IMPORTANT: Save the dates!

In the coming months, the City Council will be approving several KEY land use-related plans.  Each one of the 6 items listed below has their own timeline for public meetings, open houses, Planning Commission public hearings, and City Council public hearings.  Ever feel like everything is being thrown at you faster than you can catch it?  You'd like to know what's going on and give your 2-cents worth, but have no idea what's happening?  Below are, at minimum, 6 issues that will each have significant impact on how our city functions and what it will look and feel like.  Why is all of this happening so all at once?  What is the rush?  Why do we have so many consultants employed doing planning work when we have one of, if not the largest planning staff per capita in the state?  There is something very wrong here, and citizens have lost control of their city.  

It's our city after all.

0.   Open City Hall Survey

       The Citizens' Budget Committee and the City Council have asked for citizens' opinions on the Draft Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) list.  There only 5 days left to contribute your thoughts. The topic is listed on the Homepage of the City website, but here is only one comment so far.  Off topic: If the City hopes to capture citizens who aren't regularly involved with City affairs, there have to be other ways to get their input.  

The CIP list has the TSP projects on it, but they are spread out among several sections: 1) Parks and Recreation, 2) Pavement Preservation, 3) Roadway Improvements, 4) Pathways, and 5) Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathways (any others?).  Up Sucker Creek will have its own list of TSP problems shortly.  In the meantime, look for items that - you want to see gone, you want emphasized, and that you have particular issues with.  If a project makes the list (even as an unfunded project), it may get done regardless through grants or other funding sources.  Don't depend on the funding status when you decide what project is valuable to you.

• Deadline for input is April 9 at 5 pm 

1.   Transportation System Plan Update  

       The Planning Commission told the Engineering/Planning staff to take back the TSP draft and get
neighborhood input.  Staff sent out information to Neighborhood Association Chairs to share with neighbors.  If your NA has not yet contacted you with information on the TSP, call them, or call the City Engineering Dept.  This is not a great way to get involved with neighborhoods as each NA varies in level of activity, but all citizens care and want to be involved in transportation and growth issues.

• Transportation Advisory Committee meeting  April 9 (no agenda yet)
• Planning Commission work session  April 14  5:45 pm
• Commission for Citizen Involvement follows PC meeting; Citizen Comments are between meetings 

2.  Code Streamlining and Updates 

     Timeline for Adopting Code Amendments:

• Planning Commission hearing May 12
• City Council study session June 17
• City Council hearing and adoption July 1

Community Development Codes are going through an updating process.  This is an important issue to follow.  If you care about density, the height and bulk of buildings, the purpose (mixed use with residential, or retail and office, or bowling alley), and parking requirements - this is your chance to be involved.  Height, setbacks, FAR will be altered or blended with other zones to "streamline" the codes.  Don't wait - the timeline is short!  
      

3.  Clear and Objective Housing Standards

      Timeline for Adopting Code Amendments

• Planning Commission work session April 28
  
• Planning Commission hearing anticipated June 9
• City Council hearing and adoption in July (TBD)

The City has drafted amendments to bring the CDC into compliance with State requirements for clear and objective housing approval standards, intended to reduce unnecessary costs and delays in permitting needed housing.  (Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 197.307: Approval Standards for Certain Housing in Urban Growth Areas, and Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 660-007-0015: Clear and Objective Approval Standards Required.).  Refer to Housing Needs Analysis 2012

Mixed-use, multi-family and "affordable" housing seem to be preferred.  High density residential will be (and in most cases already is) allowed in all commercial zones.  "Affordable" means new multifamily housing, though low cost of construction doesn't seem to count.  The city does not need to guarantee housing, only that there is land available for multifamily housing.  Codes will also cover height, setbacks, size of lots, attached dwellings, and what and where buildable land exists.

4.  Citizen Budget Committee

See the Budget Project Page for more details and a view of this year's budgets for the 

City and LORA.  The Budget Committee advises on the LORA budget also and past years' budgets are available for viewing.  

• Draft Budget should come out prior to the Budget Committee meeting for members and the public to review.  (The title, "Citizen" isn't accidental.). This is from the City Manager's office and will be posted online.  Call the City Managers office with questions.
• Budget Committee Meeting April 22, 6 pm Council Chambers.  Meeting will be televised.
• Follow-up meeting in May.  TBD

5.  SW Employment District Plan

• Planning Commission review of grant / IGA  April 14  

Planning Commission Metro and ODOT Grant Review (IGA Agreement).  See meeting packet for issues related to this topic, mainly composition and selection of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee
.

6.  Tryon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (TCWTP)

See recent posts on this topic.

• Open House April 24  5 - 7 pm,  Oswego Pointe Condominiums, Riverside Room