A hearing has been scheduled to receive comments on the proposed adoption of the following permanent rulemaking: 813-013, Vertical Housing Program.

Copies of the rules can be obtained on the OHCS website at http://www.oregon.gov/ohcs/Pages/agency-public-notices.aspx, or by contacting Alison McIntosh at alison.mcintosh@oregon.gov  or 503-986-2079. The proposed administrative rules create the program criteria for the Vertical Housing Development Program, which provides local jurisdictions with the opportunity to create vertical housing zones and developers to create vertical housing which is exempt from property taxes.

People interested in providing oral or written comments on the proposed rules are invited to attend a public hearing on April 27, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at 725 Summer Street, Conference Room 124A, Salem, Oregon 97301.

Written comments on the proposed rulemaking may also be submitted by email to alison.mcintosh@oregon.gov or by regular mail addressed to Alison McIntosh, 725 Summer Street NE, Suite B, Salem, OR 97301-1266. Comments will be accepted through May 9, 2016.

The department currently has temporary rulemaking in place that will expire on May 27, 2016.

The meeting location for the public hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to Alison McIntosh, 503-986-2079, by TTY at 503-986-2100, or by email to alison.mcintosh@oregon.gov.

The 2005 Legislature passed legislation moving the Vertical Housing Program from Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD) to Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) beginning in November 2005. The program encourages mixed-use commercial / residential developments in areas designated by communities through a partial property tax exemption. The exemption varies in accordance with the number of residential floors on a project with a maximum property tax exemption of 80 percent over 10 years. An additional property tax exemption on the land may be given if some or all of the residential housing is for low-income persons (80 percent of area median income or below).