Urban Renewal

City Council established the Scappoose Urban Renewal District in December of 2019. Urban Renewal is a program used throughout Oregon to provide a financing mechanism to implement City plans in designated urban renewal areas. The goal of urban renewal is to make investments that spur development that would not have otherwise occurred. The revenue to pay for projects in an urban renewal area is generated by the growth in assessed property value that occurs through (1) new development and (2) annual growth in assessed property values within the new urban renewal area. Urban renewal is not a new property tax and does not increase the amount a property owner pays in property taxes. The financial impact of urban renewal is born by the taxing jurisdictions; while the urban renewal area is active, the taxing jurisdictions' revenue from the area (including the City) remains largely fixed, and the tax revenue from the increases in assessed value goes to the urban renewal area to pay for projects that help to spur new investment. When the urban renewal district expires, taxing jurisdictions can expect to receive more tax revenue than they would have without an urban renewal area, due to the increased assessed values stemming from the increased investment in the area. 

The Scappoose Urban Renewal Plan's Goals are as follows: 

1. Improve transportation, water, wastewater and storm-water infrastructure to support job growth. 

2. Promote the emergence of a vibrant town center as a civic and cultural hub for Scappoose that is connected to surrounding neighborhoods and employment areas. 

3. Encourage redevelopment and infill in the town center. 

4. Support the growth and retention of local businesses. 

The Map below is the established boundary.

More information can be found on the City's YouTube Channel. Please follow the links to the videos, posted below:

Urban Renewal 101

Urban Renewal and Property Taxes

If you'd like to learn more, please read the urban renewal FAQ document included below.