QuickTake:

The city and county are working on a long-term strategy to increase housing production and available land for expansion. The planning work will take years and includes identifying and approving areas for growth.

In the years ahead, Eugene needs to add 1,600 new housing units annually, the state says — a 70% increase over the city’s annual average for the last decade.

Throughout Oregon, Eugene and other cities are squeezed, facing rising construction costs and a need for more affordable housing to meet pent-up demand. That’s why the city and Lane County officials will work on land-use designations and planning in the months ahead — steps that could free up more space for future housing and fuel the city’s expansion. 

Eugene city planning officials briefed Lane County commissioners Tuesday, Dec. 2, on the city’s work and plans for the years ahead. Eventually, the city will need the county’s approval for some of those plans, which stretch into areas outside Eugene’s city limits. 

The work is part of Eugene’s comprehensive plan and urban growth strategies.

Alissa Hunter, Eugene’s planning director, said plans include updating the comprehensive plan and land-use designation map in 2026, and completing land-supply studies in 2027. After that work, the city plans to implement a housing production strategy from 2028 to 2035, and expand the city’s urban growth boundary.

The city currently permits nearly 1,000 new housing units a year, and 100 of them are affordable housing. In comparison, the city needs 1,600 new housing units a year, and about 700 of them need to be affordable, according to a state housing-needs analysis.  

Affordable housing is intended for households that earn up to 80% of the area median income of $91,700 annually for a family of four. In that example, 80% works out to $73,360. 

City officials have started to gather input from community members, with 28 in-person events so far and have collected responses from about 400 people. The work will continue in 2026 with additional public meetings and input.

Lane County Board of Commissioners Chair David Loveall commended the city officials for their efforts but said the region faces additional challenges: a need for more economic development, high building costs and a limited pool of construction workers. 

He said the state’s goal — for Eugene to hit 1,600 homes annually — is a “crazy amount of housing for this area.” He said the steps taken so far are good, including the push for increased housing density, but “I don’t believe that goal is realistic.”

Nevertheless, he said he supported efforts to build more homes in the county. “If I can do anything to help … I’m happy to be part of the team,” he said.

Commissioner Heather Buch said planning is good but changes are needed so communities have the tools needed to increase housing production.

“We have to actually change the way in which we do business in order to increase housing supply,” Buch said.

Commissioner Pat Farr commended city officials for their work on the comprehensive plan and presentation. He said his only criticism is that “it really has taken a long time to get to this point.”

Ben Botkin covers politics and policy in Lane County. He has worked as a journalist since 2003, most recently at the Oregon Capital Chronicle, where he covered justice, health and human services and documented regional efforts to combat fentanyl addiction. Botkin has worked in statehouses in Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma and, of course, Oregon. When he's not working, you'll find him road tripping across the West, hiking or surfing along the Oregon Coast.