Technical Assistance Grants for North Bend, Oct. 18

City of North Bend release – The City of North Bend has been awarded two technical assistance grants worth $100,000 from the state’s Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) for companion projects for the 2021-23 biennium. The first is a Housing Needs Analysis (HNA), followed by a Housing Production Strategy (HPS) project. The goal of both state-funded projects is to increase housing choice and affordability throughout North Bend. A DLCD-provided consultant – Angelo Planning Group – has been assigned to work on both projects with City Planner Chelsea Schnabel and the city’s Planning Commission. In 2019, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2003, which aims to help communities meet the housing needs of Oregonians. The law requires cities with over 10,000 population to study the future housing needs of their residents and develop strategies that encourage the production of housing their residents need. In addition to the Housing Needs Analysis (HNA), House Bill 2003 requires cities with over 10,000 population to adopt a Housing Production Strategy (HPS) within a year of adopting its HNA. The HPS must outline a list of specific tools, actions, and policies North Bend plans to address the housing need identified in the HNA. The projects will also include North Bend’s plan and the timeline for adopting and implementing each strategy.