City Council Meeting & Work Session
Highlights
- 🗺️ Work session walked through the Transportation Growth Management (TGM) concept-planning grant—its objectives, deliverables, and how the 790-home UGB concept area must balance housing, jobs, parks, and infrastructure sequencing.
- 🥫 Regular meeting centered on the North Plains Food Bank’s urgent relocation; dozens of residents described the community need while staff explained the required Type II design review and change-of-use process.
- 🏛️ Strong Towns and other commenters sparred over transparency topics, from Brownfield grant amounts to the Elephant Garlic Festival transfer, underscoring the demand for clear documentation.
- ☀️ Council reached consensus to have the Planning Commission explore code amendments that better “grandfather” older structures so improvements like rooftop solar aren’t blocked by legacy setbacks.
Notes
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Work Session – TGM Concept Plan
- Staff reviewed the state TGM program, which merges DLCD and ODOT funding to promote equitable, environmentally aware transportation/land-use planning. About 80 % of TGM’s $5 M biennial budget underwrites competitive grants; the rest provides quick-response technical assistance for code updates, TSP assessments, and outreach.
- North Plains’ current grant is an integrated land-use and transportation concept plan tied to any future UGB expansion. Objectives include:
- Accommodating roughly 790 new homes (per the HNA) across a 20-year period with an intentional mix of housing types and price points.
- Reserving sufficient employment land, utilities, open space, and public services so new neighborhoods are complete communities rather than bedroom enclaves.
- Creating a detailed infrastructure phasing and funding strategy before urban zoning is applied, keeping the city compliant with statewide planning goals and the transportation planning rule.
- Staff stressed that the concept plan is not an automatic green light for a UGB case; it is a required precursor that ensures buildable land comes with realistic transportation and utility solutions.
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Public Comment Snapshot
- Residents expressed frustration that major discussions (UGB sizing, Garlic Festival governance, city manager bonding) seem to happen without the broader community; Strong Towns raised concerns about the Elephant Garlic Festival’s intellectual property transfer paperwork and alleged bonding lapses, while others questioned how private billing data was obtained.
- Several speakers defended staff, praising recent tenant-improvement grants and Brownfield work. One resident corrected her prior testimony after the EPA updated its website to reflect the full $1 M Brownfield award, emphasizing a desire for factual dialogue.
- Commenters repeatedly asked council to “roll out the red carpet” for the North Plains Food Bank, describing how volunteers feed homebound seniors, families living paycheck-to-paycheck, and recently displaced neighbors.
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Food Bank Relocation & Design Review
- The food bank hopes to move into 31392 NW Marshall Street with an accessory shed. Planning staff first heard about the project in early August (while attending the national Brownfields conference) and quickly explained that:
- A Type II (administrative) design review is required because the site is changing use and adding an accessory structure; both triggers fall under Chapter 155.
- Only one application/fee is needed, but state law requires mailed notice, coordination with agencies such as TVF&R, and written findings.
- Legally the city has up to 120 days to process a complete application, yet similar projects typically wrap in four to six weeks once the applicant provides all materials.
- As of the meeting, staff had an incomplete submittal and was preparing a “missing items” letter so the food bank can cure deficiencies. Councilors reiterated support for the mission but noted any waiver or appeal requires an initial decision under existing code.
- The food bank hopes to move into 31392 NW Marshall Street with an accessory shed. Planning staff first heard about the project in early August (while attending the national Brownfields conference) and quickly explained that:
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Legacy Structures & Solar
- A resident trying to install solar on a legal, nonconforming garage highlighted how modern improvements can trigger expensive land-use reviews. Councilor James Penn asked whether code revisions could automatically “grandfather” older structures for low-impact improvements.
- Council agreed to refer the idea to the Planning Commission, the only body that can initiate development-code text amendments. The goal: craft language that acknowledges historic setbacks while still protecting health and safety.
Follow-Ups
- Planning staff will send the food bank a completeness review, continue processing the Type II design review, and keep council updated on the expedited timeline once a full application is in hand.
- Planning Commission to study potential code amendments that provide clearer grandfathering allowances for legacy structures (e.g., rooftop solar on older garages) and report back with recommendations.
- City manager’s office to respond in writing to lingering questions about the Elephant Garlic Festival’s assumed-name filing and intellectual property transfer so the public has definitive documentation.
- Communications staff to maintain transparency around the Brownfield cleanup (now confirmed at $1 M) and related grant accounting to prevent future confusion.