Portland Starts Work on Its Inclusionary Zoning Plan

After passage of state law in March, city begins to work on plan for using inclusionary zoning.

By Rachel Monahan

After the Oregon Legislature passed a law in March that for the first time allows cities to use inclusionary zoning, Portland has begun work on developing a plan for requiring developers to build affordable housing in certain areas of the city.

Kurt Creager, director of the Portland Housing Bureau, announced Thursday that a panel of housing experts will present a plan to City Commissioner Dan Saltzman by September.

Oregon is the 49th state to allow inclusionary zoning. Only Texas now forbids it.

Backers of inclusionary zoning say it can help address the skyrocketing rents Portland has experienced, though there's debate about whether such policies are effective.

The list of housing experts announced today:

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