(1) ORS § 307.600 to 307.637 apply to multiple-unit housing preserved, constructed, established, added to or converted in cities or counties that adopt, after a public hearing and determination pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, by resolution or ordinance, the provisions of ORS § 307.600 to 307.637. The tax exemption provided by ORS § 307.600 to 307.637 only applies to the tax levy of a city or county that adopts the provisions of ORS § 307.600 to 307.637, except that the tax exemption shall apply to the ad valorem property taxes of all taxing districts when upon request of the city or county that has adopted the provisions of ORS § 307.600 to 307.637, the rates of ad valorem taxation of taxing districts whose governing boards agree by resolution to the policy of providing tax exemptions for multiple-unit housing as provided in ORS § 307.600 to 307.637, when combined with the rate of taxation of the city or county that adopts the provisions of ORS § 307.600 to 307.637, equal 51 percent or more of the total combined rate of taxation levied on the property which is tax exempt under ORS § 307.600 to 307.637.

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(2) The city or county shall designate an area within which it proposes to allow exemptions provided for under the provisions of ORS § 307.600 to 307.637. Core areas, light rail station areas or transit oriented areas may be designated by a city. A city may designate the entire city as the area in which the city proposes to allow exemptions under ORS § 307.600 to 307.637 for housing that is or becomes subject to a low income housing assistance contract with an agency or subdivision of this state or the United States. A county may designate areas as light rail station areas or transit oriented areas but may not designate areas as core areas. A county may designate the entire county as the area in which the county proposes to allow exemptions under ORS § 307.600 to 307.637 for housing that is or becomes subject to a low income housing assistance contract with an agency or subdivision of this state or the United States. A city or county from time to time may, by amending its resolution or ordinance, add or withdraw territory from the area originally designated as a light rail station area or a transit oriented area, but any area added must be within the boundaries of the area as limited by ORS § 307.603 (3) or (6).

(3) The city or county shall, prior to passage of a resolution or ordinance electing to utilize the provisions of ORS § 307.600 to 307.637, hold a public hearing in order to determine whether multiple-unit housing meeting the qualifications of subsection (4) of this section would not otherwise be built in the designated area or preserved without the benefits provided by ORS § 307.600 to 307.637.

(4) Prior to accepting project applications under ORS § 307.600 to 307.637, cities or counties shall promulgate standards and guidelines to be utilized in considering applications and making the determinations required by ORS § 307.618. The standards and guidelines shall establish policy governing basic requirements for an application, including but not limited to:

(a) Existing utilization of proposed project site, including justification of the elimination of any existing sound or rehabilitable housing.

(b) Design elements.

(c) Rental rates or sales prices.

(d) Extensions of public benefits from the project beyond the period of the exemption.

(e) Minimum number of units.

(f) For housing that is or becomes subject to a low income housing assistance contract with an agency or subdivision of this state or the United States, a demonstration that the exemption is necessary to preserve or establish the low income units.

(g) For housing that is to become subject to a low income housing assistance contract with an agency or subdivision of this state or the United States, the date on which the housing must be established in order to be exempt under ORS § 307.600 to 307.637. [Formerly 307.610]