Housing Diversity Tax Exemption

City Council met for a third time in 2023 to discuss the Housing Diversity Tax Exemption (HDTE) on October 23^rd. The HDTE is a property tax exemption the Council is considering to incentivize the development of multiple-unit housing in certain areas of Springfield that are close to transit. The program would be application-based, and projects would need to meet certain minimum requirements to qualify for the tax exemption. In its October meeting, the Council directed staff to bring program materials back to Council for a public hearing and potential adoption in early 2024. We'll provide an update once a date has been selected.

For additional information, and to see previous Council packets on the proposed program, visit the "Announcements" section of the City's Housing webpage.

Housing Discussion at Springfield Chamber

Staff from the City’s Community Development and Economic Development teams presented at a Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce meeting on November 28^th on the City’s recent efforts to encourage housing development. Staff reviewed the master planning work occurring in Glenwood, recent updates to the Development Code to allow middle housing, and the proposed Housing Diversity Tax Exemption, among other topics. Following the presentation there was a roundtable discussion with attendees. The event was covered in The Bottom Line.

Pre-Approved Housing Plans Now Available

The City has two pre-approved building plans for single-unit dwellings available online. These plans have been reviewed for compliance with the Oregon Residential Specialty Code, and only require review of the site-specific elements.



Applicants who use these plans will have a reduced permit turnaround time and a reduced plan review fee. Applicants must still obtain necessary approval and permits. Please get in touch with the Community Development staff before applying for a building permit!

Additional Fee Waivers Awarded for Fischer Village

The City recently approved system development charges (SDC) waivers for four additional homes at Habitat for Humanity’s affordable homeownership project in Springfield, Fischer Village. These fee waivers are in addition to two approved earlier this year at this 12-unit project.

The SDC waivers are available through an incentive program approved by City Council in December 2022. The program waives the City’s transportation, stormwater, and local wastewater SDC charges for housing sold affordably to people with low incomes (at or below 80% of the area median income). Homes must be sold affordably to income-qualified households for five years to qualify. Learn more about this program and other housing incentives on our website.

HOME Affordable Housing RFP Update

The Eugene-Springfield Consortium did not receive any HOME applications through the 2023 HOME Request for Proposals (RFP). The Eugene-Springfield HOME Consortium’s annual HOME RFP was released in late August and applications for Affordable Housing proposals were due in November.

Several factors may explain the lack of applications, including: the tight real estate market for buying property which is made more difficult with federal funds; high interest rates at private banks; construction costs remain high; the amount of HOME subsidy available was not enough to make projects work; state funding continues to be complicated and competitive. Although there were no project proposals for the 2023 HOME RFP, this year’s HOME resources will carry forward and be available through the next RFP, which will increase the total funds available.

Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report Completed

Each year, Springfield and Eugene complete a report, the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER), which reviews the CDBG and HOME funded activities undertaken in Springfield and Eugene during the previous fiscal year.



The cities of Springfield and Eugene receive annual entitlement allocations of CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Eugene also receives HOME funds from HUD on behalf of the Eugene‐Springfield HOME Consortium.

An Executive Summary of the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 CAPER is available on the Springfield HUD funding page.