Recently, our planning, urban design, and engineering teams worked with a larger development team to secure planning approval of our first middle housing land division project in Lake Oswego. Using the innovative middle housing land division process, future development of the subdivision will provide 24 plexes (4 triplex and 3 quadplex buildings) and 29 cottages located in 4 clusters. Proposed amenities include 2 community buildings, preservation of natural resources through a delineated resource protection area, and enhanced landscaping, fencing, and vegetated buffers to demarcate semi-public and private areas within the neighborhood.
Extensive neighborhood outreach performed by the developer lead to an encouraging turn out in support of the proposed development and the Neighborhood Association testified in support of the project at Public Hearings. PCD lead substantial collaboration efforts with City staff to ensure our proposed plan complied with City standards while maintaining our client’s vision. Ultimately, the proposal achieved unanimous approval from the Development Review Commission, a huge win for PCD and our client.
This planning success had its fair share of challenges with many unique components. The project site was zoned for traditional large-lot residential, juxtaposed with the goals of the state’s mandate to provide missing Middle Housing. In order to achieve the goals of middle housing on a site zoned for larger lots, a Planned Development Overlay was required and the developer was required to provide substantial public benefit. Additional challenges including unclear jurisdictional authority over the adjacent frontage road and stormwater sizing requirements were thoroughly investigated during planning, and solutions will be implemented through the permitting phase of the project. Through a unique mix of traditional processes and innovative approaches to design, we were able to achieve approval of one of Lake Oswego’s first middle housing projects. The team is excited to see this hard work realized in the upcoming project construction.