Compact Mixed Use Areas

Compact, mixed-use areas are places in communities where people can meet their needs by walking or rolling, riding a bike, or riding public transit. Ideally, streets are accessible for all and have little to no car traffic, or at least low-speed traffic. Restaurants and storefronts line the streets, and affordable housing is close by.

A community designed this way provides people with most things they need for daily life in the same area, which means they do not need a car for most trips, which results in less greenhouse gas emissions.

Compact mixed use development: emissions reduction vision

 

  • By 2050, 30% of  urban households will be in compact mixed-use neighborhoods.

How Oregon is doing

 

Oregon continues to be on track for meeting the long-term goals for compact mixed use neighborhoods in larger metropolitan area. Most of the progress is thanks to Portland, but other smaller metropolitan areas are making progress and have room to improve. Staying on track for 2050 is feasible because of new changes to Oregon’s Transportation Planning Rules, which were completed in August 2022.

The rule changes require cities to plan for Climate Friendly Areas in Oregon’s eight metropolitan areas with increased density, mixed use and multimodal transportation options.

How Oregon can improve

 

The updated Transportation Planning Rules will set Oregon up for long-term success, with zoning to accommodate significant urban growth in designated “Climate Friendly Areas.” Local agencies will identify these areas and codify them into city zoning codes by December 2024.

After that, cities and state government will monitor the development of the new Climate Friendly Areas and make adjustments to stay on track with state government’s emission reduction vision.