Builder
According to The Oregonian, the bill that is designed to eliminate single family zoning in Oregon cities has passed on 17-9 vote and now moves to Gov. Kate Brown, who is expected to sign it into law. The bill will allow duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and “cottage clusters” on land that used to be designated for single family houses in cities with more than 25,000 residents. Smaller cities around the Portland metro area will also be affected. Cities with at least 10,000 residents would be required to allow duplexes in single-family zones.
The bill, sponsored by House Speaker Tina Kotek, aims to address rising housing costs by increasing the supply of smaller homes, particularly in desirable neighborhoods. It had supporters on both sides of the aisle, and it also provides Democrats a retort to critics of a rent control measure approved by the legislature in February, which the critics said would stymie the supply of housing and hurt renters in the long run.
