(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, if the local government does not make a decision on an expedited land division or a middle housing land division, as defined in ORS § 92.031, within 63 days after the application is deemed complete, the applicant may apply in the circuit court for the county in which the application was filed for a writ of mandamus to compel the local government to issue the approval. The writ shall be issued unless the local government shows that the approval would violate a substantive provision of the applicable land use regulations or the requirements of ORS § 92.031 or 197.360. A decision of the circuit court under this section may be appealed only to the Court of Appeals.

(2) After seven days’ notice to the applicant, the governing body of the local government may, at a regularly scheduled public meeting, take action to extend the 63-day time period to a date certain for one or more applications for an expedited land division or a middle housing land division prior to the expiration of the 63-day period, based on a determination that an unexpected or extraordinary increase in applications makes action within 63 days impracticable. In no case shall an extension be to a date more than 120 days after the application was deemed complete. Upon approval of an extension, the provisions of ORS § 92.031 and 197.360 to 197.380, including the mandamus remedy provided by subsection (1) of this section, shall remain applicable to the land division, except that the extended period shall be substituted for the 63-day period wherever applicable.

(3) The decision to approve or not approve an extension under subsection (2) of this section is not a land use decision or limited land use decision. [1995 c.595 § 9; 2021 c.103 § 7]