Over the past several months, the County has conducted a detailed review of the Community Development Code.
We focused on three key areas:
Making sure the CDC complies with state laws.
The State of Oregon has passed several laws in recent years requiring counties to update their development codes across a range of topics from housing options to childcare facilities and more. We reviewed the Community Development Code to make sure Washington County is up to date on these requirements.
Identifying barriers to building housing and other development.
Some Community Development Code requirements, though well-intentioned, can make it harder or more expensive to build homes and other uses. We looked at where we can reduce unnecessary obstacles while still maintaining safe, quality development.
Making the code easier to use.
With many updates to the Community Development Code over the years, the document has become bulky. At times similar rules are scattered across different sections. Streamlining and consolidating these rules can make it easier for everyone, including property owners, developers, and community members to understand what's required.
Your Input Matters
On the following pages we share number of areas we identified for improvements. What items do you think are the most important to address? Your feedback will help us understand which changes matter most to the community, and how to approach them.