A narrowly tailored bill moving through the Oregon Legislature could make it easier for some properties in unincorporated Lane County to annex into the City of Eugene.
HB 4108 would allow Eugene to annex certain noncontiguous properties at the request of their owners, provided they meet specific criteria. The one-page proposal applies only to land that:
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Lies within the city’s urban growth boundary
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Is designated for residential or mixed use under Eugene’s comprehensive plan
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Is connected to water, sewer and stormwater services
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Is accessible by a public road
Under the bill, the city could approve annexation by ordinance or resolution without holding a public hearing beyond the City Council meeting where the vote takes place.
Addressing Infill and Housing
State Rep. Lisa Fragala, D-Eugene and the bill’s chief sponsor, said the measure is intended to create more opportunities for infill housing.
“We’re getting boxed in, and I really believe that we need to find opportunities to do infill in our community,” Fragala said.
She added that the bill would give property owners faster access to city zoning regulations and incentives designed to encourage denser housing development.
The legislation was developed in collaboration with the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce and housing nonprofit Better Housing Together.
According to Chamber Vice President of Policy and Community Development Tiffany Edwards, the proposal is aimed particularly at the River Road and Santa Clara neighborhoods — areas that include a mix of incorporated and unincorporated parcels.
“Sixty percent of those parcels have capacity for additional housing but happen to be not part of the city,” Edwards said. “So how might we, without having to move the line, incentivize additional density? That would happen slowly over time, but still, that’s where the opportunity lies.”
Legislative Path Ahead
HB 4108 has already passed the Oregon House but was amended in a Senate committee. It must still be approved by the full Senate and, because of the amendment, would require another vote in the House before heading to the governor’s desk.
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