Housing strategies open house set for June 8

The City of Pendleton is looking for citizen input about strategies to resolve current and future housing issues. An open house on the proposed Housing Strategies report has been scheduled:

Housing Strategies Open House

7 p.m. Monday, June 8

Council Chambers, Pendleton City Hall

500 SW Dorion Ave

The State of Oregon mandates all cities in Oregon increase housing. The City of Pendleton formed a Housing Committee that included housing stakeholders and the public. City staff used information from this committee as well as strategies used to increase housing from 2018-2022 to create the Housing Strategies report. The Housing Committee and City staff are looking for public input on the proposals during the open house.

“We’re looking for feedback on the strategies we have identified, whether these strategies should be modified or if there are other strategies out there we should consider,” City of Pendleton Associate Planner Julie Chase said.

The Open House will mainly focus on the housing strategies, but the proposed House Strategies Report will be available. Input from the Housing Committee shaped the general themes of the strategies, which reflect these goals:

• Broad support for more flexible zoning allowances to encourage a wider range of housing types. This flexibility was adopted in 2021.
• Financial incentives such as infrastructure partnerships or land donations
• Ownership housing options for upper-low, middle- and upper-income households moving to Pendleton or seeking a housing upgrade.
• More housing for low and very low-income households, particularly those in unstable housing situations.

The strategies in the report fall into three categories: (1) Develop Affordable Housing; (2) Support Measures that Increase UGB Efficiency; and (3) Address Severe Rent Burdens. The Housing Strategies report includes a one- page summary devoted to each action to discuss considerations staff determined in adopting the strategy.

The executive summary of the proposed Housing Strategies report is available at here, and the full report is available here.