Independence Housing Needs Analysis

Independence, OR | 2023

Independence is a vibrant and thriving small community in the Willamette Valley with a strong heritage as a center of a productive agricultural region. These qualities, as well as rising housing prices in nearby urban areas, have elevated demand for new housing in the community. Yet the market had not fully responded to this increased demand, leaving the community with a shortage of critical housing types and rising prices.

Cascadia Partners, in partnership with FCS Group, was selected by the state to help the City to evaluate housing needs and plan for future residential development. Independence had recently surpassed population thresholds for required housing planning, known as a Housing Needs Analysis (HNA). CP’s approach was to both comply with state use laws while also facilitating a process that helped the community come together on housing solutions. Cascadia’s contributions included:

• Facilitated public engagement activities to foster an equitable and inclusive process.This included an online survey in English and Spanish that garnered 186 responses. CP staff were interviewed for an online video to provide context on the project.
• Conducted a detailed buildable land inventory consistent with state law. CP applied rigorous technical methods to prepare a realistic and legally defensible estimate of housing capacity on this buildable land.
• Audited the development code and recommended amendments to ensure all housing was subject to clear and objective approval standards, conditions, and procedures, as required by state law.
• Crafted a set of ten recommended land use strategies to address needed housing. Examples include expanding allowed housing types in key zones, improving infill standards, regulatory incentives for income-restricted housing, and a manufactured home park preservation zone.

The firm designed the HNA document to include both a public-friendly, 20-page summary report and a robust set of technical appendices that demonstrate compliance with state law. The HNA was broadly supported by the Planning Commission and City Council and was adopted 4 months prior to the state deadline in August of 2023.