Zika backs bill that promotes ‘middle housing’

State Rep. Jack Zika, R-Redmond, issued a statement Monday regarding his support for a House-passed measure awaiting a Senate vote that would promote ” middle housing ” (duplexes, triplexes and the like) by requiring cities allow them in areas now zoned exclusively for single-family housing.

” This bill provides property owners with more flexibility to develop duplexes and triplexes, which can provide more affordable rental housing, ” he said. ” Bend and Redmond are already pursuing similar policies, and HB-2001-A builds on those local efforts on a statewide basis. I am supportive of land use reforms that provide more options to help solve our affordable housing crisis. ”

HB 2001-A requires cities with population greater than 10,000 to allow middle housing in lands zoned for single-family dwellings within urban growth boundaries. Middle housing refers to duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes (fourplexes), cottage clusters and townhouses.

Zika is a member of the Oregon House Human Services and Housing Committee, where he worked on amendments to the original bill, and voted in support of passing HB 2001-A to the Ways and Means Committee.

Zika testified before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development in support of the bill and its ability to help with Oregon’s affordability housing crisis. The committee then moved HB 2001-A to the House floor, where it passed 43-16 and now heads to the Oregon Senate.

Zika is a real estate broker and a former member of the Redmond Planning Commission, where he helped make decisions about local housing policies.

House District 53 includes the communities of Redmond, Tumalo, Sunriver and portions of Bend and unincorporated Deschutes County.