BEND, OR -- Bend’s City Council made a few minor changes to building codes the Mayor hopes will offer more flexibility for homebuilders. "This really came out of the work of our Affordable Housing Committee and some local developers that build housing, also our Middle Housing Program," says Mayor Melanie Kebler, "All looking for ‘what are some barriers to these more affordable types of housing and middle income housing types that are in our code that we can remove?’"

Among other admustments, the City Council approved a change to density guidelines, "Even in our High-Density Residential, we have a maximum amount of density you can do - a maximum amount of homes. And there are some developers wanting to do some smaller developments and go a little bit more vertical and build more homes. Our height allows it, but the density doesn’t. So taking out those density caps just allows more flexibility." Kebler adds, "We’re still going to see the right type of homes built in those particular zones. They’re just going to be a little taller and have a few more homes, which is what we need." She tells KBND News, "This is really drilling down into the details and seeing, where are still the little stumbling blocks we can clean up, that still allow us to achieve what our code wants to achieve, but make it easier to build more homes?" 

Oregon’s Governor wants the state to see at least 36,000 market-rate and affordable homes built per year. Kebler says these recent changes, coupled with the removal of parking mandates will make it easier for Bend to help meet that goal. "Most of the homes built in Bend are built by private developers and homebuilders, so we need to work together. Government needs to work with them and nonprofits and private developers; we all need to work together on our housing crisis."