Compact Mixed Use Areas
Urban Growth Boundary ExpansionCompact Mixed Use AreasParking Reform and ManagementEfficient Industrial OPERATIONsCompact, mixed-use areas are places in communities where people can meet their needs by walking or rolling, riding a bike, or riding public transit. Ideally, streets are accessible for all users. Restaurants and storefronts line the streets, and affordable housing is close by.
A community designed this way provides people with most things they need for daily life in the same area, which means they do not need a car for most trips, which results in less greenhouse gas emissions.
Compact mixed-use development: Emissions reduction vision
By 2050, 30% of urban households will be in compact mixed-use neighborhoods.
How Oregon is doing
Oregon continues to be on track for meeting the long-term goals for compact mixed-use neighborhoods in larger metropolitan areas. Larger cities have generally made more progress than smaller ones.
Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities program
The Department of Land Conservation and Development’s Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities Program helps to maintain our progress so far.
The program requires cities in Oregon’s eight metropolitan areas to plan for climate-friendly areas with increased density, mixed-use and transportation options. Cities and counties in urban areas identified these neighborhoods to allow the development of vibrant compact mixed-use areas for both residents and businesses. The goal is to house 30% of the region’s households in these areas by 2050, including housing that is affordable.
Cities are also required to monitor their progress towards assembling the key pieces of these mixed-use areas. This includes tracking whether these areas house a diversity of uses (housing, retail shops, and key destinations) and are served well by quality walk, bike, roll and transit.
The state has helped several communities complete market research studies to calibrate their zoning to market demands. Many areas are also completing housing needs analyses that point out what type of additional housing should be built that is affordable to all income levels in their communities.
Communities have reduced parking mandates for new housing, making it more affordable to build housing in areas with many transportation options, such as along priority transit corridors.
A 2019 law removed exclusive single-family zoning, which will facilitate more multifamily homes in dense areas. This means more local residents who can support local businesses by walking, rolling or biking to them.
How Oregon can improve
The Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities Program sets up Oregon’s larger urban communities for long-term success.
Cities and state government will monitor the development of the new climate-friendly areas and adjust zoning requirements to stay on track with Oregon’s emission reduction vision.
The state can coordinate and support local cities and counties, through actions such as:
Prioritizing funding for safe crossings, sidewalks and bicycling infrastructure in areas intended for compact development, like the climate-friendly areas.
Providing grants for communities to conduct market studies that help them identify how to attract infill housing in their communities.
Developing tools and analyses to help cities identify strategic areas for investment to revitalize neighborhoods and other areas through affordable housing and transportation.
Urban Growth Boundary ExpansionCompact Mixed Use AreasParking Reform and ManagementEfficient Industrial Lands