The average minimum lot size for vacant residential land in 1978 was 12,800 square feet. Overall, the maximum number of buildable units in the metropolitan area increased from 129,000 to over 301,000. Oregon state law requires local governments to allow manufactured housing in all residential zones. Cities and counties must all zone adequate amounts of land for multi-family housing. City charters or zoning regulations cannot be used to block government subsidized housing.
Additional steps are now under consideration to assure affordable housing.
For example, in 1996, the Metro regional government adopted a regulation which requires cities and counties to allow accessory housing units in any residential zone. In 1997, the Portland metropolitan area decided not to build a beltway around its most rapidly growing south-western quadrant. Over the next 40 years, the region plans to build only a few short highway segments totaling less than 40 miles. There are already 6000 new houses and apartments that are permitted or under construction in transit oriented developments next to the line. Projections are that as many as one-third of the people living in these new suburban communities will get to work by walking, riding their bikes, or taking public transit.