HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2017-15 06/05/2017 CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, OREGON
RESOLUTION NO. 2017-15
A RESOLUTION TEMPORARILY WAIVING THE CITY'S SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT
CHARGES FOR NEWLY PERMITTED ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS DURING THE
PERIOD FROM
JULY 1, 2017 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2019
WHEREAS, the Council finds that there is a shortage of affordable housing within the City of
Springfield and is resolved to address this problem;
WHEREAS, the Council finds that the supply of housing in Springfield is limited at all levels and
that the rental vacancy rates are very low, at less than 1%, with the lowest vacancy rates in
small rental units;
WHEREAS, the Council finds that housing costs in Springfield are increasing faster than
household incomes;
WHEREAS, Springfield Development Code section 5.4-100 addresses what constitutes an
accessory dwelling unit, its purpose, the zones in which it can be constructed, and applicable
design parameters;
WHEREAS, the Council finds that accessory dwelling units provide a number of public policy
benefits, including:
A. Increasing the number and type of affordable housing units without consuming land in
the city's limited inventory of developed land; in particular, accessory dwelling units
increase the supply of small rental units for which the vacancy rate is lowest;
B. Increasing the density in existing neighborhoods and taking advantage of the existing
infrastructure;
C. Creating opportunities for intergenerational living and on-site caretakers/assistants;
D. Diversifying the demographics of an existing neighborhood;
E. Providing financial benefit to property owners; and
F. Triggering economic development at a local scale by providing work to local builders and
contractors;
WHEREAS, there have only been two permitted accessory dwelling units in the City of
Springfield since 2008;
WHEREAS, the Council has expressed its desire to encourage the construction of accessory
dwelling units as a way to meet Springfield residents' demand for housing;
WHEREAS, the costs of residential development include transportation, stormwater and local
wastewater system development charges imposed by the City; regional wastewater system
development charges imposed by the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission; and
system development charges for parks and recreation imposed by the Willamalane Parks and
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Recreation District, for the purposes of funding past and future infrastructure required to meet
the needs of community growth;
WHEREAS, on April 19, 2010, the Council adopted Resolution 10-19, amending and adopting
the rate structure for systems development charges for stormwater and local wastewater;
WHEREAS, on December 1, 2014, the Council adopted Resolution 2014-38, modifying a
methodology for the calculation of transportation system development charges;
WHEREAS, the Council finds that the typical construction value to systems development
charge ratio is approximately fourteen percent, which makes systems development charges an
impediment to construction of accessory dwelling units;
WHEREAS, the Council finds that waiving City systems development charges would reduce the
ratio of construction value to systems development charge to approximately five percent and
make construction of an accessory dwelling unit more affordable;
WHEREAS, the Council finds that the additional demand placed on the capacity of the systems
by accessory dwelling units constructed during the effective period of this Resolution will be
minimal given that accessory dwelling units may only be built on lots that are developed with
single family homes and already served by existing infrastructure, given the dispersed nature of
accessory dwelling units within the City of Springfield, and given the limited two-year duration
of the waiver; and
WHEREAS, the Council finds and determines that this waiver should be enacted only for a
limited period of time to allow the City to study its effectiveness in encouraging the construction
of accessory dwelling units, and that it be extended or made permanent by subsequent action
of the Council should the Council determine that waiving systems development charges has a
place in its strategy to encourage the construction of accessory dwelling units;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SPRINGFIELD:
Section 1: For a period beginning on July 1, 2017, and extending through June 30,
2019, the City shall waive the transportation, stormwater, and local wastewater system
development charges on newly permitted accessory dwelling units.
Section 2: The City Manager is directed to report to the Council with respect to the
impact of these reductions both on construction of accessory dwelling units within the City and
the impact on systems development charge revenues, and to recommend whether or not to
extend this waiver program.
Section 3: If the Council determines that waiving systems development charges is
an effective strategy to encourage the construction of accessory dwelling units, the Council may
further extend the waiver by Council Resolution.
Section 4: This Resolution takes effect on July 1, 2017.
Page 2 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. 2017-15
ADOPTED by the Common Council of the City of Springfield this 5 day of JUNE ,
2017 , by a vote of 6 for and 0 against.
Mayor
ATTEST:
REVIEWED &APPROVED
AS TO,F0,-M
ATE: �+
City Recor r OFFICE OF CITY ATTORNEY
Page 3 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. 2017-15