Wallowa County

Workforce Housing Action Team #2

Project Purpose

The purpose of our project is to investigate benefits and limitations of current zoning/codes. We are also reviewing zoning/code examples to increase housing density.

Activity

Timeline

  • Oct 5, 2021 - We had our first meeting and identified a priority project and tasks for each teammate before our next meeting on Nov 5, 2021.

  • Nov 3, 2021 - Discussed what we learned from areas, such as John Day and La Grande. We also talked about zone restrictions in Enterprise.

  • Dec 8, 2021 - Learned about information Clayton Crowhurst of NW Housing Alternatives provided on challenges developers are facing. Learned about the City of Enterprise's TA grant to complete a housing study to update of their Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

  • Jan 12, 2022 - Reviewed Summit County, Colorado code change examples for ADUs, tiny houses, and workforce housing rental/sales units and how retiring workers are addressed, including their definition of a qualified retiring worker. Learned about Senator Merkley’s effort to expand the flexibility of income categories for the Existing HOME Investment Partnerships Program to serve moderate income (100% of AMI), not just low (60% AMI) and funding status.

  • Feb 16, 2022 - Learned about City of Pendleton efforts and challenges to address housing needs. Learned that a new housing authority non-profit is in pre-development in Wallowa County. Heard updates on four-plex and subdivision developments in Enterprise. Learned of several housing market gap analysis examples in Coos Bay and North Coast.

  • Mar 9, 2022 - Hosted Patrick Wingard of Oregon DLCD to learn how the City of Enterprise Housing TA Study could help address workforce housing needs and how our team could support that effort.


Meet the team

Our 8-member team was created under the Strategic Doing framework. We have one table guide leader to keep the conversation on track, and one knowledge keeper records the session and make sure everyone is on the same page. The team will meet every 30 days until the project is completed. Each team member leaves every meeting with a task to complete by the next meeting.

Sara Miller

Table Guide LeaderKnowledge Keeper

Katy Nesbitt

John Lawrence

Peter Olson

Lacey McQuead

Caryn Appler

Nils

Christoffersen

Questions?

Want to learn more or want to support this project?

Contact Sara Miller, saramiller@neoedd.org