The City of Sweet Home has adopted its first Housing Production Strategy (HPS), a significant step in addressing local housing challenges.

Winterbrook prepared Sweet Home’s first Housing Production Strategy (HPS), which was adopted by City Council in 2024 following positive reviews by DLCD staff/team members and Housing Land Advocates and the Oregon Fair Housing Council. The HPS, as described in ORS 197.290 and OAR 660-008-0050, prescribes a series of city policies and actions designed to promote local housing production, affordability, and choice.

Winterbrook was a big help guiding the City of Sweet Home through the Housing Production Strategy process.
— Blair Larsen, Sweet Home Community Development Director

In 2022, Sweet Home’s population exceeded 10,000, prompting the need for a Housing Production Strategy (HPS). The city received a DLCD grant in 2023 to develop the plan, focusing on increasing housing production and updating zoning for affordable housing, with an emphasis on middle housing and higher-density developments.

Sweet Home roundtable discussion in June, 2024

The plan, shaped by community engagement, aims to reduce barriers like system development charges (SDCs) and prioritize housing for all income levels. Winterbrook Planning has supported similar efforts statewide, including facilitating discussions in Sweet Home to address local housing needs. With the HPS in place, Sweet Home is poised to implement policies that promote sustainable, affordable, and diverse housing options.

Congrats and a big thank you to Kearns & West and everyone involved in bringing this project to the finish line!