County Task Force Could Boost Homebuilding

Lane County is seeking applicants for a new task force that will help shape a land banking program aimed at boosting housing production across the county.

The seven-member task force will be responsible for developing the priorities, goals and performance measures for the program, as well as setting reporting standards and other requirements. Once completed, the framework will be presented to the Lane County Board of Commissioners for adoption.

“We desperately need housing in Lane County,” said Eric Mongan, the county’s housing production manager. “While Lane County Government doesn’t directly develop real estate, we can and should have a role in identifying buildable land that can be purchased and incentivized for housing development.”

The land banking program was established by the Board of County Commissioners in 2025 as part of its broader effort to support affordable housing development. The program is designed to identify properties suitable for housing, guide them through the land use approval process, and then sell the parcels as shovel-ready sites to affordable housing developers.

County officials say offering development-ready land reduces the risk of delays for builders, making affordable housing projects more attractive and allowing construction to move forward more efficiently. The program is funded with $2 million in Oregon Video Lottery funds.

Five task force members will be appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, with the remaining two selected by the county administrator. Appointments are expected to be made in early March.

The task force is scheduled to begin meeting in March and will hold approximately six to eight one-hour meetings over several months.

Letters of interest from prospective members must be submitted by Feb. 9, 2026. Additional information and application materials are available on the county’s website.