Maximum Building Heights in Town Center
Council Direction to Eliminate Waivers
On June 15, 2026, City Council held a work session on maximum building heights in Town Center and directed staff to advance an ordinance to eliminate waivers to increase building heights as well as the option for a bonus floor if a development decides to include affordable housing units. If adopted, the two changes would keep maximum building heights within the standard limits established for each Town Center subdistrict. Allowable building heights would range from two (2) to 5 (five) stories.
What’s a Waiver?
A waiver is an adjustment to certain development standards when a project provides an equal or better overall outcome than strict compliance with the standard. Waivers give flexibility in how a project is designed while still meeting the goals of the Development Code and maintaining high-quality development.
What the Council Direction Means
Council’s direction to staff begins the formal process to update Wilsonville’s Development Code for the Town Center area. The proposed changes would modify two provisions of the code.
The first change eliminates a waiver opportunity to increase building height. The City’s Development Code currently allows applicants to request a waiver to certain design standards in some parts of Town Center. The second change removes the opportunity for a “bonus floor” to be approved for projects that include a minimum percentage of affordable housing units, in some parts of Town Center.
Current Town Center Height Limits
The Town Center Plan divides the area into four subdistricts, each with its own development standards. Allowable building heights range from two (2) to five (5) stories, with higher buildings allowed closer to I-5 and more neighborhood-scale development required on the east side of Town Center.
Under the existing code, developers may seek waivers or bonus provisions in some parts of Town Center that allow additional height if certain criteria are met. The Council direction would remove those added height opportunities and keep height maximums within the standard story limits.
Why the City Is Reviewing Building Heights
The Town Center Plan is intended to guide long-term redevelopment of the area into a vibrant, mixed-use destination. Some residents have expressed concern about building heights. Updating height rules is one way the City can be responsive to community input and provide certainty around the scale and intensity of future development while continuing to support the broader Town Center vision. The goal is to strike a balance between a more active, walkable Town Center with shops, restaurants, housing, parks, and gathering spaces, while also maintaining Wilsonville’s character.
Community Input: The Town Center Building Height Task Force
In response to community interest in the potential height of future development in Town Center, City Council convened a Town Center Building Height Task Force. The Task Force included Wilsonville residents, Town Center business and property owners, and representatives from City advisory bodies. Some participants were involved in the creation of the Town Center Plan while other members brought fresh perspective to the conversation.
The Task Force met three times in spring 2026 and reviewed options for changing the height waiver provisions. Discussions included how different approaches could affect community character, the flexibility and responsive nature of the code, the pace and economic viability of redevelopment, among other considerations.
Next Steps and Opportunities for Public Input
City staff will prepare a draft ordinance to amend the City’s Development Code. The draft ordinance will be reviewed by the Planning Commission for recommendation to City Council and by City Council for possible adoption. Council is anticipated to consider the ordinance in September 2026. Both the Planning Commission and City Council will take public comment on the draft ordinance; agendas and details about how to testify can be found at wilsonvilleoregon.gov/meetings.
