Table of Contents

Affordable Housing Programs

The city’s codified ordinances include policies that support affordable housing preservation and development. Chapter 3.35 discusses the Newberg affordable housing trust fund, which provides ongoing funding for housing programs in the city. Chapter 15.242 outlines a flexible development track that allows for greater density and relaxed design standards in exchange for adding more long-term affordable dwelling units than are explicitly required in that zone. §15.440.030 lists the require parking spaces by use, showing that affordable housing projects near transit are eligible for a 10% reduction in required parking spaces.

Grayfields Reuse and Redevelopment

The city's code of ordinances requires certain design elements from its large-scale retail spaces. A building must accommodate changes in façade direction, divide up large masses, and include five of the following: an offset or projection at least six feet deep and wide, and awning or roof sheltering pedestrian facilities, multiple building materials (with ratios), contrasting trim, pitched or gable-end roofs, arches or roof line features, a tower, spire or cupola, or a cornice (§15.220.070.H).

Housing Supply Planning

The city's code of ordinances encourages increasing housing supply and affordable options for all by enacting affordable housing policies that preserve and create new housing. Inclusionary housing is included to provide incentives for more affordable housing units. The affordable housing trust fund also provides ongoing funding for projects. 

Inclusionary Housing

The city provides incentives for voluntary provision of affordable housing in its development code (§15.242). It offers a “flexible development track” that allows developers flexibility in some development standards in exchange for a commitment to provide affordable housing through provision of on- or off-site market-rate affordable units or long-term affordable units, land dedication, or cash contributions to the city’s housing trust fund.

Flexibility is provided for development standards including minimum lot size, density, setbacks, lot coverage, sidewalk provision, and street width. The code provides a methodology for calculating required number of affordable units and defines several affordable unit types. Long-term affordable units must remain affordable for 25 years.