Project Description

The region, like most of the country, is experiencing a shift in the type and location of desired housing. People that want to age in their neighborhood, move closer to job centers, or start a family are just a few trends affecting housing needs and preferences. Beaverton is trying to meet the growing demand for more housing options. 

However, in many parts of Beaverton, only single-family homes are allowed. This project will consider where and how other types of homes might be allowed in the city’s residential areas in a way that considers the size and shape of homes already in the neighborhood.

Staff will work with the community to evaluate these and other similar housing types:

• Accessory dwelling units (small units added inside existing homes or in separate structures)
• Duplexes
• Triplexes
• Four-plexes
• Townhouses
• Small homes on one lot that share gardens or lawns 

The project will consider where and how these additional housing types could be allowed to:

• Provide more places to live for people with different housing needs, preferences and income levels.
• Encourage diverse housing options so people can stay in their neighborhoods as their needs change.
• Give property owners more choices and flexibility over what types of housing they can build on their land.
• Assist with affordability by allowing more units and smaller units in existing neighborhoods.

Process 

The process will include:

• Documenting Beaverton’s existing neighborhoods, including the age, size, shape and placement of homes in existing neighborhoods.
• Exploring opportunities for adding new housing types that are not currently allowed.
• Developing alternative ways to allow new housing types in neighborhoods.
• Determining a preferred approach to allow new housing types.
• Preparing changes to the city’s development rules that implement the preferred approach.
• Sharing new housing opportunities with the community about potential changes in neighborhoods.

Beaverton staff will conduct public engagement at each step to learn about preferences and concerns relating to new housing types, including their location and design considerations. 

The City Council will make the final decision about any changes to development rules that would result from this project.

Related Efforts

This project is designed to implement Beaverton's Community Vision, Comprehensive Plan and Housing Five Year Action Plan.  The following are selected goals and actions from those documents:

Community Vision 

• Develop a housing strategy and action plan to ensure balanced housing options for all needs, including executives, families, seniors and a diverse workforce. (Action 101) 
• Integrate affordable housing into diverse area neighborhoods … and develop strategies to facilitate micro-housing on existing home lots. (Action 102) 
• Identify ways to… expand the supply of age-in-place housing. (Action 29) 

Comprehensive Plan 

• Allow a wider variety of housing choices that can accommodate a range of ages, household sizes and/or income levels while ensuring the new housing responds to the scale and form of the neighborhood. (Land Use Element Goal 3.2.1) 

Housing Five Year Action Plan 

• Released in 2017, the Housing Five Year Action Plan describes specific actions to achieve the goals and implement the policies of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, and pairs those actions with forecasted budgets. Annual work plans guide the city’s housing-related activities for the year. The Housing Options Project is included in the work plans for fiscal years 2018- 2022.