Lake Oswego Planning Commission Meeting: February 23, 2026
Lake Oswego Planning Commission Meeting: February 23, 2026
The Lake Oswego Planning Commission met on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 6:30 PM at an unspecified location. Chair Najak called the meeting to order with Vice Chair Bruce and Commissioners Moreno, Mitchell, Guinea, and Slade present. Commissioner Twing was absent. Councillor Rachel Verdick attended.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (January 26, 2026): Commissioner Moreno moved to approve the minutes as written; Commissioner Guinea seconded. The motion passed unanimously with all in favor.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public signed up to speak.
Council Updates
- Councillor Verdick reported that the City Council passed the rezoning of 4000 Cruiseway Place. Key outcomes from recent council goal setting included inheriting Pioneer Cemetery, completing the pathway between George Rogers Park and Foothills, and proceeding with hiring a new city attorney and city manager. She announced the upcoming Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday, February 28, from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM at Lake Ridge High School.
Commission for Citizen Involvement Update
- The annual general meeting of the Commission for Citizen Involvement is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM at West Ridge Elementary School. Agenda items include a new online directory and guest speakers from the South Shore Fire Station (discussing rebuilding the fire station) and the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network (helping homeowners reduce yard maintenance pollution).
Discussion Items
- Housing Needs and Production Update (PP22-0005): Long-Range Planning Manager Eric Olson presented an overview of the new statewide Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (OHNA) framework, adopted by the state in late 2024. He contrasted the city's current 2023 Housing Needs Analysis (HNA), which projected a 20-year need of 1,968 units (about 1% growth over 20 years), with the new OHNA methodology that estimates Lake Oswego's 20-year need at approximately 4,850 units – more than double. The new methodology accounts for historical underproduction, homelessness, second homes, and regional allocation via Metro. Olson emphasized that while the city is legally bound to implement its Housing Production Strategy (HPS) rather than hit a specific unit target, the higher figure is a signal to “think bigger” as the city begins rezoning and code audit efforts. He noted that the city’s next HNA cycle is 2029, and that the state may use model codes or a “housing acceleration program” as sticks for non-compliance.
- Commissioner Bruce asked about the Housing Acceleration Program and potential punitive actions. Director Namangalou explained that the state’s intervention could involve requiring model codes or providing grants; specifics are still evolving.
- Commissioner Moreno (likely Jessica) highlighted that market conditions, not just zoning, control construction, and that Portland has record low housing starts, making planning adaptable.
- Commissioner Guinea suggested that the commission should help educate the community about the need to “think big” to avoid state takeovers that reduce local control.
Key Outcomes
- No formal vote was taken on the housing update; it was informational.
- The commission acknowledged the need to incorporate the higher projected housing need (4,850 units) into upcoming work items, including a citywide rezoning study and code audit.
- Next meetings scheduled:
- March 9, 2026: Work plan review based on city council goal setting.
- March 23, 2026: Continued discussion on Foothills redevelopment, transitioning from opportunities/constraints to vision and goal setting.
- The meeting adjourned after the schedule review.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, and we're live. Great, thank you. I'd like to call to order the meeting of the Lake Oswego Planning Commission this Monday, February 23rd at 6 30 p.m. Christina, can you please call roll? Chair Nojock. Here. Vice Chair Bruce. Here. And Commissioners Moreno. Here. Mitchell. Here. Guinea. Here. And slide. And Commissioner Twing has not yet joined. And we also have Council Rachel Verdick with us. Here. Great. Christina and Councillor Verdick. Do we have any city council updates to share? Sure, I can give an update from council. The council did pass the rezoning of 4,000 cruiseway place. So that has been agreed upon and is moving forward. I think the other big news we had goal setting on Saturday. For the most part, the goals stay pretty much the same. There was a few additions on there. In terms of we're going to be inheriting the Pioneer Cemetery, so there will be work around that that was added. We want to see the completion of the pathway between George Rogers and Foothills. And obviously, we are going to be moving forward getting a new city attorney and city manager. And for those of you who may not know, Martha submitted her resignation. And Megan Phelan is interim until the council approves a I don't know if you say a different interim, so Megan can focus on her uh her normal roles until we hire a new person. And so those are I think some of the bigger things that have gone on. And then we do have something fun on Saturday for those of you interested. There's the Lunar New Year Festival, and that's going to be from 12 to 3 30 at Lake Ridge High School for those of you who are available and interested. So any questions for me. Okay, well, if anything comes up, please don't hesitate to reach out. Thank you so much, Councilor Redick. Moving on to agenda item number four. Uh approval of minutes from January 26th, 2026. Do I have hear any motions to approve or any uh revisions to the minutes as written? I'd like to make a motion to approve the minutes as written, please. Thank you. Do I hear a second? Second. Thank you, Councillor Marino. All those in favor of approving the minutes as written for January 26, 2026. Hi. Hi. Thank you.
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