Our Village Page 6 of 8 <br />Adjustment Review Application SB 1537: Written Statement <br />March 13, 2026 <br /> <br />Schirmer Consulting, LLC · PO Box 10424, Eugene, OR 97440 · (541) 234-5108 <br />Landscape Architecture + Land Use Planning <br />ADJUSTMENT REVIEW WRITTEN STATEMENT <br />Code criteria is shown as plain text, and my responses (in italics). <br /> <br />Project Information <br />The application requests adjustments to the city code standards for Our Village, a multi-unit affordable housing <br />project proposed at 255 Maxwell Street. The Our Village Co-op is a proposed housing village transforming an <br />existing church property to permanently affordable housing co-op that continues the site’s legacy as a <br />community asset with 44 new units of housing ranging from studios to 3 bedroom units with a central green <br />space and a continued relationship with the community through communal space in the existing church and <br />preschool. <br /> <br />The requested adjustments are authorized by state law, specifically SB 1537, Or Laws 2024, Ch. 110, Sections <br />38 and 45. Two adjustments are being requested: <br />· Building orientation <br />· Building articulation <br /> <br />These adjustments address zoning standards that require no interpretation of code or legal judgment. As a <br />result, the statute authorizes the City to approve them through a ministerial process, which does not <br />involve public notice, a local hearing, or an appeal. Using a ministerial process will also allow these <br />adjustments to align seamlessly with the building permit and construction schedule. <br /> <br />I. Background <br />· The proposed project is for 44 units of affordable housing on 2.43 acres. <br />· The existing church structure is to remain and serve multiple functions to support the occupants of the <br />housing and the community. <br />· Units are typical garden style apartments that meet standard building height requirements. <br />· Building Permit submittal will likely be in mid-2026. <br />· Required bike parking is in a storage locker at each individual unit. <br />· The units labeled with an ‘A’ front Maxwell Road. These units will have their front door oriented north <br />towards the parking area, the walking path and other units, instead of towards the street. <br />· All proposed buildings will not meet the required building articulation. <br /> <br />II. Justification of Proposed Adjustments to Bicycle Parking, Building Articulation and Building <br />Orientation. <br /> <br />Oregon Laws 2024, Ch. 110, Sec. 38(2): <br />(2) Except as provided in section 39 of this 2024 Act, a local government shall grant a request for an <br />adjustment in an application to develop housing as provided in this section. An application qualifies for <br />an adjustment under this section only if the following conditions are met: <br /> <br />(a) The application is for a building permit or a quasi-judicial, limited or ministerial land use decision; <br />This application will be associated with a building permit whose submittal is forthcoming. In any <br />case this is a limited land use decision. <br /> <br />(b) The development is on lands zoned to allow for residential uses, including mixed-use residential; <br />The R-1 zoning allows Residential: Multiple Units Dwellings use. Table 9.2740 Residential Zone <br />Land Uses and Permit Requirements. <br /> <br />(c) The residential development is for densities not less than those required under section 55 (3)(a)(C) <br />of this 2024 Act; <br />This section relates to additions to urban growth boundaries and is not relevant here. <br /> <br />(d) The development is within an urban growth boundary, not including lands that have not been <br />annexed by a city; <br />The site is in the city. <br />