American Planning Association - Oregon Chapter
American Planning Association - Oregon Chapter#
The American Planning Association - Oregon Chapter (OAPA) is an independent, statewide nonprofit membership organization of over 950 planners based in Portland, Oregon. OAPA is a chapter of the national American Planning Association and serves as the primary professional organization for urban and regional planners in the state.1
OAPA’s mission is to promote the art and science of planning in Oregon in ways that foster social equity, economic viability, and protection of the natural environment.1 The organization provides professional development, hosts an annual conference, and maintains an active legislative committee that testifies regularly on land use and housing legislation before the Oregon Legislative Assembly.2
Policy Positions#
- Land use planning framework: Supports Oregon’s statewide land use planning system and the role of professional planners in implementing it. Generally advocates for maintaining structured planning processes rather than bypassing local planning authority.2
- Goal 1 modernization: Champions updating the statewide land use planning goal on “citizen involvement” (Goal 1) to modernize public engagement in land use decisions. HB 2950 (2025) was developed as OAPA’s priority bill on this issue.2
- Middle housing: Supported HB 2138 (2025), which expanded middle housing allowances and extended middle housing requirements to urban unincorporated areas, while opposing earlier measures like SB 458 (2021) that allowed land divisions for middle housing without what OAPA considered adequate planning safeguards.34
- Housing accessibility: Supported SB 1576 (2026) and SB 444 (2025), which require the state building code to conform to Fair Housing Act accessibility requirements for new housing.5
- Planning commission composition: Opposed HB 3136 (2025), which removed the cap on real estate professionals serving on planning commissions, viewing the existing cap as important for balanced commission membership.6
- Housing infrastructure funding: Supported HB 3031 (2025), establishing a program through the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority to finance infrastructure supporting housing development.7
- Planner continuing education: Opposed SB 462 (2025), which would have required mandatory continuing education courses for land use planners administered by the Oregon Business Development Department, rather than through the profession’s existing credentialing systems.8
- UGB expansion processes: Opposed HB 4035 (2026), which expanded eligibility for cities to amend urban growth boundaries under a temporary program, expressing concern about the streamlined process.9
Key Legislative Involvement#
- HB 4035 (2026): Testified in opposition to expanding the temporary urban growth boundary amendment program, which allowed cities and Metro to add land to UGBs through a simplified process.9
- HB 4037 (2026): Testified in opposition to an omnibus housing bill that included provisions limiting building permit plan review and establishing a streamlined local government process for housing land use approvals.10
- SB 1576 (2026): Testified in support of housing accessibility standards conforming to the Fair Housing Act.5
- HB 2138 (2025): Testified in support of Governor Kotek’s major middle housing expansion bill, which expanded allowable middle housing types and extended requirements to urban unincorporated lands.4
- SB 974 (2025): Testified in opposition to requiring expedited review timelines for residential development engineering plans and limiting local design review authority.11
- HB 2950 (2025): Testified in support of OAPA’s priority bill to modernize the statewide land use planning Goal 1 on citizen involvement.2
- HB 3031 (2025): Testified in support of establishing the Housing Infrastructure Project Fund through the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority.7
- SB 1537 (2024): Testified on the temporary urban growth boundary adjustment program allowing cities a one-time UGB expansion.12
- SB 458 (2021): Testified in opposition to allowing land divisions to separate dwelling units for middle housing, raising concerns about implementation without adequate planning guidance.3
- HB 2488 (2021): Testified in support of DLCD budget and planning program funding.13
News Coverage
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Legislative Testimony
2026
10 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 4037 Adjusts certain terms of the revolving loan program for cities and counties to fund affordable housing projects. |
Tabitha Boschetti | Oppose | 2026-02-27 |
| HB 4113 Requires the Department of Land Conservation and Development to study housing development opportunities conditioned upon land conservation. |
Tabitha Boschetti | Oppose | 2026-02-12 |
| SB 1578 Allows counties with a population density of less than 30 people per square mile to rezone up to 50 acres to be divided and developed for residential dwellings of at least five units per acre. |
Tabitha Boschetti | Oppose | 2026-02-12 |
| HB 4037 Adjusts certain terms of the revolving loan program for cities and counties to fund affordable housing projects. |
Tabitha Boschetti | Oppose | 2026-02-11 |
| HB 4035 Expands eligibility for cities and Metro to amend their urban growth boundaries under a temporary program. |
Tabitha Boschetti CORRECTED | Oppose | 2026-02-09 |
| SB 1576 Requires the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services to adopt rules to conform the state building code to accessibility requirements under the Fair Housing Act. |
Tabitha Boschetti | Support | 2026-02-06 |
| SB 1576 Requires the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services to adopt rules to conform the state building code to accessibility requirements under the Fair Housing Act. |
Tabitha Boschetti | Support | 2026-02-06 |
| HB 4035 Expands eligibility for cities and Metro to amend their urban growth boundaries under a temporary program. |
Tabitha Boschetti | Oppose | 2026-02-06 |
| HB 4108 Allows the City of Eugene to annex noncontiguous land upon receipt of a petition from all owners of the land that satisfies four eligibility criteria. |
Tabitha Boschetti | Neutral | 2026-02-03 |
| HB 4082 Adds to a temporary UGB addition program an option for each city or Metro to also add to its urban growth boundary a site for manufactured dwellings, prefabricated structures or manufactured dwelling parks, or for housing that is predominantly for older persons and affordable for households with incomes not more than 120 percent of area median income. |
Tabitha Boschetti | Neutral | 2026-02-03 |
2025
10 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 974 Requires local governments or special districts to complete final review of final engineering plans for residential development within 120 days of submission. |
Jonathan Harker AICP | Oppose | 2025-05-13 |
| SB 974 Requires local governments or special districts to complete final review of final engineering plans for residential development within 120 days of submission. |
Jonathan Harker | Oppose | 2025-03-21 |
| HB 2138 Expands allowable middle housing and expands middle housing requirements to include urban unincorporated lands. |
Jonathan Harker | Support | 2025-03-05 |
| HB 3031 Establishes a program through which the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority may provide financial assistance for infrastructure to support housing development. |
Jonathan Harker | Support | 2025-02-26 |
| SB 462 Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to establish an education course for land use planners for local governments, special districts and state agencies. |
Jonathan Harker | Oppose | 2025-02-20 |
| HB 2950 Requires the Land Conservation and Development Commission to update the statewide land use planning goal relating to "citizen involvement" by rule byJune 30, 2029. |
Heather Rockwell | Support | 2025-02-13 |
| HB 2950 Requires the Land Conservation and Development Commission to update the statewide land use planning goal relating to "citizen involvement" by rule byJune 30, 2029. |
Jonathan Harker | Support | 2025-02-11 |
| HB 3136 Removes a requirement that a maximum of two real estate professionals may serve on a city or county planning commission for commissions with more than five members. |
Jonathan Harker | Oppose | 2025-02-07 |
| SB 444 Requires the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services to adopt rules to conform the state building code to accessibility requirements under the Fair Housing Act and to certain American National Standards Institute standards for housing accessibility. |
Jonathan Harker | Support | 2025-02-05 |
| HB 2347 Authorizes the Department of Land Conservation and Development to provide planning assistance for housing production to federally recognized Indian tribes. |
Jonathan Harker | Support | 2025-02-04 |
2024
1 testimony
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 1537 Requires the Department of Land Conservation and Development and the Department of Consumer and Business Services to jointly establish and administer the Housing Accountability and Production Office. |
Christopher Green | Neutral | 2024-02-10 |
2023
1 testimony
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 2984 Allows conversion of building from commercial use to housing within urban growth boundary under certain conditions. |
Kevin Cook | Neutral | 2023-03-01 |
2022
1 testimony
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 4118 Allows city to expand its urban growth boundary, or to require Metro to expand its urban growth boundary, in order to include land designated as urban reserve that supports workforce housing and commercial development supportive of workforce housing if certain conditions are met. |
Aaron Ray | Oppose | 2022-02-11 |
2021
17 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 3318 Requires, if certain conditions are met, Department of Land Conservation and Development to approve City of Bend's expansion of urban growth boundary to include specified lands and allows department to approve other land use regulations for those lands. |
Susan Millhauser | Oppose | 2021-06-15 |
| HB 2520 Requires Land Conservation and Development Commission to adopt rules no later than July 1, 2022, by which county may justify exception to statewide land use planning goals for development of renewable energy facilities . |
Susan Millhauser | Neutral | 2021-03-29 |
| HB 2488 Requires that statewide land use planning goal relating to citizen involvement address participation and engagement for disadvantaged groups. |
Susan Millhauser | Support | 2021-03-29 |
| HB 3335 Authorizes Housing and Community Services Department to grant moneys to nonprofit organization for ADU community pilot programs that develop accessory dwelling units for income-eligible homeowners and that are available for lease by income-eligible tenants. |
Susan Millhauser | Support | 2021-03-24 |
| SB 8 Requires local governments to allow development of certain affordable housing on lands not zoned for residential uses. |
Susan Millhauser | Oppose | 2021-03-16 |
| HB 3040 Directs Housing and Community Services Department, in consultation with Department of Land Conservation and Development, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Revenue and Oregon Business Development Department, to conduct comprehensive study of system development charges. |
Susan Millhauser | Oppose | 2021-03-16 |
| HB 2488 Requires that statewide land use planning goal relating to citizen involvement address participation and engagement for disadvantaged groups. |
Susan Millhauser | Support | 2021-03-08 |
| HB 3155 Requires cities within Metro with population greater than 10,000 to conduct housing needs analysis. |
Susan Millhauser | Support | 2021-03-03 |
| HB 3154 Excludes manufactured dwelling parks and certain multifamily dwellings from inclusion of buildable lands available for infill. |
Susan Millhauser | Oppose | 2021-03-03 |
| HB 3072 Allows local government to expand its urban growth boundary to include land designated as urban reserve that supports workforce housing and commercial development supportive of workforce housing if certain conditions are met. |
Susan Millhauser | Oppose | 2021-03-03 |
| SB 391 Authorizes county to allow owner of lot or parcel within rural residential zone to construct one accessory dwelling unit on lot or parcel, subject to certain restrictions. |
Susan Millhauser | Oppose | 2021-02-24 |
| SB 5531 Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Land Use Board of Appeals for biennial expenses. |
Susan Millhauser | Support | 2021-02-23 |
| SB 5530 Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Land Conservation and Development for certain biennial expenses. |
Susan Millhauser | Support | 2021-02-19 |
| SB 458 Allows land division to separate dwelling units for new middle housing allowed in cities. |
Susan Millhauser | Oppose | 2021-02-18 |
| HB 2282 Requires Department of Land Conservation and Development to approve City of Bend's expansion of urban growth boundary, and allows department to approve other land use regulations for city on specified lands, if owner of land possesses development opportunity transferred from Metolius resort site owner and city meets other conditions. |
Susan Millhauser | Unknown | 2021-02-18 |
| HB 2398 Adds Reach Code to state building code as specialty code and gives power of administration and interpretation of Reach Code to Director of Department of Consumer and Business Services. |
Susan Millhauser | Unknown | 2021-02-17 |
| SB 5530 Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Land Conservation and Development for certain biennial expenses. |
Susan Millhauser | Support | 2021-02-16 |