the look- out for partnerships, has recent- ly found one in the Neighbor- hood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO), a Eu- gene-based nonprofi t focused on community revitalization and development. As early as June, NEDCO is planning to start work on a seven-unit single-fam- ily home land trust at the corner of 8th Street and Arthur Avenue, the land itself to be owned by the nonprofi t. In ECONorthwest’s 20-year plan, the report also suggested building an average of 69 dwell- ing units annually to meet the projected need of 1,379 more units by 2038, a number like- ly unachievable if single-fami- ly detached homes continue as a development trend. Th e re- port states that as of 2016, these homes make up about 75 percent of the city’s housing index. Currently, 15 one-bedroom apartment units are under con- struction on the site of Peace- Health’s old hospital at M Street and Birch Avenue. Such projects are seen as necessary to meet the report’s recommendation. Th e analysis also identifi ed 391 acres of unconstrained buildable land within the urban growth boundary. To eff ectively utilize the land, a strategy was needed. Th e Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), through the Oregon Housing Planning Project, has awarded the city with a grant to begin work on strategy imple- mentation. Cottage Grove’s update to the Comprehensive Plan enabled the city to apply directly for this phase of the process, partnering again with ECONorthwest. Because there is a six-month deadline on implementing a new strategy, the city chose to make use of its time with consultants by focusing on three of the city’s newly-adopted objectives. “We have some motivation and some movement right now, so we wanted to take that momentum and be able to utilize it for these policies,” said Ferguson. First among the policy focuses is land availability. “We are specifi cally looking at partnering with the school district to identify how we can utilize some of the surplus lands and how they can help meet our housing needs,” said Ferguson. Th e old Harrison Elementary School as well as a large tract of land adjacent to the high school have been highlighted as poten- tial sites, though discussions are still underway regarding eventual ownership. Infrastructure planning to support residential development is another focus. “We are also looking at what the implications would be for an urban renewal district,” said Fer- guson. Th e possibility of an urban renewal district has been fl oated as a way to fund the restoration of Main Street as well as oth- er projects. How housing could be wrapped into these plans is a question the city needs to address moving forward. Funding sources to pay for af- fordable housing also made the list of policy focuses. “I think what became clear in the document was that we need housing for all diff erent types of aff ordability,” said Ferguson. “We’re looking at diff erent types, so not just providing single-fam- ily lots or single-family homes.” Funding options include a Multi-Unit Property Tax Ex- emption, a tool which Eugene has used to encourage growth in its downtown area by allowing property tax exemptions to new multi-family units (fi ve or more units) for up to 10 years. “We’re already moving for- ward and looking at those specif- ic things,” Ferguson said. A report on the implemen- tation strategies for the three policies is expected by the end of June, when the contract with DLCD expires. In the meantime, the analytical framework for ad- dressing housing will guide the city's future. “Th e analysis gives us a 20-year plan, but in 10 years we’ll come back and revisit these num- bers and readjust,” said Fergu- son. “Th is gives us a situational awareness.” 119 South 6th St. • CG • 541-942-0505 Valentine’s Day, Thursday, February 14 Order Early for Best Selection of Quality Flowers for your Special Valentine! Beautiful Rose Arrangements Creative Floral Arrangements Unique Selection of Fine Gifts & Clothing Festive Balloon Bouquets Candy Basket of Fine Chocolates Blooming Plants & Basket Gardens Valentine’s Day Greeting Cards Call or Come By for our In-store Specials! • Locally owned and operated since 1984 • Quality and Satifaction Guaranteed • Delivery in South Lane County Join us for Fajitas for TWO including Dessert & 2 Margaritas Steak or Chicken $39. 95 EL TAPATIO 725 E. 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