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The Portland City Council last week approved guidelines for new zoning codes that will give developers more incentives to include affordable housing in their projects.

The code changes mean developers will be able to either include affordable housing in their multifamily developments or pay into a fund to create more low-income housing.

Under the direction of聽 Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who oversees the Portland Housing Bureau, that agency and the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability conducted a study on incentives for affordable housing in the city’s center. The results were shared with the City Council July 9. The council then voted unanimously to accept a resolution directing city staff to work with other stakeholders on proposed changes to the city zoning code for the Central City using guidelines spelled out in the resolution.

Saltzman said the new rules will be presented to the council next July.

鈥淚t’s a good solid step,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd for everyone who’s got concerns, there is still time to work through those concerns and still not lose the direction of making affordable housing the predominant bonus for additional height or density in the Central City.鈥�

Portland’s city center is expected to gain about 30,000 new households over the next 20 years, according to estimates by the Portland Housing Bureau, with more than 8,300 of these households earning below 80 percent of the median family income.
Based on average levels of development, according to a statement from the housing bureau, the bonuses could result in about 60 new units each year 鈥� or between $120 million and $200 million for affordable housing and rehabilitation.