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(A) Title. This section shall be known as the “Tillamook Sign Ordinance” and shall be cited herein as “Sign Standards and Requirements - the City Sign Codes”.
(B) Purpose. The purposes of this section are as follows:
(1) To provide objective standards governing the placement and size of signs, and the responsibilities of those persons erecting said signs, within the city’s urban growth boundary (UGB);
(2) Allows signs compatible with the character and uses allowed in the zoning district in which they are located;
(3) To improve the neat, clean, orderly and attractive appearance of the community; and
(4) To improve the effectiveness and maintenance of signs; and to regulate the construction, erection, maintenance, electrification, illumination, type, size, number and locations of signs.
(C) Signs in the right-of-way (ROW).
(1) Signs located in the public ROW shall be handled under a ROW permit application, and shall follow separate requirements for placement in the ROW identified in Resolution 1706.
(2) Signs attached to walls but extending over the ROW with proper clearance shall comply with this section.
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(D) Signs allowed in zone districts. The city is divided into specific zones, as shown the official city zoning map, and any sign erected or constructed in these zones shall be controlled by the rules of each zone. No signs shall be erected and no changes of any nature shall be made to existing signs within these zones except in conformity with the procedures set forth in this section.
Zones/Sign Types | R-7.5 R-5.0 | R-O | N-C | H-C C-C | T-C | L-I | G-I | P & S-P | O |
Zones/Sign Types | R-7.5 R-5.0 | R-O | N-C | H-C C-C | T-C | L-I | G-I | P & S-P | O |
Free-standing/Ground Mounted | - | 1 sign 24 sq. ft. size 5 ft. height | 1 sign per street frontage 40 sq. ft. 10 ft. height | 1 sign per street frontage 40 sq. ft. size 20 ft. height | - | 1 sign per street frontage 40 sq. ft. size 20 ft. height | 1 sign per street frontage 40 sq. ft. size 20 ft. height | 1 sign per street frontage 40 sq. ft. size 20 ft. height | 2 signs per lot 18 sq. ft. size 20 ft. height |
On-Building | - | 1 sign per use 24 sq. ft. | 3 signs per street frontage 40 sq. ft. size per sign | 3 signs per street frontage 120 sq. ft. per sign | 3 signs per street frontage | 3 signs per street frontage 40 sq. ft. size per sign | 3 signs per street frontage 40 sq. ft. size per sign | 3 signs per street frontage 40 sq. ft. size per sign | 2 signs per street frontage 18 sq. ft. size per sign |
Directional | - | 5 signs per lot 3 sq. ft. 3 feet height | 5 signs per lot 3 sq. ft. 3 ft. height | 5 signs per lot 3 sq. ft. 3 ft. height | - | 5 signs per lot 3 sq. ft. 3 ft. height | 5 signs per lot 3 sq. ft. 3 ft. height | 5 signs per lot 3 sq. ft. 3 ft. height | 5 signs per lot 3 sq. ft. 3 ft. height |
Identification | - | 5 signs per lot 12 sq. ft. 6 ft. height | 5 signs per lot 12 sq. ft. 6 ft. height | 5 signs per lot 12 sq. ft. 6 ft. height | - | 5 signs per lot 12 sq. ft. 6 ft. height | 5 signs per lot 12 sq. ft. 6 ft. height | 5 signs per lot 12 sq. ft. 6 ft. height | 5 signs per lot 12 sq. ft. 6 ft. height |
Temporary/ Portable | - | 1 sign per business 32 sq. ft. 6 ft. height | 1 sign per business 32 sq. ft. 6 ft. height | 1 sign per business 32 sq. ft. 6 ft. height | Exempt | 1 sign per business 32 sq. ft. 6 ft. height | 1 sign per business 32 sq. ft. 6 ft. height | 1 sign per business 32 sq. ft. 6 ft. height | 1 sign per business 32 sq. ft. 6 ft. height |
Name Plates | 1 sign 2 square feet max size | 1 sign 2 sq. ft. max size | - | - | Exempt | - | - | Exempt | - |
Illuminated | - | Internally = commercial and public facilities Externally = all | Allowed | Allowed | Lit or externally illuminated | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed |
Note: On-building signs include: wall signs, roof signs, projecting signs, canopy signs, suspended signs | |||||||||
(E) Types of signs.
(1) A-frame or sandwich board sign. A temporary, double-faced in the shape of the letter “A” and is not attached to a structure or the ground, collapsible, movable steeply angled sign, hinged at the top and open at the bottom for self-support; also known as a “tent sign”, sign with two sides that meets at the top.
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Illustration of an A-Frame Sign
(2) Ancillary sign. Any sign allowed by this code, with or without permit, that is not a freestanding, incidental freestanding, wall, roof or projecting sign. If allowed within the zoning designation, ancillary signs include, but are not limited to: A-frame signs, flags (excluding attention flags) and banners.
(3) Blade sign also known as “feather”, “teardrop”, or “attention flag”. A pole-supported sign made of fabric, vinyl or other similar non-rigid material, where one side of the sign is more than three times as long as any other side projecting or suspended from a building.
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Illustration of a Blade Sign
(4) Banner. A sign made of fabric, vinyl or other similar non-rigid material.
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Illustration of a Banner
(5) Banner on street light pole. A sign made of fabric, vinyl or other similar non-rigid material intended to be displayed in the right-of-way for a limited period of time which complies with Chapter 15.28 of the Oregon City Municipal Code and the signs in the right-of-way policy.
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Illustration of a Banner on Street Light Pole
(6) Billboard. A sign with a display area of 300 square feet or more, including, but not limited to, outdoor advertising signs, as defined in O.R.S. 377.710(21), advertises a business, commodity or activity, which is sold, offered or conducted on premises other than those where such a sign is located.
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Illustration of a Billboard
(7) Bulletin board, changeable copy sign or reader board. A sign of a permanent nature, but which accommodates changes in wording, indicating persons, events, products or services offered on the premises of the sign location.
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Illustration of a Bulletin Board/Reader Board Sign
(8) Blinking sign. A sign which shines with intermittent or momentary brief beams or flashes of light, flashing on and off.
(9) Building register sign. A sign which identifies four or more businesses contained within a single building, structure or complex.
(10) Awning sign/canopy sign. A sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy or other fabric, plastic or structural protective cover (excluding a marquee) over a door, entrance, window or outdoor service area.
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Illustration of Awning and Canopy Sign
(11) Electronic readerboard. A sign on which display can be altered electronically by using patterns of lights. This sign may be changed at intervals of no less than one and one-half seconds and may contain only one screen of text or graphic display. The illumination shall be by steady continuous light.
(12) Flashing sign. A sign incorporating intermittent electrical impulses to a source of illumination, or revolving in a manner which creates the illusion of flashing, or which changes color or intensity of illumination with sequential light source giving off light suddenly or in transient bursts where the period of time of illumination is equal to the period of non-illumination, and is used solely to attract attention in a non-informative way. This includes, but is not limited to, all lights on or within a building or premises or vehicle on or off the premises for the purpose of attracting attention for commercial purposes. This definition does not include time, tide and temperature signs or electronic reader-board signs.
(13) Fluttering sign. A sign which moves or vibrates in quick, irregular motions, with irregular spasms or trembling motions.
(14) Freestanding sign/ground sign/pole sign. A sign erected on a free-standing frame, mast or pole, wholly supported from the ground by its own integral structure not attached to any building.
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Illustrations of a Freestanding Sign
(15) Incidental sign. A sign intended primarily for the convenience and direction of the public on the premises which does not advertise but is information only. Includes signs which denote the hours of operation, credit cards, service station gasoline price sign, entrance and exit and any signs required by law.
(16) Incidental freestanding sign. A sign wholly supported from the ground by its own integral structure, excluding A-frame signs. The maximum size allowed is less than that of a freestanding sign and greater than an ancillary sign.
(17) Lit sign. A sign that is a neon and/or bulbed sign.
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Illustration of a Lit Sign
(18) Marquee sign. A sign which is painted on, attached to or supported by a projecting marquee. Marquee signs must be located within one inch of the top and bottom of the marquee with no more than three businesses indicated per marquee.
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Illustration of a Marquee Sign
(19) Neighborhood identification. A sign located on a wall or fence at the entry point of a single-family subdivision comprising not less than two acres, or a sign identifying a multiple-family development of ten or more dwelling units.
(20) Non-conforming sign. An existing sign, lawful at the time of enactment of this chapter, which does not conform to the requirements of this code.
(21) Political sign. Any temporary sign which supports the candidacy of any candidate for public office or urges action on any other matter on the ballot of primary, general or special elections.
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Illustration of a Political Sign
(22) Portable sign. Used to temporarily identify a new business until permanent identification signs are installed, or to identify an existing business while permanent identification signs are being repaired or replaced, or to temporarily identify a sale or business location during the hours of operation, or service station signs displaying the current prices for fuel sold on the same premises.
(23) Projecting sign. A sign projecting more than one foot from the wall of a building. Signs, other than wall signs, which are attached to and project from a structure or building face, usually perpendicular to the building face, including blade signs and marquee signs.
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Illustration of a Projecting Sign
(24) Real estate sign. A sign indicating that the premises on which the sign is located, or any portion thereof, is for sale, lease or rent.
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Illustration of a Real Estate Sign
(25) Roof sign. A sign constructed or maintained wholly upon or over the roof of any building with the principal support on the roof structure. Any sign, other than painted signs, erected upon, against or directly above a roof or top of or above the parapet of a building.
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Illustration of a Roof Sign
(26) Rotating sign. A sign which turns/revolves around as on an axis or center point.
(27) Suspended sign. A sign that is hanging or suspended from an awning, a canopy or a marquee, not supported from the ground.
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Illustration of a Suspended Sign
(28) Temporary sign.
(a) A sign which is not permanently affixed to the ground or to a permitted structure. These include all devices such as banners, pennants, flags (not including flags of nations), searchlights, sandwich boards, sidewalk signs, curb signs, balloons or other symbols designed to attract attention.
(b) Temporary signs include: signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of commercial or industrial premises or identifying a property developer, lease agent or builder; or advertising a legally recorded subdivision.
(29) Time and temperature sign. A message display providing only time, date and/or temperature information to the public. This information can be updated at intervals of no less than one second.
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Illustration of a Time and Temperature Sign
(30) Wall graphics. Any mosaic, mural or painting, or graphic art technique, or combination or grouping of mosaics, murals or paintings or graphic art techniques applied, implanted or placed directly onto a wall or fence and containing no copy, advertising symbols, lettering, trademarks or other references to any product, service, goods or advertising anything sold on or off the premises.
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Illustration of Wall Graphics
(31) Wall sign. A sign attached to, or erected against, or painted upon the wall of a building with the face in a parallel plane of the building wall and extends no more than 12 inches from a wall.
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Illustrations of a Wall Sign
(32) Wind sign or device. Any sign or device in the nature of a series of one, two or more banners, flags or other objects, fastened in such a manner as to move upon being subject to pressure by wind or breeze.
(33) Window sign. A sign attached to, suspended behind, displayed behind, placed or painted upon the window or glass door of a building, which is intended for viewing from the exterior of the building. Windows signs include: posters and other signs which advertise or inform the public of current prices or events may be displayed on the inside of a window or door of a business located in a commercial or industrial district.
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Illustration of a Window Sign
(F) Zone districts.
(1) Highway Commercial (H-C), Central Commercial (C-C), Light Industrial (L-I) and General Industrial (G-I).
(a) Free-standing and ground-mounted signs shall be allowed subject to the following conditions:
1. Shall not exceed 40 square feet in size;
2. Shall not exceed a height of 20 feet;
3. Only one such sign shall be allowed per street frontage; and
4. Sign clearance and setback: see division (G) below.
(b) On-building wall signs, roof signs, projecting signs, canopy signs shall be allowed subject to the following conditions:
1. Shall not exceed 120 square feet in sign per building side;
2. A maximum of three such signs shall be allowed per building side; and
3. On-building signs shall be incorporated into the design of the building, and shall not be placed in locations which interrupt, detract from or change the architectural character of the building.
(c) Such signs may be illuminated.
(2) Town Center Commercial (T-C). Signs in the Town Center shall meet requirements described in § 152.030.
(3) Neighborhood Commercial (N-C).
(a) Free-standing and ground-mounted signs shall be allowed subject to the following conditions:
1. Shall not exceed 40 square feet in size;
2. Shall not exceed a height of ten feet;
3. Only one such sign shall be allowed per street frontage; and
4. Sign clearance and setback: see division (G) below.
(b) On-building wall signs, roof signs, projecting signs, canopy signs identifying the use of the premises shall be allowed subject to the following conditions:
1. Shall not exceed 40 square feet in size per sign;
2. Three such signs shall be allowed per street frontage; and
3. On-building signs shall be incorporated into the design of the building, and shall not be placed in locations which interrupt, detract from or change the architectural character of the building.
(c) Illumination: such signs may be illuminated.
(4) Multiple Use Residential (R-O).
(a) Signs identifying multiple use development, multi-family development or subdivisions:
1. Free-standing and ground-mounted signs:
a. Shall not exceed 24 square feet, as viewed from a single direction;
b. Shall not exceed a height of five feet above the natural ground elevation; and
c. No more than one free-standing or ground-mounted identification sign shall be allowed for a development or complex, even when more than one tax lot or ownership is included in the development. However, in mixed-use developments, a separate freestanding sign may be allowed to identify the multiple uses and multi-family portion of the development.
2. On-building signs:
a. Shall be reviewed as part of the architecture of the building; and
b. Shall not exceed 24 square feet in size.
3. Directional signs within the development shall not exceed three square feet except as provided in the district.
4. Illumination: signs may only be externally illuminated by indirect lighting.
(b) Signs identifying commercial businesses and public facilities:
1. Free-standing and ground-mounted signs:
a. Shall not exceed 24 square feet, as viewed from a single direction;
b. Shall not exceed a height of five feet above the natural ground elevation;
c. No more than one free-standing or ground-mounted identification sign shall be allowed per development or complex, even when more than one tax lot or ownership is included in the development. However, in mixed-use developments, a separate freestanding sign may be allowed to identify the multiple uses and multi-family portion of the development; and
d. Sign clearance and setback: see division (G) below.
2. On-building wall signs, projecting signs, canopy signs:
a. Shall not exceed 24 square feet in size; and
b. No more than one on-building identification sign shall be allowed per use of the development.
3. Directional, on-site traffic control and identification signs:
a. Shall not exceed three square feet in size; and
b. Shall not exceed a height of five feet.
4. Illumination:
a. Signs located adjacent to an arterial roadway may be internally illuminated outright;
b. Signs located adjacent to a local or collector roadway may be internally illuminated subject to a conditional use permit as per the provisions of § 152.071; and
c. Signs may be externally illuminated if at any other location.
(5) Residential (R-7.5 and R-5.0).
(a) Signs permitted outright. Residential name plates:
1. Shall not exceed two square feet;
2. Shall be limited only to the title, name and address of the occupant of the premises upon which the sign is located;
3. Only one such sign shall be permitted upon the premises; and
4. May be externally illuminated lighting only.
(b) Signs permitted with a sign permit. Signs pertaining to home occupations, as provided under § 152.051(M):
1. If located inside or flush against the dwelling, the sign shall not exceed three square feet in size. If not affixed to or inside the dwelling, the sign shall not exceed two square feet in size;
2. Only one such sign shall be permitted upon the premises;
3. May be located within the required setback area of the district provided it is situated in a manner so as not to adversely affect safety, corner vision or other similar conditions; and
4. May be externally illuminated lighting only.
(6) Public and Semi-Public:
(a) Free-standing and ground-mounted signs shall be allowed subject to the following conditions:
1. Shall not exceed 40 square feet in size.
2. Shall not exceed a height of 20 feet.
3. Only one such sign shall be allowed per street frontage.
4. Sign clearance and setback: see division (I)(7) below.
(b) On-building wall signs, roof signs, projecting signs, canopy signs shall be allowed subject to the following conditions:
1. Shall not exceed 120 square feet in sign per building side.
2. A maximum of three such signs shall be allowed per building side.
3. Design: on-building signs shall be incorporated into the design of the building, and shall not be placed in locations which interrupt, detract from, or change the architectural character of the building.
(c) Additional signage, or signage above the permitted size, may be allowed subject to a conditional use permit as per provisions of § 153.070.
(d) Illumination: such signs may be illuminated.
(7) Open Space (O):
(a) Free-standing and ground-mounted signs for public and semipublic facilities, schools, churches, hospitals, and similar uses shall be allowed subject to the following conditions:
1. Shall not exceed 18 square feet in size.
2. Shall only pertain to the use on the premises.
3. Only two such sign shall be permitted upon the premises.
4. Sign clearance and setback: see division (I)(7) below.
(b) On-building wall, roof signs, projecting, canopy signs shall be allowed subject to the following conditions:
1. Shall not exceed 18 square feet in size.
2. Shall only pertain to the use of the building.
3. Only two such sign per street frontage shall be permitted upon each building.
4. Design: on-building signs shall be incorporated into the design of the building, and shall not be placed in locations which interrupt, detract from, or change the architectural character of the building.
(c) Illumination: such signs may be illuminated.
(G) Sign permit requirements.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, alter or relocate any sign or other advertising structure, as defined in this chapter, within the city, without first obtaining a permit from the City Planning Department. The Planning Department may require the filing of sufficient data to determine compliance with these requirements and zoning requirements.
(2) It shall be the duty of the Planning Department to examine such plans and specifications and other data needed to erect the sign or other advertising structure and, if it appears that the proposal is in compliance with all the requirements of this section and all other laws and ordinances of the city, the City Planner shall issue the sign permit.
(3) No person shall place on, or apply to, the surface of any building, any painted sign, or erect, construct, place or install any other sign, unless a sign permit has been issued by the city for such sign.
(4) Application for a sign permit shall be signed by the property owner and the permittee in accordance with these provisions.
(5) No person having a permit to erect a sign shall construct or erect in any manner, except in the manner set forth in his approved application permit.
(6) The application for a sign permit (both existing signs and proposed) shall be accompanied by a filing fee in an amount established by resolution of the City Council.
(H) Sign permit application.
(1) A sign permit application is required for the erection of any new sign or the structural alteration of an existing sign, except those signs that are exempt. A sign permit application is required for modification or alteration of the sign face, or any portion of the sign or supporting structure.
(2) The applicant shall submit three copies of the following with a sign permit application:
(a) An accurate in-scale rendering of the sign fully indicating its colors, lettering, symbols, logos, materials, size, area and the like;
(b) An elevation and plot plan drawn to scale indicating where the proposed sign will be located on a structure or lot, method of illumination, if any, and similar information;
(c) One completed copy of the city sign permit application; and
(d) No notification is required upon application for a sign.
(I) General requirements, provisions and standards applicable to signs.
(1) Sign illumination/glare. The artificial illumination of signs, either from an internal or external source, shall be designed to eliminate negative impacts to prevent the casting of glare or direct light from artificial illumination on surrounding right-of-way and surrounding properties, and shall be placed, directed and shielded to limit direct illumination so as not to shine into residential dwelling units or structures, or impair the vision of the driver of any vehicle. Lights and illuminated signs requiring an outside power source shall use a state approved power outlet. Illuminated signs shall conform to current electrical codes and shall be designed by a state licensed signs contractor and erected by a state licensed electrician.
(2) Conflicting standards. Signs shall be allowed subject to the provisions of this section, except when the provisions conflict with the specific standards for signs in the subject zoning or overlay district.
(3) Signs subject to state approval. All signs visible to the traveling public from state highways are additionally subject to the regulations and permit requirements of the State Department of Transportation. Where the regulations of the state and city differ, the more restrictive regulations shall govern.
(4) Uniform Sign Code. All signs shall comply with and meet the material and construction methods requirements of the provisions of the current Uniform Sign Code of the Uniform Building Codes, except as otherwise provided in this section.
(5) Pre-existing signs. Signs and sign structures existing prior to the adoption of this chapter, which complied with the applicable regulations existing when the sign was established, but which do not comply with one or more of the requirements of this section, shall be subject to the provisions for non-conforming uses in § 152.073 except:
(a) Alterations to a non-conforming sign which reduces, or does not increase its non-compliance with the provisions of this chapter, including changes in display surface, sign area, height and setback, may be allowed; and
(b) Sign copy which identifies or advertises a business, product or service no longer located on the same site or premises on which the sign is posted shall be replaced, or removed, within 12 months of the change of occupancy of the premises or vacancy of the premises. Failure to use the copy area of a non-conforming sign for purposes permitted under this section for a period of more than 12 consecutive months shall constitute a discontinuation of use as provided under § 152.073 and such sign shall be removed or modified to satisfy all applicable requirements of this section and the underlying district.
(6) Abandoned, obsolete and damaged signs to be removed or repaired. Any sign now or hereafter existing, which no longer advertises a bonafide business conducted or a product sold, a current event or is otherwise abandoned or obsolete, shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building or structure upon which such sign may be found within 30 days after closure of said business.
(7) Sign clearance and setbacks for free-standing or ground-mounted signs.
(a) No signs shall be erected or maintained if any part of such sign extends less than 15 feet above driveways.
(b) Signs less than 28 square feet in size must observe at least one-half of the yard setback requirements of the zone district in which it is located.
(c) Signs greater than 28 square feet in size must observe the setback requirements of the zone district in which it is located.
(d) All signs shall be situated in a manner so as not to adversely affect safety, corner vision or other similar conditions.
(8) Sign measurements. The following diagrams shall be used to determine sign measurements:
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(9) Height measurements. The following diagrams shall be used to determine sign height measurements:
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(J) Wind pressure, seismic and dead load requirements. All signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand pressure loads, seismic loads and dead loads as required by the current State Uniform Building Code.
(K) Freestanding sign requirements.
(1) All letters, figures, characters or representations in uncut or irregular form, maintained in conjunction with, attached to or superimposed upon any sign shall be safely and securely built or attached to the sign structure and shall comply with all requirements in this section.
(2) No freestanding sign shall project or extend into any vision clearance area prescribed by any provision of this chapter. One or two sign poles supporting a freestanding sign may be located within the vision clearance area if they do not exceed a combined total width of 12 inches and if no other portion of the sign proper is located within the vision clearance area between three and seven feet above grade.
(3) All posts, anchors and bracing or wood shall be treated to protect them from moisture by creosoting or together approved methods when they rest upon or enter the ground.
(L) On-building wall sign, roof sign, projecting sign, canopy sign requirements. On-building wall sign, roof sign, projecting sign and canopy sign requirements include the following:
(1) Shall not cover, wholly or partially, any wall opening nor project beyond the ends or top of the wall to which it is attached; and
(2) Shall not be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
(M) Construction standards for temporary signs.
(1) Standards. All temporary signs shall be constructed to the following standards: all exposed parts of the sign shall be constructed of such materials, or treated in such a manner, that normal rainfall or other moisture shall not harm, deface or otherwise affect the sign.
(2) Anchoring. All signs approved under this section shall be physically established in a manner, which both prevents the sign from being moved or blown from its approved location, and allows for removal of the sign.
(N) Maintenance. All signs, together with all of their supports, braces, guys, and anchors, shall be kept in good repair and be maintained in a safe condition. All signs and the site upon which they are located shall be maintained in a neat, clean and attractive condition. Signs shall be kept free from rust, corrosion, peeling paint or other surface deterioration. The display surfaces of all signs shall be kept neatly painted or posted. All freestanding signs and the premises surrounding the same shall be maintained by the owner thereof in a clean, sanitary and inoffensive condition, and free and clear of all obnoxious substances, rubbish and weeds.
(O) Voiding permits. If the work authorized under a sign permit has not been completed within six months after the date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void.
(P) Exempt signs and temporary signs. The following signs and devices shall be exempt from the approval of a sign permit:
(1) Bunting or flags of national, state or local government, provided they are displayed or draped so as to not obstruct or hinder traffic or pedestrian access, or cause a safety hazard;
(2) Signs placed by local, state or federal governments for the purpose of construction, maintenance or identification of roads or other public agencies for the direction of traffic, and designed to fulfill the requirements of state and federal funding agencies;
(3) Signs within a building or within a window; and
(4) A portable sign may be used to temporarily identify a new business until permanent identification signs are installed, or to identify an existing business while permanent identification signs are being repaired or replaced, or to temporarily identify a sale or business location during the hours of operation under the following conditions and limitations.
(a) Need. No portable sign shall be allowed under this provision when any other permanent or portable sign visible from adjacent roads accurately identifies the premises.
(b) Number. Only one portable identification sign shall be displayed for a development or complex.
(c) Time period. The use of a portable identification sign shall be valid for 90 consecutive days, or until a permanent identification sign is installed, whichever occurs first.
(d) Design review. The application for permanent identification signing for the business shall be submitted for review and shall be subject to the approval of a sign permit, prior to, or concurrent with, the establishment of a temporary display or portable sign under this section.
(e) Size limits. Portable signs shall not exceed a sign area of 32 square feet, or a height of six feet above the natural ground elevation.
(f) Portable service station signs. A service station may maintain one portable sign displaying the current prices for fuel sold on the same premises provided such sign does not exceed an area of 12 square feet, or a height of five feet. Such signs shall be subject to clear vision area requirements and one-half the setback requirements of the district.
(5) Temporary signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of commercial or industrial premises, or identifying a property developer, lease agent or builder, or advertising a legally recorded subdivision in its entirety, or residential property in excess of one acre, may be allowed, subject to the following limitations:
(a) Shall not exceed 40 square feet in area;
(b) Shall pertain only to property upon which they are located, unless they are temporary off-premises directional signs indicating a sale on another piece of property;
(c) Shall observe the setback provisions under division (I)(7) above;
(d) Only one such sign shall be permitted on the premises;
(e) Shall not be artificially illuminated;
(f) Such signs shall be removed from the premises after the premises are sold, rented or leased. Signs pertaining to recorded subdivisions shall not remain upon the premises in excess of 18 months from the date of filing of the subdivision; and
(g) These signs are not included in the required sign face area.
(6) Real estate signs advertising individual lots:
(a) Shall not exceed six square feet;
(b) Shall pertain only to the property upon which they are located, unless they are temporary off-premises directional signs indicating a sale on another piece of property;
(c) Shall be located at least five feet behind the front lot line;
(d) Shall not exceed five feet in height;
(e) Shall be temporary in nature and shall be removed within two weeks after the date of sale; and
(f) Shall not be artificially illuminated.
(7) Signs which support or oppose ballot measures, persons running for political office and other issues subject to a vote by the public may be allowed subject to the following:
(a) Approval. Approval by the owner of the property on which the sign is to be posted;
(b) Setbacks. Such signs may be located within the required setback area of the district, provided they are situated in a manner so as not to adversely affect safety, corner vision or other similar conditions;
(c) Size. Signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in size, as viewed from one direction; and
(d) Time limit. All such signs shall be removed within one week after the election for which the sign is posted.
(8) Temporary paper signs that serve as notice of a public meeting when removed promptly after such meeting is held;
(9) A combination of banners (both vertical and horizontal), streamers, strings of lights, flags, beacon lights, sandwich board signs and/or other similar apparatus may be displayed for the purpose of advertising a grand opening, sale or similar event on the same property under the following conditions and limitations.
(a) Time period and duration. The temporary display shall not exceed a total time period of four weeks in any calendar year and must coincide with an actual event. Such signs must be removed ten days after the event concludes.
(b) Hazards. No sign, light, electrical cord, streamer, banner or other apparatus shall be situated or used in a manner which creates a hazard.
(c) Size limits. Temporary signs shall not exceed a sign area of 32 square feet, which shall include sign face and any lighting strips, and, if freestanding, a height of six feet above the natural ground elevation.
(10) The signing program for a multi-family, commercial or industrial development shall include the display of the street number(s) for the development on the sign, support structure or building where it can be seen from adjacent roads; and
(11) Electronic reader boards, banners (both vertical and horizontal), streamers, strings of lights, flags, beacon lights, sandwich board signs and/or other similar apparatus may be displayed for the purpose of promoting an event open to the general public, held at an offsite property, under the following conditions and limitations.
(a) Time period and duration. The temporary display shall not exceed a total time period of six weeks in any calendar year and must coincide with an actual event. Such signs, including displays, must be removed within ten days after the event concludes.
(b) Hazards. No sign, light, electrical cord, streamer, banner or other apparatus shall be situated or used in a manner which creates a hazard.
(c) Size limits. Temporary signs shall not exceed a sign area of 48 square feet per sign, which shall include sign face and any lighting strips, and, if freestanding, a height of six feet above the natural ground elevation.
(Q) Temporary off-premises directional signs temporarily directing traffic to an event. Temporary off-premises directional signs temporarily directing traffic to an event shall be subject to the following requirements:
(1) Shall not exceed 60 square feet;
(2) Shall be located at least five feet behind the front lot line;
(3) Shall not exceed five feet in height;
(4) Shall be temporary in nature and shall be removed immediately at the end of the day on which the event is conducted;
(5) Shall not be artificially illuminated;
(6) All temporary off-premises signs which are visible from a state highway are subject to approval by the State Highway Division pursuant to the Motorist Information Act, being O.R.S. 377.700 et seq.; and
(7) Temporary off-premises directional signs are subject to the approval of a sign permit.
(R) Directional, on-site traffic control and identification signs.
(1) Directional on-site traffic control signs. Directional on-site traffic control signs shall be those permanent signs which are oriented toward internal circulation roads, driveways and walkways, or which direct the flow of traffic to and from the site from adjacent roads or walkways, and within the site area, and shall observe the clear vision requirements of the district and shall:
(a) Not exceed a maximum of three square feet in area;
(b) Observe the clear vision requirements of the district and not exceed a maximum of three feet in height; and
(c) Placement and design of any such sign shall be the responsibility of the city. Costs for the sign and placement shall be assessed to the applicant. No more than five signs shall be allowed at any one location. Each property owner shall be responsible for maintaining any sign approved under its application. Costs for replacement of any sign for any cause shall be assessed to the applicant.
(2) Identification signs. An on-site permanent ground-mounted tenant identification sign for an individual building and/or informational sign providing on-site information to the users of the subject property within a development may be allowed as an alternative to an on-building identification sign provided such sign shall:
(a) Be located on the most visible side of the building being identified;
(b) Not exceed 12 square feet in area;
(c) Not exceed six feet in height;
(d) Use materials and colors, which are the same, or substantially the same, as those used on the building identified by the sign;
(e) Public facility identification signs shall be placed internally to avoid conflicting with other signs on the premises; and
(f) Placement and design of any such sign shall be the responsibility of the city. No more than five signs shall be allowed at any one location. Each public facility shall be responsible for maintaining any sign approved under its application. Costs for replacement of any sign for any cause shall be assessed to the applicant.
(3) Illumination. Such signs may be illuminated.
(4) Approval. All on-site traffic control and identification signs shall be subject to the approval of a sign permit.
(S) Permanent off-premises signs. Any sign not located on the site of the use or activity for which it is advertising shall be considered off-premises and, if not determined to be a billboard by ODOT after examination of the location and upon due proof that such sign, signboard or other advertising will not be unduly detrimental to the adjacent and surrounding property, but the same front and side yard provisions as required for buildings, may be required and shall be subject to the approval of a sign permit.
(1) Along state highways. All off-premises signs which are visible from a state highway are subject to approval by the State Highway Division, pursuant to the Motorist Information Act, being O.R.S. 377.700 et seq.
(2) Permanent off-premises signs. All permanent off-premises signs shall be subject to the approval of a sign permit and the following:
(a) Shall not exceed a size of 40 square feet;
(b) Shall not exceed a height of ten feet;
(c) Shall not be internally illuminated;
(d) Shall only be allowed to be placed in the Multiple Use Residential (R-O), Neighborhood Commercial (N-C), Central Commercial (C-C), Highway Commercial (H-C), Light Industrial (L-I), General Industrial (G-I) or Public and Semi-Public (P & S-P) Zone Districts;
(e) Only one sign shall be allowed per property off-premises site in addition to on-premises signage; and
(f) Signs placed by a government (city, county, state) signage program shall be exempt.
(T) Other signs. All other signs, signboards and other forms of outdoor advertising may be allowed including the following alternatives.
(1) Changeable copy signs. Changeable copy signs may be incorporated into a permanent identification sign for a business or development. The following conditions shall apply.
(a) Only one such sign shall be used in development.
(b) The changeable copy sign shall be included in the maximum sign area allowed under this section.
(c) A changeable copy sign shall not be used on a sign, which includes a time and/or temperature display.
(2) Directory sign. An on-site sign oriented primarily toward vehicle circulation which identifies and directs traffic to a number tenants, uses or buildings within the development, shall be limited in area to a maximum of two square feet per tenant, use or building specifically identified, up to a maximum of 40 square feet. Directories oriented toward pedestrian circulation areas, including those attached to buildings, shall be a maximum of 24 square feet in area and eight feet in height.
(U) Prohibited signs.
(1) Illumination of any sign or portion thereof, in the shape of an arrow, or any other shape which may be construed as a traffic control device is prohibited.
(2) No sign shall be situated in a matter which results in the blanketing/covering/blocking from view of an existing sign.
(3) No sign or other illuminating devices shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights/displays, with the exception of a time and temperature sign. This includes, but is not limited to, all lights on or within a building or premises or vehicles on or off the premises for the purpose of attracting attention for commercial purpose. This section shall not apply to holiday lights (e.g., Christmas lights). No sign or window display shall be so placed or illuminated as to be hazardous to pedestrians or traffic or in any or any manner tending to create a nuisance to the occupants of any other building or premises.
(4) No colored lights shall be used at any location or in any manner, which may be confused with or construed to be traffic signals or lights on emergency vehicles.
(5) No sign structure, or portion thereof, shall be designed to rotate, flutter or appear to move, with the exception of barber shop poles.
(6) Paper or plastic signs or banners are not allowed on the exterior of any building, except as provided in division (P) above.
(7) No sign shall be attached to a utility pole nor placed within any public right-of-way, unless approved by the City Council through franchise agreement.
(8) No sign, light, electrical cord, streamer, banner or other apparatus shall be situated or used in a manner which creates a hazard.
(9) New billboards, as defined by the state (O.R.S. 377.700 to 377.840) as an outdoor advertising sign, not at the location of a business or an activity open to the public the owner of which leases out the space to others in the exchange of compensation for posting their message, visible from the right-of-way, shall not be allowed in any zoning district within the city and its UGB. Billboards or off-premises advertising signs are prohibited, except as allowed in divisions (P), (Q) and (T) above.
(10) Any unofficial sign which purports to be, is in imitation of or resembles an official traffic light/sign or a portion thereof, or which hides from view any official traffic sign or signal, is prohibited.
(11) Signs shall not be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
(Ord. 1285, passed 3-3-2014; Ord. 1320, passed 3-20-2017; Ord. 1335, passed 7-2-2018; Ord. 1349, passed 8-19-2019; Ord. 110722, passed 11-21-2022) Penalty, see §
152.999
PROCEDURES
(A) Purpose. The purpose of the site plan review process is to bring under special review those projects involving building design and the development of land where inappropriate development may cause a conflict between uses in the same adjoining district by creating unhealthful or unsafe conditions, and thereby adversely affecting the public health, safety and general welfare.
(B) Types of development requiring site plan review approval.
(1) An administrative site plan review shall be conducted when plans are made in the R-O, C-C, N-C, H-C, L-I and G-I Zone District as described in § 152.004(O).
(2) A site plan review shall be conducted before the City Planning Commission when plans are made in the R-O, P & S-P, C-C, N-C, H-C, L-I and G-I Zone District:
(a) For all new developments, expansion and major modification of existing developments; and
(b) For expansion of an existing structure, which is greater than 50% of the existing structure or greater than 10,000 square feet.
(3) A site plan review shall be conducted in conjunction with any conditional use permit in any zone district of the city.
(C) Site plan review requirements. The Planning Commission shall approve, approve with conditions or disapprove the site plans for all buildings or structures in those zoning districts where site plan review is required, except those eligible for administrative review as listed in this section.
(D) Application for site plan review. A request for site plan review may be initiated by a property owner or authorized representative. The application shall be filed with the Planning Department, accompanied by a filing fee as determined by the city fees schedule, and by a written statement addressing each of the criteria and standards as listed in this section. The applicant shall also pay the cost of publication and notification as required. One copy of the site plan shall be submitted for preliminary approval, and a pre-application conference needs to be scheduled, prior to acceptance of the application, as per § 152.004 and division (E) below.
(E) Preliminary site plan approval. A site plan for the total parcel shall be prepared and one copy shall be submitted to the City Planner for review at the time a pre-application conference is held. If, at the time of the pre-application conference, the City Planner finds that the site plan meets all submittal requirements, the application shall be prepared for the Planning Commission for review and a hearing, according to the relevant application procedures described in § 152.004. Additional materials may be requested that are essential to the proposed use, site or its relationship to surrounding properties.
(F) Site plan procedures. The site plan shall be drawn to scale and indicate the following:
(1) Site plan to locate where appropriate:
(a) Structures, both existing and proposed;
(b) Driveways;
(c) Landscaped areas;
(d) Off-street vehicle and bicycle parking spaces;
(e) Points of egress and ingress, including on-site traffic movement;
(f) Loading areas;
(g) Utility service and drainage areas;
(h) Pedestrian pathways and internal circulation;
(i) Fences and walls; and
(j) Relationship of site to abutting properties.
(2) Landscape plan:
(a) Topography, existing grades, elevation and proposed grades;
(b) Existing trees; and
(c) Species, size and location of plant materials.
(3) Architectural drawings:
(a) Floor plans;
(b) Any other improvements; and
(c) Elevations (existing and proposed).
(4) Exterior surface specifications:
(a) Type;
(b) Color;
(c) Texture;
(d) Elevations; and
(e) Any other improvements.
(5) Exterior lighting:
(a) Type;
(b) Height; and
(c) Area of illumination.
(6) Sign plan:
(a) Location;
(b) Size;
(c) Design;
(d) Material;
(e) Color; and
(f) Method of illumination, if lighted.
(7) Traffic capacity plan:
(a) Points of egress and ingress, including on-site traffic movement;
(b) Off-street parking;
(c) A carrying capacity plan detailing trips and general traffic generated by the business activity of full development; and
(d) Vision clearance areas.
(G) Criteria.
(1) All negative environmental and historical impacts have been mitigated;
(2) All development, parking, signage and utility standards have been met; and
(3) There is adequate public utility capacity available (or can be made available by the developer) to service the impacts of the development.
(H) Additional materials for submittal.
(1) Traffic capacity analysis. (State Department of Transportation Highway Division.)
(a) The City Planner, or Planning Commission upon its review, may require a proposed development to submit a detailed traffic capacity plan.
(b) The following requirements are to be dealt with as part of the total site development plan for high traffic generating developments adjacent to highway.
1. The analysis shall include alternatives for access to the development from highways, country roads and city streets.
2. The analysis of alternative access should include:
a. Existing daily and p.m. peak hour counts by traffic movements at intersections affected by generated traffic from the development; and
b. Projected daily and p.m. peak hour volumes for these same intersections and proposed access points when the development is in full service. This shall be shown by the use of traffic flow diagrams.
(c) A determination of the existing levels of service and projected levels of service at each intersection and access points studies. These determinations shall be in conformance with nationally accepted capacity manuals or equivalent manuals.
(d) An analysis of the need for traffic signals. This should include a traffic warrant computation based on the National Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
(e) A complete analysis of the trip generation for the development, following the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ Trip Generation Manual.
(f) The recommendation made in the analysis should be specific, and should be based on a minimum level of service “D” when the development is in full service. As an example, if a traffic signal is recommended, the recommendation should include the type of signal control and what movements should be signalized. If storage lanes for right and left turns are needed, the recommendation should include the amount of storage needed. If several intersections are involved for signalization, and an interconnection system is considered, specific analysis should be made concerning progression of traffic between intersections.
(g) The analysis should also include considerations for bicycle and pedestrian usage of the development.
(2) Other requirements.
(a) Other conditions found necessary to protect the best interests of the surrounding property or neighborhood or the city as a whole may be imposed administratively or by Planning Commission. These conditions may include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Development of a preservation plan for historic sites and structures;
2. Requiring fences, walls or landscape screening and/or buffering where necessary to reduce noise, glare and maintain the property in a character in keeping with the surrounding area;
3. Requiring landscaping and maintenance thereof;
4. Increasing street widths, controlling the location and number of vehicular access points to the property for ingress/egress;
5. Requiring means of pedestrian/bicycle access pathways to serve the property;
6. Increasing or limiting the number of off-street parking and loading spaces required;
7. Surfacing and proper drainage of parking areas;
8. Limiting size, location and number of signs;
9. Limiting the location, coverage or height of buildings because of obstructions to view and reduction of light and air to adjacent property;
10. Increasing, limiting or prohibiting openings in sides of buildings or structures;
11. Enclosure of storage areas and limitation of outside display and/or storage of merchandise;
12. Requiring maintenance of grounds;
13. Regulating noise, vibration, fumes and the like;
14. Regulating time for certain activities;
15. Establishing a time period within which the proposed use shall be developed;
16. The requirement of a bond for removal of such use within a specified period of time;
17. Requiring any future enlargement or alteration of the use be reviewed by the Planning Commission and new conditions imposed;
18. Requiring specific lot size, yard dimensions, open spaces or buffer areas; and
19. Such other conditions as will make possible the development of the city in an orderly and efficient manner and in conformity with the intent and purposes set forth in this section.
(b) Any other such architectural or engineering data may be required by the City Planner, or Planning Commission upon its review, to permit the necessary findings that provisions of this chapter are complied with.
(I) Phased site plan development.
(1) The Planning Commission shall approve a time schedule for developing a site in phases over a period of time of one year, but in no case shall the total time period for all phases be greater than three years without reapplying for site development review.
(2) All of the following criteria shall be satisfied in order to approve a phased site development review proposal.
(a) All underground utilities are constructed during the initial phase of the development and the remaining public facilities are constructed in conjunction with or prior to each phase.
(b) The development and occupancy of any phase is not dependent on the use of temporary public facilities. A temporary public facility is any facility not constructed to the applicable city or district standard.
(c) The phased development shall not result in requiring the city or other property owners to construct public facilities that were required by an approved development proposal.
(J) Final site plan approval. Within 120 days of determination of completeness of the application, after preliminary plan approval, the Planning Commission shall approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove the site plan. In approving the plan, the Planning Commission shall find that all applicable provisions of this chapter are complied with. The decision of the Planning Commission shall be final unless appealed to the City Council.
(K) Revisions of site plans.
(1) Revisions made by the applicant to an approved site plan shall be made pursuant to the procedures set forth in this section.
(2) Where required site plan approval has been granted, it shall be unlawful for any person to cause a major modification or permit the proposed construction, alteration, improvement or use in any manner that involves one or more of the following:
(a) A change in the type and/or location of access-ways, drives or parking areas affecting off-site traffic;
(b) An increase in the floor area proposed for non-residential use by more than 15% of the area previously specified;
(c) A reduction of more than 10% of the area reserved for common open space or landscaping;
(d) Increase in automobile parking spaces by more than 10%;
(e) Proposals to add or increase lot coverage within an environmentally sensitive area or areas subject to a potential hazard;
(f) Changes that exceed ten feet in the location of buildings, proposed streets, parking configuration, utility easements, landscaping or other site improvements; and
(g) Change to a condition of approval, or change similar to these sections that could have a detrimental impact on adjoining properties. The City Planner shall have discretion in determining detrimental impacts warranting a major modification.
(3) If the revision/modification does not involve one of the criteria listed above, it is considered a minor modification and can be handled administratively.
(L) Time limitation for site plan review and expiration of approval.
(1) Site plan approval shall be null and void after one year, unless a building permit has been issued and substantial construction has taken place.
(2) The site development review approval by the City Planning Commission shall lapse if:
(a) Substantial construction of the approved plan has not been completed within the agreed upon time period; or
(b) Construction on the site is a departure from the approved plan.
(3) The City Planner may, upon written request by the applicant, grant an extension of the approval period not to exceed one year; provided that:
(a) No changes are made on the original site development review plan as approved by the planning commission;
(b) The applicant can show intent of initiating construction on the site within the one year extension period; and
(c) There have been no changes to the applicable comprehensive plan policies and ordinance provisions on which the approval was based.
(4) Notice of the decision shall be provided to the applicant.
(Ord. 1283, passed 12-2-2013; Ord. 1320, passed 3-20-2017; Ord. 1335, passed 7-2-2018; Ord. 1349, passed 8-19-2019)
(A) Purpose. There are certain uses, which, due to the nature of impacts on surrounding land uses and public facilities, require a case-by-case review and analysis. These are identified “conditional uses”. Conditional uses may be permitted in certain districts, subject to the granting of a conditional use permit. It is the purpose of this section to establish the terms, criteria and procedures by which conditional uses may be permitted, enlarged or altered. It is a further purpose of this section to supplement the other sections of this Code and the Comprehensive Plan. A use is considered conditional if it may require special consideration because of unusual characteristics of the area in which it is to be located. It is important that conditional uses be properly located with respect to the objectives of this chapter and the effect to the surrounding properties. A use designated as conditional use may be permitted, enlarged or otherwise altered upon administrative authorization or authorization by the Planning Commission in accordance with the standards and procedures set forth in this section. Nothing in this section guarantees that a conditional use permit will be issued.
(B) General provisions.
(1) Application for approval of a conditional use may be processed and authorized under an administrative or a Planning Commission decision making procedure as provided by § 152.004 as well as the provisions of this section.
(2) A conditional use permit shall be issued only for the specific use or uses outlined in the application, together with the limitations or conditions as determined by the approval authority.
(3) The findings and conclusions made by the approval authority and the conditions, modifications or restrictions of approval, if any, shall specifically address the relationship between the proposal and the approval criteria listed in this section, in the underlying zoning district and any applicable overlay zones.
(4) An application shall be approved if it satisfies the applicable criteria or can be made to meet the criteria through imposition of reasonable conditions of approval. If findings or data or reasonable conditions cannot bring an application into compliance with the criteria, then the application shall be denied.
(C) Approval authority.
(1) Administrative authority.
(a) An administrative review is required for those uses listed in § 152.004. Changes in use, expansion or contraction of site area, or alteration of structures or uses classified as conditional are considered modifications, and can be handled administratively.
(b) If an exterior structural addition, extension or relocation of, or to, an existing structure conditionally approved, or the proposed accessory uses and buildings customarily appurtenant to a permitted or approved conditional use, does not equal or exceed 50% of the market value of the structure before the improvement or repair is started, conditional use approval is not required
(2) Planning Commission authority. The Planning Commission shall have the authority to approve, approve with conditions, disapprove or revoke conditional use permits subject to the provisions of this section.
(3) Changes in use, expansion or contraction of site area, or alteration of structures or uses classified as conditional, except for accessory uses and buildings customarily appurtenant to a conditional use described in this division (C), and existing prior to the effective date of this chapter shall conform to all regulations pertaining to conditional uses and shall require a new conditional use permit.
(4) (a) In permitting a conditional use or the modification of an existing conditional use, the city may impose, in addition to those standards and requirements expressly specified by this section, any additional conditions which the city considers necessary to protect the best interests of the surrounding property or the city as a whole.
(b) These conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Increasing the required lot size or yard dimensions, open spaces or buffer areas;
2. Limiting the height of buildings;
3. Controlling the location and number of vehicle access points;
4. Increasing the street width;
5. Increasing the number of off-street parking and loading spaces required, along with the type of surfacing and drainage of parking areas;
6. Limiting the number, size and location of signs;
7. Requiring screening, fencing and/or landscaping (and maintenance thereof) to protect adjacent property;
8. Requiring means of pedestrian/bicycle access pathways to serve the property;
9. Limiting the location, coverage or height of buildings because of obstructions to view and reduction of light and air to adjacent property;
10. Limiting or prohibiting openings in sides of buildings or structures;
11. Enclosure of storage areas and limitation of outside display and/or storage of merchandise;
12. Regulation of noise, vibration, odors and the like;
13. Regulation of time for certain activities;
14. Establishing a time period within which the proposed use shall be developed;
15. The requirement of a bond for removal of such use within a specified period of time;
16. Requirements under which any future enlargement or alteration of the use shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission and new conditions imposed; and
17. Such other conditions as will make possible the development of the city in an orderly and efficient manner and in conformity with the intent and purposes set forth in this chapter and the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
(D) Application.
(1) A property owner or their authorized agent may initiate a request for a conditional use permit or the modification of an existing conditional use by filing an application with the city in accordance with the provisions of § 152.004.
(2) The application shall be accompanied by a site plan (as described in § 152.070), drawn to scale, showing the dimensions and arrangement of the proposed development. The Planning Commission may require other drawings or information necessary to understand the proposed use and its relationship to surrounding properties.
(E) Public hearings. Before a conditional use is permitted, the proposed conditional use shall be considered by the Planning Commission at a public hearing, or administratively. Notice of said hearing or administrative action shall be provided as per § 152.004.
(F) Action by the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission may approve, approve with conditions or disapprove the application for a conditional use permit. The Planning Commission may approve the application for a temporary conditional use. Any future enlargement or alteration of a conditional use shall require a new conditional use permit application to be in accordance with the regulations and standards of this chapter.
(1) Requirement for granting conditional use. In order to grant any conditional use, the Planning Commission must find that the establishment, maintenance or operation of the use applied for will not, under the circumstances of the particular case, be in violation to the appropriate regulations and standards contained in this chapter.
(2) Decision. The Planning Commission shall render a decision within 120 days after the application has been deemed complete. The decision of the Planning Commission shall be final unless appealed to the City Council.
(3) Permit validity. A conditional use permit shall become void one year after approval, unless a different time frame is specified as a condition of approval, or, within that time period, the required building construction, alteration or enlargement has commenced and been diligently pursued or, if no such construction, alteration or enlargement is required, the permitted activity is being regularly conducted on the premises. The Planning Commission may extend the permit for an additional period of one year. A conditional use permit shall become void if the use is discontinued for a period of one year.
(4) Criteria for conditional use. Any conditional use authorized according to this section (excepting division (F)(6) below) shall be subject to the following criteria, where applicable, and the Planning Commission must find, based upon evidence in the record developed before the Planning Commission, both factual and supportive, provided by the applicant, that:
(a) If the conditional use is listed as a use permitted outright in any other zone district in the city, the conditional use is appropriate with respect to the property in the application taking into consideration such things as the suitability of lands in other zone districts, market or other economic factors, the transportation system, infrastructure available to serve the use and the impacts of the conditional use relative to the same use in a different zone district;
(b) The use is consistent with the applicable goals and policies of the city’s Comprehensive Plan;
(c) The parcel is adequate for the proposed use. Considering its size, shape, location, topography, existence of proposed improvements and natural features, the parcel will accommodate said use and all yards, spaces, walls and fences, parking, loading, landscaping and other features required by the site plan;
(d) The proposed use will not alter the character of the surrounding area in a manner which substantially limits, impairs or prevents the use of surrounding properties for the permitted uses listed in the underlying zone;
(e) Streets and highways, water and sewer service lines must be adequate in width and degree of improvement to handle the quantity and kind of vehicular traffic that would be generated by the proposed use; and
(f) There are no outstanding code violations or conditional requirements on the subject property.
(5) Burden of proof.
(a) The specific findings made by the Planning Commission in granting a conditional use permit must be factual and supported by substantial evidence. The burden of producing substantial evidence to support the requisite findings is on the applicant seeking the approval of the conditional use. If no evidence is produced concerning any of the findings listed in division (F)(4) above, the application must be denied based upon improper or inadequate findings. All evidence must be cited in the findings for approval of any conditional use permit application.
(b) Where the Planning Commission is of the opinion that said conditional use permit shall be granted, it shall, in open public meeting, by a majority of its members in attendance, enter a Planning Commission order granting the conditional use permit, which order shall include specific findings of fact, conclusions and supportive evidence and any conditions of approval. Upon the filing of said order with the City Recorder, the order shall be in full force and effect. An order denying a conditional use permit shall be entered and filed in a like manner, with the necessary findings of fact, where the Planning Commission, based on the standards specified herein, determines that the conditional use permit should not be granted.
(6) Conditional uses and criteria for certain transportation facilities and improvements. Conditional uses and criteria for certain transportation facilities and improvements includes the following:
(a) 1. Construction, reconstruction or widening of highways, roads, bridges or other transportation facilities that are not designated in the city’s adopted Transportation System Plan (“TSP”); or
2. Not designed and constructed as part of an approved subdivision or partition, are allowed in all zones subject to a conditional use permit under transportation facilities, and satisfaction of all of the following criteria.
a. The project and its design are consistent with city adopted TSP, or, if the city has not adopted a TSP, consistent with the State Transportation Planning Rule, O.A.R. 660-012 (“the TPR”).
b. The project design is compatible with abutting land uses in regard to noise generation and public safety and is consistent with the applicable zoning and development standards and criteria for the abutting properties.
c. The project design minimizes environmental impacts to identified wetlands, wildlife habitat, air and water quality, cultural resources and scenic qualities, and a site with fewer environmental impacts is not reasonably available. The applicant shall document all efforts to obtain a site with fewer environmental impacts, and the reasons alternative sites were not chosen.
d. The project preserves or improves the safety and function of the facility through access management, traffic calming or other design features.
e. The project includes provisions for bicycle and pedestrian access and circulation consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, the requirements of this chapter and the TSP or TPR.
(b) The State Department of Transportation (“ODOT”) shall provide a narrative statement with the application demonstrating compliance with all of the criteria and standards in divisions (F)(6)(a)2.b. through (F)(6)(a)2.e. Where applicable, an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment may be used to address one or more of these criteria.
(c) If the city determines that the proposed use or activity or its design is inconsistent with the TSP or TPR, then the applicant shall apply for and obtain a plan and/or zoning amendment prior to or in conjunction with conditional use permit approval. The applicant shall choose one of the following options.
1. If the city’s determination of inconsistency is made prior to a final decision on the conditional use permit application, the applicant shall withdraw the conditional use permit application.
2. If the city’s determination of inconsistency is made prior to a final decision on the conditional use permit application, the applicant shall withdraw the conditional permit application, apply for a plan/zone amendment and re-apply for a conditional use permit if and when the amendment is approved.
3. If the city’s determination of inconsistency is made prior to a final decision on the conditional use permit application, the applicant shall submit a plan/zoning amendment application for joint review and decision with the conditional use permit application, along with a written waiver of the O.R.S. 227.178 120-day period within which to complete all local reviews and appeals once the application is deemed complete.
4. If the city’s determination of inconsistency is part of a final decision on the conditional use permit application, the applicant, after one year, may submit a new conditional use permit application without prior inconsistencies, along with a plan/zoning amendment application for joint review and decision.
(d) If no improvements are made or actions taken, a conditional use permit for transportation system facilities and improvements shall be null and void after five years.
(G) Appeal. The applicant or any interested person of standing may appeal a decision of the Planning Commission to the City Council in the form prescribed by the city. The appeal procedures shall be set forth in § 152.076.
(H) Effect. No building or other permit shall be issued in any case where a conditional use permit is required by the terms of this chapter until 14 days after the approval of the conditional use by the Planning Commission. An appeal from an action of the Planning Commission shall automatically stay the issuance of a building or other permit until such appeal has been completed.
(I) Violation of condition.
(1) The Planning Commission, on its own motion, may revoke as being void any conditional use permit for non-compliance with conditions set forth in the granting of said permit after first holding a public hearing and giving notice of such hearing as provided in § 152.076. Revoking the conditional use permit shall not be the exclusive remedy, and it shall be unlawful and punishable hereunder for any person to violate any condition imposed by a conditional use permit.
(2) The Planning Commission, on its own motion, may also revoke any other conditional use permit granted, if the permitted use has been discontinued for a period of one year, and if the property owner, after notification of such proposed action, does not certify his or her intent to resume the use during the following year.
(J) Limitation on new applications. In a case where an application is denied by the Planning Commission, or denied by the City Council on appeal from the Planning Commission, unless specifically stated to be without prejudice, it shall not be eligible for resubmittal for the period of one year from the date of said denial, unless, in the opinion of the Planning Commission, new evidence is submitted or conditions have changed to an extent that further consideration is warranted.
(K) Notification of action. The City Planner shall notify the applicant and all interested parties submitting written or oral testimony into the record for a conditional use in writing of the Planning Commission’s action within five days after the entry of the final order. A copy of said order shall be provided to the applicant.
(L) Applicability. The approved conditional use permit shall apply to the specific use applied for only, and shall transfer with the ownership of the property. A conditional use permit granted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall run with the land and shall continue to be valid upon a change of ownership of the site or structure which was the subject of the use permit application, except as otherwise provided in this section.
(Ord. 1283, passed 12-2-2013; Ord. 1320, passed 3-20-2017) Penalty, see § 152.999
(A) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to enact subdivision and land partitioning and expedited land division regulations for the city which will provide for better living conditions within new land divisions; assure necessary streets, utilities and public areas and provide for their installation or improvement; enhance and secure property values in land divisions and adjacent land; simplify and make land descriptions more certain and in general to promote the health, safety, convenience and general welfare of the people consistent with the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
(B) Rules of application. No person shall subdivide, submit a land division or partition for an area or tract of land without compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(1) No person shall dispose of, transfer, sell or agree, offer or negotiate to sell any lot in any subdivision with respect to which approval is required by the city provisions of this chapter until such approval is obtained and the plat thereof has been acknowledged and recorded with the County Recording Officer.
(2) No person may dispose of, transfer, sell or agree to sell any parcel in a partition, subdivision and planned unit development (PUD) prior to approval as required by the provisions of this chapter.
(3) No person subdividing or partitioning a parcel of land shall lay out, construct, open or dedicate thereon a street, sanitary sewage disposal system, storm sewer, water supply or other improvements for public or common use unless the partitioning has received preliminary and construction plan approval pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(C) Land partitioning.
(1) A land partition is the division of one lot into two or three lots within a period of one calendar year. Splitting a lot into two lots, where a flag lot is created, is considered a land partition. Only one flag lot shall be created from a parent parcel. This definition is subject to any exclusions provided for by state law.
(2) A land partition is used in situations where only the lot lines need to be changed or added. If a partition will create a new street, compliance with the subdivision regulations (division (E) below) is required.
(3) An expedited land partition is used solely for the purposes of residential use and will create three or less parcels as defined by state law.
(4) The minimum standards for design and improvements in a land partitioning shall conform to standards mentioned in this section and § 152.052. A partition does not include the creation of a street.
(5) The person proposing the partition, or his or her authorized agent or representative, shall make an application in writing to the City Planner. Each application shall be accompanied by one reproducible copy of the tentative plan map, and any proposed deeds for easements. Ten copies shall be submitted to the City Planner at least 45 days prior to the Planning Commission hearing at which such plan would be considered. A filing fee as listed in § 152.004 shall be paid at this time.
(6) All applicants shall submit to the city information and materials consistent with the requirements of this section.
(7) The applicant must submit a completed application form, signed by the owner of record of the real property covered by the application. If more than one ownership is involved, the applicant shall submit a signed notarized statement from each property owner agreeing to participate in the project as a group. An application form may be signed by the duly authorized representative of the record owner if such authorization is evidenced by a properly executed power of attorney.
(8) A site plan is required only to the extent necessary to adequately and reasonably permit findings that the provisions of this section have been met. The City Planner is empowered to waive the submittal of any of the following site plan items, which are deemed unnecessary or inapplicable based on the nature, scope and significance of the proposed project. Waiver of application items, if any, shall occur following a pre-application conference. If the City Planner position is vacant, all application materials must be submitted.
(9) The applicant shall submit ten copies of a site plan, accurately drawn to a scale of sufficient size to illustrate the following site plan details as determined to be required during the application conference and the review for completeness:
(a) The location and dimension of property boundaries and the location, name, surface type and width of public and private streets, pedestrian ways, driveways and any off-street parking, along with a north point and indication of scale;
(b) The accurate location and outline of the exterior walls of all existing buildings and structures, if any, with the square footages, uses and heights of each clearly noted. Include setback dimensions for front, side and rear yards;
(c) The site plan shall conceptually illustrate the location of existing major site features, including water courses, topography for sites having slopes in excess of 5%, rock outcroppings, drainage swales, springs, woodlands and other physical features which may influence future site layout and design. If there are any special or unusual seismic, soil or geologic conditions on the site, a written disclosure to that effect must accompany the application;
(d) Street light, fire hydrant, water, sanitary sewer and storm drain locations within 100 feet of the subject property. Show direction of flow for the site;
(e) Wells, septic tanks and drainfields, if applicable;
(f) Flood elevation of 100-year floodplain or floodway, if applicable;
(g) Zoning, total land area; section lines, corners, city boundaries, monuments and lot; and block dimensions and identifying numbers;
(h) Location and purpose of easements, if applicable; and
(i) Title block with section, township and range; street address; title of proposal; names of applicant and owner; name and stamp of person preparing the plan (if applicable); and date of drawing.
(10) An application fee for processing all applications shall be charged by the city. No part of any application fee is refundable. Application fees shall be established by resolution of the City Council. Fees shall not exceed the actual average cost of processing services incurred by the city.
(11) Legal description of the existing property.
(12) Mark the location of the proposal on the vicinity map available from the city offices.
(13) A copy of any covenants, conditions and restrictions applicable to the subject property.
(14) (a) At the time an application is made to divide a parcel into any number of lots, a conversion plan must also be submitted if the parcel will have additional division potential after the current proposal is completed. This conversion plan requirement does not apply to commercially or industrially zoned property. The conversion plan must show how the parcel can be ultimately divided into the maximum practical number of lots allowed by the zoning.
(b) The conversion plan must provide all of the graphic information required for a land subdivision or a partition, as applicable, based on the ultimate number of lots allowable under the zoning. The conversion plan must show how the presently proposed division will be compatible with the allowable ultimate land division. The conversion plan must be simultaneously recorded with the approved partition plat and shall be binding unless amended with the Planning Commission’s approval.
(15) (a) Processing a land division may be subject to the expedited procedures put forth in O.R.S. 197.360 if requested by the applicant. A decision by the local governing body must be reached within 63 days of receipt of a completed application based on whether it satisfies the substantive requirements of this chapter. Appeal procedures for expedited land divisions are contained in O.R.S. 197.375.
(b) Processing a commercial land partition proposal is a quasi-judicial action requiring discretionary decision-making. Commercial land partition approval is a land use decision and subject to the procedures established by O.R.S. 197.763. The Planning Commission has the authority to base its decision on the evidence and interpretation of city’s Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinance criteria and standards.
(c) Within 30 days of the receipt of the completed partition application, the City Planner shall distribute copies thereof to appropriate offices and agencies, and property owners within the distance, as described in § 152.004, for their review. Not more than 15 days thereafter, such copies shall be returned to the City Planning Department, together with any comments or information they City Planner deems necessary. Upon receipt of this information, the planning staff shall transmit to the Planning Commission, or handle internally for administrative processing, a written report and recommendation including available reports and recommendation of the City Engineer and/or other affected agencies.
(d) After receipt of the report, the City Planning Commission shall take action on the proposed partition at a regular meeting, or city staff shall handle the process administratively, as directed by § 152.004.
(e) If an application is incomplete, the city shall notify the applicant in writing of exactly what information is missing within 30 days of receipt of the application and allow the applicant to submit the missing information. The applicant has 180 days from the date of initial submission to submit all additional information. The application shall be deemed complete for purposes of this subsection upon receipt by the city of the missing information.
(f) The application must meet all of the following objective criteria.
1. The application does not violate any city or state regulations, including, but not limited to, lot configuration requirements, unimpeded drainage, accessibility by public utilities and vehicular/foot traffic and zoning requirements.
2. The project is compatible and suitable within the context of its surroundings. This shall include, but not be limited to, consideration of human scale, street scape, landscaping and any noise and lighting impacts.
3. The development will be compatible with the use or character of any adjacent resource land.
4. Development conforms to or minimally alters existing topographic features and seeks to preserve natural features. Development in areas adjacent to streams and those characterized by erosive slopes has been limited to the extent necessary to minimize risk to acceptable levels, as determined by the city’s Comprehensive Plan or, where objective levels are not available, as determined by the Planning Commission.
5. Natural wildlife habitats and wetlands have been identified, preserved and protected.
6. Adjoining land under the same or separate ownership can either be developed or be provided access that will allow its development in accordance with the city’s Comprehensive Plan and this Code, and with the county’s Comprehensive Plan and Code, where applicable.
7. After partition, all lots must directly access a public street with a minimum frontage dimension determined in § 152.052, except a flag lot as provided below.
8. For commercial land to be eligible for a land partition, the applicant must submit a legitimate development proposal to substantiate the need for the partition and the ability of the resulting parcels to provide adequate off-street parking and loading. If the city grants the partition and the development is not effectuated to an agreed upon point of construction within 180 days, the land reverts to the original configuration.
(16) (a) If the original lot cannot be otherwise divided separately or in conjunction with adjoining lots and it can be demonstrated and guaranteed through a recorded building envelope that the building site of the rear lot will be within 200 feet of an existing street, a deep lot may be split into a front and rear lot, creating a maximum of one flag lot. The length, width and yard dimensions of each resulting lot must be at least the minimum required in the zoning district, with the front lot retaining a minimum lot depth of 100 feet.
(b) The rear lot must have an access to the street that is at least 20 feet wide with 20 feet of frontage and a maximum length of 150 feet. The “flagpole” access must be conveyed with ownership of the rear lot and be an integral part of the rear lot.
(c) The driveway access shall be improved to a permanent surface of asphaltic concrete, Portland cement or similar surface acceptable to the fire district with a minimum width of 15 feet. However, in order to minimize the number of parallel driveways accessing a public street, shared access agreements benefitting two adjacent parcels shall be encouraged, particularly where two accesses are less than 50 feet apart.
(d) The partition must still comply with the legal frontage requirement. However, the improvement requirement may be waived for the shorter driveway of two parcels sharing such an agreement.
(e) In granting a permit, the Planning Commission may impose such reasonable conditions or limitations as it deems necessary to assure compliance with Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinance criteria and standards. The Planning Commission may require dedication of land and easements, and may specify conditions or modifications in the drawing to facilitate development, including, but not limited to, deed restrictions and constructed improvements. Any conditioned changes shall be reviewed by the City Planner or his or her designee, prior to recording the final partition plat
(17) (a) Approval. Approved partitions shall be signed by the Planning Commission Chairperson or designee. The date of approval and any conditions attached to the approval must be completed prior to final approval.
(b) Appeal. Decisions made by the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council in accordance with § 152.076.
(c) Filing of partition map. A partition plat conforming to all applicable provisions of O.R.S. Chapter 92: Approval of Plans, Plats; O.R.S. Chapter 209: County Surveyors; and other applicable O.R.S. requirements must be prepared under the direction of and bear the seal of a licensed professional land surveyor. Prior to recording, the survey must be monumented. If the surveyor finds a discrepancy in a previous survey, the discrepancy must be corrected as part of the partition process. Signatures of all property owners whose properties are directly affected by the partition must be included on the application map.
(d) Filing approved plat. Within 180 days after the partition has been approved by the Planning Commission, all improvements must be completed and two blueline copies of the indelibly inscribed and recorded partition plat, with the approval date and a reference adequately directing the reader to the file where conditions of approval are stored, are to be delivered to the city. If the improvements have not been completed or the two copies of the partition plat are not submitted, then the partition plat shall become null and void. The Planning Commission may extend a partition approval for an additional period of up to one year.
(D) Property line adjustments.
(1) Area of application. A property line adjustment is a change to a property boundary that only modifies existing lots and does not create a new parcel of land or reduce the number of lots.
(2) Standards.
(a) A property line adjustment cannot create or vacate a parcel. Creation or vacation of a parcel requires a separate approval process by the city.
(b) Following the property line adjustment, all lots must comply with lot size and dimensional standards of the applicable land use district. For non-conforming lots, the adjustment shall not increase the degree of non-conformance of the subject property or surrounding properties.
(c) If there are existing structures on the parcels, the lot property line adjustment may not result in a setback violation.
(3) Submittal requirements. The following information and material must be submitted by the applicant.
(a) Applications for property line adjustments shall be submitted on forms provided by the city to the City Planner and accompanied by the appropriate fee. The application must be signed by the owners of all lots affected by the application.
(b) All applicants shall submit to the city information and materials consistent with the requirements of this section.
1. Completed application form. The applicant must submit a completed application form signed by the owner of record of the real property covered by the application. If more than one ownership is involved, the applicant shall submit a signed notarized statement from each property owner agreeing to participate in the project as a group. An application form may also be signed by the duly authorized representative of the record owner if such authorization is evidenced by a properly executed power of attorney.
2. a. Site plan. A site plan is required only to the extent necessary to adequately and reasonably permit findings that the provisions of this chapter have been met. The City Planner is empowered to waive the submittal of any of the following site plan items, which are deemed unnecessary or inapplicable based on the nature, scope and significance of the proposed project. Waiver of application items, if any, shall occur following an application conference. If the City Planner position is vacant, all application materials must be submitted.
b. Site plan details. The applicant shall submit three copies of a site plan, accurately drawn to a scale of sufficient size to illustrate the following site plan details as determined to be required during the application conference and the review for completeness:
i. The location and dimension of property boundaries and the location, name, surface type and width of public and private streets, pedestrian ways, driveways and any off-street parking, along with a north point and indication of scale;
ii. The accurate location and outline of the exterior walls of all existing buildings and structures, if any, with the square footages, uses and heights of each clearly noted. Include setback dimensions for front, side and rear yards;
iii. The site plan shall conceptually illustrate the location of existing major site features, including water courses, topography for sites having slopes in excess of 5%, rock outcroppings, drainage swales, springs, woodlands and other physical features which may influence future site layout and design. If there are any special or unusual seismic, soil or geologic conditions on the site, a written disclosure to that effect must accompany the application;
iv. Street light, fire hydrant, water, sanitary sewer and storm drain locations within 100 feet of the subject property. Show direction of flow for the site;
v. Wells, septic tanks and drainfields, if applicable;
vi. Flood elevation of 100-year floodplain or floodway, if applicable;
vii. Zoning, total land area; section lines, corners, city boundaries, monuments and lot and block dimensions and identifying numbers;
viii. Location and purpose of easements, if applicable; and
ix. Title block with section, township and range; street address; title of proposal; names of applicant and owner; name and stamp of person preparing the plan (if applicable); and date of drawing.
c. Application fee. An application fee for processing all applications shall be charged by the city. No part of any application fee is refundable. Application fees shall be established by resolution of the City Council. Fees shall not exceed the actual average cost of processing services incurred by the city.
d. Description. Legal description of the existing property.
e. Vicinity map. Mark the location of the proposal on the vicinity map available from the city offices.
f. Deed restrictions. A copy of any covenants, conditions and restrictions applicable to the subject property.
(c) 1. At the time an application is made to adjust property lines, a conversion plan must also be submitted if the parcel will have additional division potential after the current proposal is completed. This conversion plan requirement does not apply to commercially or industrially zoned property. The conversion plan must show how the parcel can be ultimately divided into the maximum practical number of lots allowed by the zoning.
2. The conversion plan must provide all of the graphic information required for a land subdivision or a partition, as applicable, based on the ultimate number of lots allowable under the zoning. The conversion plan must show how the presently proposed division will be compatible with the allowable ultimate land division. The conversion plan must be simultaneously recorded with the approved map of adjustment and shall be binding unless amended with the Planning Commission approval.
(d) Incomplete application. If an application is incomplete, the city shall notify the applicant in writing of exactly what information is missing within 30 days of receipt of the application and allow the applicant to submit the missing information. The applicant has 180 days from the date of initial submission to submit all additional information. The application shall be deemed complete for purposes of this subsection upon receipt by the city of the missing information.
(4) Review process. A property line adjustment is subject to City Planner review. Processing a property line adjustment permit is an administrative action that does not require discretionary decision-making. If the application fails to comply with all objective criteria for a property line adjustment, the permit must be denied. The application must meet all of the following objective criteria.
(a) The application does not violate any city or state regulations, including, but not limited to, lot configuration requirements, unimpeded drainage, accessibility by public utilities and vehicular/foot traffic and zoning requirements.
(b) The drawing is technically correct and the map of survey conforms with the approved site plan.
(c) After property line adjustment, all lots must directly access either a public street or an
easement that benefitted the subject property(s) prior to the property line adjustment.
(5) Effectiveness. After a property line adjustment is approved, the new boundary becomes effective only after the following steps are completed:
(a) A metes and bounds legal description of the adjusted lots is recorded with the County Clerk; and
(b) As required by O.R.S. Chapter 92, a final plat of survey is prepared and all new boundaries are monumented, as required by O.R.S. Chapters 92 and 209. The final plat is submitted to the city for signatures. After signatures are received, the applicant files the final plat in the County Surveyor’s office and returns three copies to the city.
(E) Subdivision of land. A land subdivision is the division of one lot into four or more lots or any division that will create a street. The land subdivision is used in situations where substantial engineering and improvement work will need to be done.
(1) Application conference.
(a) It is in the best interests of the city to provide planning services that assist applicants in constructing appropriate developments. In that spirit, the city requires that, prior to filing an application, a prospective applicant shall hold an application conference with the City Planner or his or her designee.
(b) The purpose of an application conference is to provide advice to prospective applicants, regarding compliance with the purpose and requirements of this chapter, and to determine which application materials must be submitted to constitute a complete application.
(2) Application requirements. All applicants shall submit to the city information and materials consistent with the requirements of this section. The City Planner is empowered to waive the submittal of any of the following application items, except filing fees, which are deemed unnecessary or inapplicable based on the nature, scope and significance of the proposed project. Waiver of application items, if any, shall only occur following an application conference. If the City Planner position is vacant, all application materials must be submitted.
(3) Completed application form. The applicant must submit a completed application form signed by the owner of record of the real property covered by the application. If more than one ownership is involved, the applicant shall submit a signed notarized statement from each property owner agreeing to participate in the project as a group. An application form may also be signed by the duly authorized representative of the record owner if such authorization is evidenced by a properly executed power of attorney.
(4) Tentative Plan. The applicant shall submit 20 copies of the plan on sheets not less than 18 inches by 24 inches at a scale of one inch equals 50 feet with the following information:
(a) Proposed name and the title “Tentative Plan”. The name shall not be similar to or pronounced the same as the name of any other subdivision in the county, except as provided in O.R.S. 92.090;
(b) The name, address and telephone number of property owner(s), preparer of plan, surveyor and engineers. The stamp of the registered professional preparer of the plan shall also be clearly indicated, along with the date the plan was prepared;
(c) Boundary lines (to scale) of the tract to be divided. This shall include section lines, corners, city boundaries, monuments and lot and block dimensions and other identifying numbers as deemed necessary. The plan shall also include a north arrow and the zoning of the subject and adjacent properties. Location by section, township, range and tax lot sufficient to define the location and boundaries of the proposed tract shall be called out in the title block;
(d) A vicinity sketch shown on the plat at a small scale (i.e., one inch equals 400 feet), showing all existing and adjacent subdivisions, streets, tract lines of acreage parcels, names of the recorded owners of parcels of land immediately adjoining the land to be divided, including properties across a street, and between it and the nearest existing or proposed public road;
(e) Topographic contour lines having the following minimum intervals:
Overall Site Elevation Difference | Contour Interval |
0 feet to 25 feet | 2 feet |
26 feet to 50 feet | 5 feet |
51+ feet | 10 feet |
With slopes indicated as follows: Slopes 12% to 20% light shading. Slopes exceeding 20% heavy shading. |
(f) The existing uses of the property, including scaled location and present use of all existing structures with an indication as to whether they will remain on the property after platting. The accurate location and outline of the exterior watts of all existing (dotted line) and proposed (solid line) buildings and structures, with the square footages, uses and heights of each shall be clearly noted. Include setback dimensions for front, side and rear yards;
(g) The general type, size and location of existing (dotted line) and proposed (solid line) trees, shrubs and ground cover, including the location, height and type of trees having a caliper of one and one-half inches or greater measured four feet above the base of the tree. Groups of three or more trees with a closed canopy may be indicated using scalloped lines. The landscaping plan shall include a diagram of irrigation system piping and sprinkler locations;
(h) The accurate location, height and dimensions of all signs which are not to be attached to buildings;
(i) Existing (dotted line) and proposed (solid line) exterior walls and fencing, including specification of construction materials and height;
(j) The location and type of all exterior lighting;
(k) The location of existing major site features, including water courses (location, direction and extent of streams and their high banks), wetlands, rock outcroppings, drainage swales, springs, woodlands, significant isolated trees and other natural features which influence site layout and design. Any proposed changes to such site features shall be shown;
(l) The existing drainage demonstrating disposition of storm water runoff and the direction of flow for the site. A drainage plan showing all proposed drainage ways, sized inlets, culverts, drainage lines, drainage easements, disposition of storm water runoff and approximate slopes of drainage channels to demonstrate adequate disposition of storm water runoff. A grading plan is required if more than 100 cubic yards of material will be disturbed. Include slope calculations, contours and erosion control;
(m) The location and elevation of 100-year floodplains or floodways, and all other areas subject to seasonal ponding;
(n) The location of setback lines, along with the location, widths and purpose of all existing or proposed easements on or abutting the tract;
(o) The location and size of all existing and proposed sanitary sewer mains, storm drains, water lines, fire hydrants, street lights and irrigation canals on and within 100 feet of the tract. Include wells, septic tanks and drainfields, if applicable;
(p) The location of waste handling facilities and outdoor storage areas, along with screening technique;
(q) The typical cross-sections of proposed streets, showing all utility improvements proposed within the street right-of-way and adjacent easements at such scale to clearly show the details thereof;
(r) Existing transportation: location, names, surface types, grades, pavement dimensions of public and private streets, pedestrian ways, driveways, alleys, any off-street parking and rights-of-way on and abutting the tract. Source of datum shall be indicated on the plan and shall be acceptable to the review body;
(s) Proposed transportation: location, names, surface types, grades, pavement dimensions of public and private streets, pedestrian ways, driveways, alleys, any off-street parking and rights-of-way on and providing service for the direct benefit of the proposed land division, including approximate radius of curves and grades. Include entry and exit points for motor vehicles and pedestrians using off-street parking areas, and internal circulation patterns, and location of any street plugs required to direct future street extensions;
(t) A future transportation plan: the pattern of future transportation routes from the boundaries of the proposed land division. This pattern must include other tracts within 200 feet of the proposed land division and properties to each side of a proposed route which will primarily benefit the proposed subdivision.
1. A future transportation plan shall not be required for any portion of the area for which a proposed street layout has been established by a Transportation System Plan previously approved by the governing body.
2. The Planning Commission may adopt a future transportation plan submitted by an applicant; provided the transportation plan does not conflict with a Transportation System Plan previously approved by the governing body and contains only local streets.
3. If a future transportation plan submitted by an applicant does conflict with a Transportation System Plan previously approved by the governing body or contains other than local streets, review and adoption of the future transportation plan by the City Council will be required before a tentative plan can be approved.
(u) The numbering, location, dimensions and lot sizes (in square feet or acres) of all proposed lots and blocks;
(v) The building envelopes necessary to show compliance with all setback requirements. Approved building envelopes shall be enforceable and recorded as a supplement to the final plat and/or covenants, conditions and restrictions; and
(w) The locations of all areas to be dedicated or reserved for public use, with the purpose, condition or limitations of such reservations clearly indicated.
(5) Development schedule. The applicant shall submit a construction timeline schedule showing all major events. If the project is to be constructed in phases, a schedule shall be submitted for each phase. Areas designated for staged development shall be indicated on the tentative plan.
(6) Architectural details. The applicant shall submit the details of any structures proposed to be built in conjunction with the proposed subdivision.
(7) Deed restrictions. The applicant shall prepare preliminary covenants, conditions and restrictions (CCRs) that affect all resulting properties. These CCRs shall also establish a homeowners association if necessary to address the development and maintenance of all common areas. The proposed preliminary covenants, conditions and restrictions, once approved, may not be substantially altered when presented back to the city in their final form.
(8) Names and mailing addresses. The applicant shall submit the correct name and mailing address of all fee title holders of real property situated within 300 feet of the outer boundaries of the property covered by the application. The names and mailing addresses shall be submitted on an eight and one-half by 11 inch sheet(s) of peel-and-stick transferable label paper. This information shall be provided to the City Recorder’s office 25 days in advance of the hearing at which the application is scheduled for consideration.
(9) Application fee. The applicant shall pay an application fee for processing all applications. No part of any application fee is refundable. The amount for such fees shall be established by resolution of the City Council. Fees shall not exceed the actual average cost of processing services incurred by the city.
(10) Legal description of the property. The applicant shall submit a land division guarantee issued by a title insurance company in the name of the owner of the land showing all parties whose consent is necessary and their interest in the premise.
(11) Supplemental information. The applicant shall submit the following information.
(a) Land use tabulation:
1. Total site area (acres);
2. Area dedicated to public right-of-way (acres);
3. Useable site area (acres - item (a) minus item (b));
4. Density factor used (du/acre);
5. Minimum allowable dwelling units;
6. Maximum allowable dwelling units (du - item (c) times item (d));
7. Actual dwelling units (du) total, and per stage of development;
8. Area recreation/open space (acres and percentage of useable site); and
9. Area impervious surface (acres, number of parking spaces and percentage of usable).
(b) If the subdivision proposal is adjacent to any resource land, either in the city or in the county, a written mitigation plan is required that describes buffering techniques that will utilize current best management practices.
(c) A written disclosure to that effect that there are no special or unusual seismic, soil or geologic conditions on the site. If there are any such conditions, an engineer’s report and recommendations as to mitigation of those concerns are required.
(d) A written statement that there are no wetlands on the subject. If, when compared to city wetland maps, there are any wetlands identified on or potentially impacted by the tentative plan proposal, the Department of State Lands shall be notified at least 30 days prior to any hearing.
(e) A statement showing the source and availability of the municipal water supply, sanitary sewer, adequate drainage, public parks, schools, transportation facilities and police and fire services. The statement must be accompanied by a certification from the Public Works Director that verifies the statement’s accuracy and that the services contemplated are available and can be furnished without unreasonable detriment to the existing service commitments of the city. In the absence on such certification, the statement shall be deemed insufficient to meet this requirement.
(f) A statement as to how the proposal satisfies all applicable zoning requirements.
(12) Conversion plan requirement.
(a) If the land being subdivided is only a part of the land owned or controlled by the applicant or if the land will have additional division potential after the current proposal is completed, the applicant must submit a conversion plan (shadow plat) for the unsubdivided portion, or convey the remaining development rights on that unsubdivided portion to a disinterested third party.
(b) The conversion plan (shadow plat) must provide all of the graphic information required for a land subdivision above, based on the ultimate practical number of lots allowable under the zoning. The conversion plan (shadow plat) must show the location and gradient of the streets and how they will connect to existing streets and streets proposed for the new subdivision. The conversion plan (shadow plat) must show how the presently proposed division will be compatible with the allowable ultimate land division.
(c) The conversion plan (shadow plat) must be simultaneously recorded with the approved subdivision plat and shall be binding unless amended with the Planning Commission’s approval.
(13) Preparation of tentative plan. The tentative plan must be prepared under the direction of a registered civil engineer or registered surveyor, licensed by the state.
(14) Additional requirements for commercial proposals.
(a) For commercial land to be eligible for a subdivision, the applicant must submit a legitimate development proposal to substantiate the need for the subdivision and the ability of the resulting parcels to provide adequate off-street parking and loading.
(b) The applicant shall submit the following:
1. Parking plan. A parking plan with adequate, convenient, well-marked and safely lighted off-street parking. Include shade trees and landscaping to ameliorate the effect of paved areas. Handicapped access is required. Loading areas must be safely integrated;
2. Pedestrian plan. A pedestrian circulation plan that provides adequate pedestrian access in the vicinity and within the project. The plan must provide hard surfaced, safely lighted walkways suitable for use by the handicapped;
3. Traffic plan. A traffic plan that provides adequate vehicle circulation in the vicinity of and within the project. The traffic plan must coordinate internal and external transportation networks, including bikeways and mass transit, to the extent possible. Traffic noise must be minimized;
4. Loading plan. A plan for loading dock or space that provides adequate room for safe truck backing and turning movements;
5. Landscape plan. A plan for landscaping, including trees, bushes, shrubs, ground cover for site aesthetics, shade, visual buffers, screening, pedestrian paths, pavers, other site features and the like;
6. Public safety plan. A plan for minimizing the likelihood of criminal activity by eliminating areas that are neither clearly private nor clearly public and by using landscaping that allows maximum observation while providing desired aesthetics; and
7. Perimeter plan. A plan for the perimeter of the project to protect adjacent properties from noise, visual incompatibility, light glare, heat pumps, fans or other potential nuisances. This may be accomplished through screening, setbacks, siting or other means.
(15) Determination of a complete application.
(a) Incomplete application. If an application is incomplete, the city shall notify the applicant in writing of exactly what information is missing within 30 days of receipt of the application and allow the applicant to submit the missing information.
(b) Submission. The applicant must submit all additional information 180 days from the date of initial submission. The application shall be deemed complete for purposes of this division (E)(15) upon receipt by the city of the missing information.
(c) Public inspection. The applicant must make available for public inspection at the city offices the complete application and all evidence to be used by the applicant in seeking approval no less than 14 days prior to the first public hearing date regarding the proposal.
(d) Initial submission. Twenty copies of a tentative plan consistent with division (E)(4)(a) through (E)(4)(w) above shall be submitted to the City Planner at least 30 days prior to the meeting of the City Planning Commission.
(e) Preliminary review.
1. Upon receipt of a notice of a complete application within 30 days, accompanied with filing fees, the applicant shall transmit copies of the tentative plan to each of the following:
a. School district;
b. State Department of Transportation (ODOT) if the property abuts a state highway;
c. Electric, telephone, garbage and cable TV utilities;
d. County Surveyor; and
e. Affected governmental agencies and special districts, and others, as determined by the City Planner.
2. Any comments received will be included in the staff report as part of the official record and distributed to the review body.
(f) Report. The City Planner shall prepare a report on the plan findings for submission to the City Planning Commission. The report shall include information on the Comprehensive Plan, Comprehensive Plan background report, zoning, adjoining streets and property, existing sewers, water mains, culverts, electric conduits and other community facilities, in addition to features of the proposal, together with any other data pertinent to the review of the plan.
(h) Planning Commission determination. The City Planning Commission shall determine whether the tentative plan is in conformity with the provisions of the Comprehensive Plan and this chapter.
(16) Limited land use decision. Subdivision approval shall be considered a “limited land use decision” and subject to the procedures established by O.R.S. 197.195. Following review and a recommendation by the City Planner, the Planning Commission shall approve, approve with condition or deny the application based on the evidence and the application of the Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinance criteria.
(17) Proposal presentation. The licensed professional(s) who is retained by the applicant to prepare the application, including the tentative plan, must supervise the presentation of the proposal before the Planning Commission and be available for questioning during the presentation.
(18) Burden of proof. The applicant must produce substantial evidence to support the requisite findings of compliance with all the standards and criteria applicable to subdivisions. As a quasi-judicial process, the Planning Commission shall determine whether the tentative plan is in conformity with the provisions of the Comprehensive Plan and of this chapter.
(a) The review body shall approve, approve with conditions or deny the request, based upon the following criteria:
1. The project will maintain a high quality visual appearance, and to the extent possible, a distinct rural/urban transition at city limits along major city entryways;
2. The project will be compatible with the use or character of any adjacent resource land;
3. The project conforms to or minimally alters existing topographic features and seeks to preserve natural features. Development in areas adjacent to streams and those characterized by erosive slopes has been limited to the extent necessary to minimize risk to acceptable levels as determined by the Comprehensive Plan, or where objective levels are not available, as determined by the Planning Commission;
4. The project identifies, preserves and protects natural wildlife habitats and wetlands;
5. The project demonstrates the adequate availability of the following:
a. Public sanitary sewers;
b. Drainage facilities;
c. Municipal water facilities;
d. Transportation facilities;
e. Police and fire services;
f. Public elementary schools; and
g. Improved parks or recreation facilities.
6. Alternately, the applicant agrees to provide, concurrent with the subdivision development, such improvements as would bring any inadequate facilities and services to the level necessary to accommodate the project;
7. The project’s proposed transportation plan affords the most economic, safe, efficient and least environmentally damaging circulation of people, goods and information and layout of utilities and parking possible;
8. The project, through sensitive housing and site design, minimizes the cost of housing and barriers to the handicapped;
9. The project demonstrates that adjoining land under the same or separate ownership can either be developed or be provided access that will allow its development, in accordance with the city’s Comprehensive Plan and this Code, and with the county’s Comprehensive Plan and Code, where applicable; and
10. The project complies with all design standards contained in this chapter and applicable portions of the Comprehensive Plan, this Code, and state and federal laws.
(b) In granting a land subdivision permit, the Planning Commission may impose such reasonable conditions or limitations as it deems necessary to assure compliance with Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinance criteria and standards, or state and federal laws. The Planning Commission may require dedication of land and easements, and may specify conditions or modifications in the drawing to facilitate development, including, but not limited to, deed restrictions and constructed on-site and off-site improvements. All conditions of approval shall be satisfied prior to final plat approval unless otherwise specified by the review body.
(c) If the City Planning Commission does not approve the plan, it shall state the reasons for denial. The action of the Planning Commission shall be noted on two copies of the tentative plan, including any conditions attached thereto. The Planning Commission shall retain one copy and the other returned to the subdivider. An appeal to the City Council of a Planning Commission decision may be made consistent with § 152.076.
(19) Revised tentative plan. Prior to receiving a development permit for the tentative plan, the applicant shall submit a revised plan to the Planning Commission, demonstrating compliance with the conditions of tentative plan approval. The review body may waive this requirement if no significant modifications are required. Any significant modifications must be approved by the Planning Commission.
(20) Filing tentative plan. After the tentative plan has been approved, or approved as revised, two copies are to be indelibly inscribed with the approval date and a reference adequately directing the reader to any documents that describe conditions of approval. One copy of the inscribed tentative plan is to be given to the applicant and one copy is to be filed with the City Recorder.
(21) Expiration of tentative plan.
(a) Within 18 months following the effective date of approval of a tentative plan, improvements must be completed and the final plat shall be submitted to the City Planner and shall incorporate any modification or condition required by the approval of the tentative plan. If the improvements have not been completed or the final plat has not been submitted for approval, then the tentative plan shall become null and void.
(b) The Planning Commission may extend the validity for good cause for one additional year. An extension must be applied for in writing before the original 18 months expire. Upon granting such an extension, the City Planner shall make written findings that the facts upon which the approval was based have not changed to an extent sufficient to warrant taking the tentative plan back through the application process and that no other development approval would be affected.
(22) Staged development. When an applicant desires to record and develop subdivision plats in stages, the reviewing body may authorize a time for the submittal of the final plat and development in various stages. The time period may exceed one year, but, in no case, shall the total time period for all stages exceed five years without resubmission of the tentative plan application for review and approval. Each stage so platted and developed shall conform to the applicable requirements of this Code. Stages platted after one year are subject to further review against current standards for compliance with modifications or any changes in the Comprehensive Plan or implementing regulations.
(23) Preparation of final plat. The subdivision final plat must be prepared under the direction of, and bear the seal of, a licensed professional land surveyor. All subdivisions shall be surveyed by a registered professional land surveyor, setting lawfully approved monuments at all the parcel corners. If the surveyor finds a discrepancy in a previous survey, the discrepancy must be corrected as part of the subdivision process. Signatures of all property owners whose properties are altered by the subdivision must be included on the final plat.
(a) Within 18 months after approval of the tentative plan, the subdivider or land divider shall cause the proposed subdivision, or any part thereof, to be surveyed and a plat thereof prepared in conformance with the tentative plan as approved or conditionally approved, unless an extension is requested in writing and granted by the Planning Commission.
1. A request for extension must be submitted prior to the expiration of 18 months, as described in division (E)(21) above.
2. An original drawing and five blue line or black line prints of the plat shall be submitted to the City Recorder.
(b) A subdivision final plat must subsequently be approved if it is substantially the same as the approved tentative plan and complies with all other city and state requirements.
(24) Determining complete submittal and general conformance. Within 18 months of tentative plan approval, or not later than the extension date authorized by the Planning Commission, a final plat shall be submitted to the City Planner for review and processing. With 30 days of submission, the City Planner shall determine whether or not the application is complete and the final plat generally conforms with the approved tentative plan and conforms with the applicable requirements of this Code. If the City Planner determines that generally the final plat fails to conform, or if the required supplemental information required is inadequate, then the applicant shall be advised and afforded an opportunity of up to 30 days to make corrections.
(a) Information on final plat. At the time of submittal of the final plat, all required materials and required fees shall be accepted by the City Planner prior to review of the final plat. The final plat shall be prepared under the supervision of a licensed professional land surveyor and contain the following information, along with any additional information required by O.R.S. Chapter 92, § 209.250 and other applicable O.R.S. statutes:
1. The date, north arrow and scale;
2. Legal description of the tract boundaries;
3. Name of the owner or owners, subdividers and engineer or surveyor;
4. Reference points of existing surveys identified, related to the plat by distances and bearings, and referenced to a field book or map as follows:
a. Stakes, monuments or other evidence found on the ground and used to determine the boundaries of the subdivision;
b. Adjoining corners of adjoining subdivisions;
c. City boundary lines when crossing or adjacent to the subdivision; and
d. Other monuments found or established in making the survey of the subdivision or required to be installed by provisions of this chapter.
5. The exact location and width of streets and easements intercepting the boundary of the tract;
6. Tract, block and lot or parcel boundary lines and street right-of-way and centerlines, with dimensions, bearings or deflection angles, radii, arcs, points or curvature and tangent bearings. Approximate high water lines and high banks for any creek, lake or other body of water. Tract boundaries and street bearings shall be shown to the nearest 30 seconds with bases of bearings. Distances shall be shown to the nearest 0.01 feet. No ditto marks shall be used;
7. The width of the portion of streets being dedicated and the width of existing right-of-way. For streets on a curvature which are being dedicated, curve data shall be based on the street centerline dimensions, the radius and central angle shall be indicated;
8. Easements denoted by fine dotted lines, clearly identified and, if already of record, their recorded reference. New easements shall be referenced in the owner’s certificates of dedication;
9. Lot numbers beginning with the number “1” and numbered consecutively;
10. The area of each lot or parcel which is one acre or larger to the nearest hundredth of an acre. If less than one acre, the area to the nearest square foot;
11. Block numbers in any addition in the subdivision of the same name shall be a continuation of the numbering in the original subdivision. No other block numbers shall be used;
12. Identification of land to be dedicated for any purpose, public or private, to distinguish it from lots or parcels intended for sale. The following phrasing shall be used when identifying open space dedications.
a. “Common open space” shall be used to identify those parcels of land created for the purpose of common ownership, enjoyment and maintenance by an approved Homeowners’ Association group or is listed as being held in common ownership, with appropriate deed restrictions and responsibilities, by owners of property within the subdivision.
b. “Public open space” shall be used when identifying those parcels of land dedicated in fee simple to the city or the county for open space purposes.
c. “Open space or landscape easement” shall be used to identify that portion of a lot or lots that has established an open space or landscape easement agreement with the city, or a Homeowners’ Association.
13. The following certificates which may be combined where appropriate:
a. A certificate signed and acknowledged by all parties having any proprietary interest in the land, consenting to the preparation and recording of the final plat;
b. A certificate signed and acknowledged as above, dedicating all lots for land shown on the final plat intended for the exclusive use of the owners in the subdivision, their licensees, visitors, tenants and servants;
c. A certificate conforming to O.R.S. 92.060 through 92.070 with the seal and signature of the surveyor responsible for the survey and final plat;
d. A certificate or transfer deed signed by all parties having any proprietary interest in the land, dedicating to the public all streets and roads, without any reservation or restriction other than reversionary rights upon vacation of any such street or road, and easement for public utilities; and
e. Other certifications now or hereafter required by law.
14. A statement of water rights noted on the subdivision plat together with the water rights certificate number, if applicable;
15. The city may require, through the terms of approval, additional notes to be placed on the face of the plat, including, but not limited to, restrictions, notices and special conditions which are peculiar to the subdivision. The city shall not require that the plat show graphically any information or requirement that is, or may be, subject to administrative change or variance;
16. As required by the City Planner, the applicant must submit:
a. A subdivision guarantee issued by a title insurance company in the name of the owner of the land, showing all parties whose consent is necessary and their interest in the premises, and written documentation stating that all taxes and assessments are paid to date. The report must not be more than 30 days old at the time it is submitted;
b. A copy of all final conditions, covenants and deed restrictions applicable to the subdivision;
c. A copy of all dedication agreement requiring separate documents;
d. Contracts with the private companies that will install public utilities and improvements;
e. Mylar sheets and drawings showing the following:
i. Traverse data including the coordinates of the boundary of the subdivision and ties to section corners and donation land claim corners, and showing the error of closure, if any;
ii. The computation of distances, angles and courses shown on the plat;
iii. Ties to existing monuments, proposed monuments, adjacent subdivision, street corners and street highway stationing; and
iv. Floodway or 100-year floodplain designation, as applicable.
f. Building envelope and/or setback lines, if any, are to be made a part of the subdivision or deed restrictions;
g. Any and all instruments of improvement guarantees, including warranty bonds; and
h. Payment of 110% in advance of all outstanding inspection fees incurred by the city and bonding for 110% of all estimated inspection fees that are likely to be incurred by the city with any remaining work yet to be completed.
17. a. On the same day the applicant submits the application to the city, the applicant must also mail or deliver copies of the application to each of the following:
i. School district;
ii. State Department of Transportation if the property abuts a state highway;
iii. Electric, garbage, telephone and cable TV utilities;
iv. County Surveyor; and
v. Affected governmental agencies and special districts, and others, as determined by the City Planner.
b. Any comments received will be included in the staff report as part of the official record and distributed to the review body.
18. Upon receipt of the final plat and accompanying data, the City Planner shall review the plat and documents to determine that it conforms to the proposed tentative plan. The City Planner shall review the final plat and shall state findings on whether to approve or deny the request. A denial of the final plat shall render the tentative plan void;
19. The City Planner shall approve or deny the request based upon the following criteria.
a. The final plat must be accompanied by application must contain all of the final plat and all of the supplemental information asked for in this chapter.
b. The layout shown on the subdivision plat must be substantially the same as the layout approved for the tentative plan.
c. The subdivision plat must be technically correct.
d. All required off-site and on-site improvements and other conditions of approval have been satisfied or guaranteed.
20. Processing a subdivision final plat is an administrative action that does not require discretionary decision-making. The application for final plat and all required material is judged solely on its merits by the City Planner. If the application fails to comply with all objective criteria, the subdivision final plat must be denied;
21. Following the final action of approval by the City Planner, the applicant shall obtain the following signatures on the original of the final plat:
a. The County Surveyor;
b. The director of any special district (such as fire) shown on the final plat;
c. The County Assessor certifying that all taxes on the property have been paid or bonded for in accordance with state law;
d. The City Administrative Services Department certifying that all fees, charges and special assessments on the property have been paid;
e. Following divisions (E)(24)(a)21.a. through (E)(24)(a)21.d. above, the review authority of the final plat, and other officials as required by law; and
f. Following division (E)(24)(a)21.e. above, the City Planning Commission.
22. At the applicant’s expense, a City Engineer or Surveyor may examine the plat for compliance with requirements for accuracy and completeness and shall collect such fees as are provided by state law. He or she may make checks in the field to verify that the map is sufficiently correct on the ground, and he or she may enter the property for this purpose. If he or she determines that there has not been full conformity, he or she shall advise the subdivider of the changes or additions that must be made and afford the subdivider an opportunity to make such changes or additions; and
23. If the engineer determines that full conformity has been made, he or she shall so certify and transmit the plat to the Planning Commission.
(b) Final plat approval of City Planning Commission/City Manager or designate. If the City Planning Commission determines that the plat conforms to all requirements, it shall approve the same, but before certifying its approval thereon, it shall be required that the subdivider file the agreement and bond, or make the deposit as required in § 152.052 (Site Development Standards) and when the agreement and bond have been filed as approved and prescribed, the City Planning Commission approval shall be endorsed upon the plat by execution of the appropriate certificate as prescribed by law. The approval of the plat does not constitute or affect an acceptance by the public of the dedication of any street or other easement shown on the plat.
(c) Filing of final plat. After obtaining all required approvals and signatures, the developer shall:
1. Within 90 days, file the plat with the County Recorder. Failure to file within 90 days will render the final plat null and void, and will require resubmission of the tentative plan in the same manner as a new tentative plan; and
2. File one print each of the approved and recorded plat with the City Planner and the City Engineer.
(d) Record of approval. Approval of the plat shall be null and void if the plat is not recorded within 90 days after the date the last required approving signature has been obtained.
(25) Appeal.
(a) A person may appeal to the City Council a decision or requirement of the Planning Commission. Written notice of the appeal must be based on criteria and filed with the city within ten days after the notice of decision has been mailed. The notice of appeal shall state the nature of the decision or requirement and the grounds for the appeal.
(F) Planned unit development (PUD).
(1) Purpose. To encourage development of large land areas as planned building groups by making possible greater variety, functionality and diversification in the location and orientation of buildings and open spaces. PUD proposal must serve at least three of the below purposes:
(a) Promote creative and imaginative design for urban development in a way that is more compatible with the natural topography;
(b) Promote the preservation of important natural features, view sheds and scenic qualities of the land;
(c) Promote a mixture of housing types;
(d) Promote a more economic and efficient use of urbanizable land while integrating with the surrounding neighborhood and not compromising the public health, safety or general welfare;
(e) Promote clustering of housing to preserve open space, historic and heritage resources and limit the amount of key facilities or infrastructure to service the development;
(f) Promote a mixture of land use types that are thoughtfully planned and integrated;
(g) Promote the development public utilization and appropriate maintenance of open spaces and other elements intended for common use and ownership;
(h) Provide opportunities to further the objectives and policies of the city’s Comprehensive Plan;
(i) Promote the use of energy-efficient, sustainable development; and
(j) Promote construction of pedestrian ways including internal pedestrian circulation.
(2) Application requirements. The owner or his or her agent may make application for planned unit development approval by filing an application with the city. When an application is submitted for a planned development, the following items will be submitted:
(a) A filing fee in an amount established by general resolution of the City Council. No part of the fee shall be refundable;
(b) A current assessor’s map with the boundaries of the proposed PUD identified;
(c) All applications shall be accompanied by a general development plan (12 copies). Additionally, such plans shall include preliminary plans for the provision of public access, water and sanitary sewer service and a proposal for the PUD’s operative covenants, codes and restrictions (CCRs). The applicant shall also submit one copy of the preliminary PUD plan which has been reduced to a size suitable for photocopy reproduction;
(d) If a tentative plan for a land division is submitted concurrently with a preliminary PUD plan, the preliminary PUD plan and tentative plan shall be on separate sheets, with the tentative plan submitted in accordance with the application requirements of division (E) above;
(e) The following quantitative data is required:
1. Total number and type of dwelling units;
2. Parcel sizes;
3. Proposed lot coverage of buildings and structures;
4. Approximate residential densities; total amount of open space (including separate figures for common open space and usable open space); and
5. The total amount of non-residential acreage (including a separate figure for commercial and industrial acreage).
(f) A development schedule shall be submitted for each phase. Areas designated for staged development shall be indicated on the tentative plan. The schedule shall indicates the approximate date when construction of a planned unit development is expected to begin and end, or if developed in phases, the development schedule for each phase shall be keyed to a plan that indicates phasing boundaries. The schedule coordinates the improvement of the common open space, and the construction of buildings and other structures in the common open space with the construction of the primary structures in the planned unit development;
(g) A site plan and any maps necessary to show the major details of the proposed planned development must contain the following minimum information:
1. The existing site conditions, including contours at two-foot intervals, shorelines, floodplains, unique natural features and forest cover;
2. A grading plan for the site showing future contours if the existing grade is to be changed by more than two feet;
3. Proposed lot lines and other divisions of land for management, use or allocation purposes;
4. The approximate location of present and proposed buildings and structures;
5. The location and size of all areas proposed to be conveyed, dedicated or reserved for streets, parks, playgrounds, public and semi-public buildings and similar uses;
6. The existing and proposed vehicular circulation system including off-street parking and loading areas;
7. The existing and proposed pedestrian circulation system, including its interrelationships with the vehicular circulation system, indicating proposed treatments of points of conflict;
8. The existing and proposed utility systems including sanitary sewers, storm sewers and water, electric, gas and telephone lines;
9. Enough information on land areas adjacent to the proposed development to indicate the relationship between the proposed development and existing and proposed adjacent areas, including land uses, zoning classifications, densities, circulation systems, public facilities and unique natural features of the landscape;
10. The proposed treatment of the perimeter of the development, including materials and techniques used such as screens, fences and walls; and
11. Any additional information as required by the review authority necessary to evaluate the character and impact of the proposed development. When the approval of architectural plans for buildings has been proposed, the preliminary PUD plan shall show the footprint of planned buildings in conceptual form and indicate their approximate height(s). Such building envelopes shall reasonably anticipate and separately define the maximum extent of the footprint for each building in the PUD.
(h) A narrative description of the PUD shall cover the following:
1. The nature, planned use, future ownership and method of perpetual maintenance of accessways and land to be left in natural or developed open space or which is otherwise to be held in common ownership;
2. A listing of all deviations from the strict provisions of this Code by citing each provision of the Code to be deviated from, followed by a brief explanation which covers the nature and extent of the deviation;
3. A proposed development schedule which indicates the approximate date when construction of the PUD is expected to begin and end. If the PUD will be developed in phases, the development schedule for each phase shall be keyed to a plan that indicates PUD phasing boundaries; and
4. Such other pertinent information shall be included as may be considered necessary by the Planning Commission to make a determination that the contemplated arrangement or use makes it necessary and desirable to adopt regulations and requirements differing from those ordinarily applicable under this chapter.
(i) Written findings of fact and conclusions of law which address the approval criteria; and
(j) The names and mailing addresses of the owners of property which are located within 200 feet of the exterior boundary of the whole PUD. The names and mailing addresses shall be typed on mailing labels.
(3) Limitation on application. No application shall be accepted for a use which will require a change of zoning district, unless said application is accompanied by an application for a zoning amendment as set forth in § 152.004.
(a) Applicability of planned unit development regulations. The requirements for a planned unit development set forth in this section are in addition to the conditional use procedures and standards of § 152.071.
(b) PUD approval process. Approval of a PUD shall be a two-step process involving approval of a preliminary PUD plan as the first step and approval of a final PUD plan as the second step. Where use is made of the planned unit development process as provided in this section, no building or other permit shall be issued for such development or part thereof until the Planning Commission has approved said development.
(c) Findings for project approval. The Planning Commission shall approve a planned unit development only if it finds that the planned unit development will satisfy the criteria of this section including the following.
1. The applicant has, through investigation, planning and programming, demonstrated the soundness of the proposal, the fact that it will result in a safe, functional and attractive development, and the ability to carry out the project as proposed.
2. The proposal conforms with all requirements found in §§ 152.052 and 152.070 that are relevant to the property or properties upon which that development proposal is located or to the off-site facilities and services which are affected by the proposal, and any other implementing ordinances of the city in terms of location and general development standards, except those for which a specific deviation has been approved under this section.
3. The project shall accrue benefits to the city and the general public in accordance with this section sufficient to offset any requested deviations to the zoning district.
4. The project will satisfactorily take care of the traffic it generates by means of adequate off-street parking, access points and additional street rights-of-way improvements.
5. The project will be compatible with the adjacent natural environment and resource areas, and shall complement the character of the area.
6. a. The property is or can be supplied, at the time of development, with the following types of public facilities that are determined to be sufficient in their condition and capacity to support development of the property as anticipated by the PUD:
i. Public sanitary sewerage collection facilities;
ii. Public domestic water distribution facilities;
iii. Storm drainage facilities;
iv. Public streets; and
v. Parks and recreational facilities.
b. In instances where the Planning Commission determines that there is insufficient public facility capacity to support the development of a whole PUD project, nothing in this criterion shall prevent the approval of early phase of a PUD which can be supplied with adequate public facilities.
7. In the case of proposed commercial developments, that such development is needed at the proposed location to provide adequate commercial facilities of the type proposed; that traffic congestion will not likely be created by the proposed center, or will be obviated by presently proposed improvements and by demonstrable provisions in the plan for proper entrances and exits, and by internal provisions for traffic and parking; that such development will be an attractive and efficient center which will fit harmoniously into and will have minimal adverse effects upon the adjacent or surrounding development.
8. The proposal has met three of the above criteria objectives in division (F)(1) above.
9. Developments shall be designed to provide pedestrian and bicycle access and link with existing and planned pathways.
10. Designs such as detached garages to the rear of the residence shall be encouraged to reduce the conflict between automobiles and pedestrians. If an alley is available, it shall service the detached garage, if traffic impacts on other properties adjacent to the alley can be mitigated. If lot size, shape, topography or traffic circumstances prohibit such relationships or render them impractical, attached garages may be permitted provided that the garage is located at least ten feet behind the front wall of the house.
(d) Potential uses in a residential zone. The following uses are allowed in a residential planned development if the Planning Commission considers them appropriate for the particular development being proposed and if other applicable standards are satisfied:
1. Single-family dwellings, detached or attached, row houses, on individual lots or in cooperative or condominium ownership;
2. Duplexes and triplexes;
3. Multi-family housing developments;
4. Manufactured home, mobile house or modular home;
5. Commercial uses supported mainly by residents of the planned development when such commercial uses require an area no larger than 5% of the area devoted to residential uses; and
6. Non-residential uses permitted in the underlying zone as either an outright use or a conditional use.
(e) Size of the planned unit development site. A tract of land to be developed as a planned unit development shall contain not less than four contiguous acres and be of a configuration that is conducive to a planned unit development.
(f) Density. The density of a planned development shall not exceed the density of the underlying zone, if any, with uses permitted singly or in combination. When calculating density, the gross area of the PUD shall be used (total area including street dedications). Areas of common use may be included in calculating allowable density.
(g) Deviations to be authorized. The Planning Commission may authorize the design and approval of PUD’s which deviate from the strict standards of this Code. It is further provided that the nature and extent of potential Code deviations shall be limited to the limitations, restrictions and design standards which are listed below and pertain to:
1. The size, dimension, location, position and coverage of lots;
2. The location, size, height, yards and setbacks for buildings and other structures;
3. Off-street vehicle parking and loading;
4. Lot frontage, access, buffer yards and agricultural buffering;
5. Streets with respect to length, width, intersection standards, grades, curve radii, turnarounds, easements, street lighting, sidewalks, curbs and driveway approaches for streets within the PUD, provided they allow for adequate fire access;
6. It is further provided that any deviations from the standards adopted in this Code shall be of an equivalent or better structural quality with respect to the amount, quality and installation of construction materials. It is also provided that, when deviations are proposed for the design of streets, the City Engineer shall have sole discretion whether said streets will be accepted as dedicated city streets or shall be held in private ownership and such determination shall be made at the time the preliminary PUD plan is approved. In no instance, shall this section be used to deviate from the standards of this Code, which apply to collector or arterial streets whether such streets occur adjacent to or within the PUD. The overall residential housing density for the entire portion of the PUD, which is devoted to residential uses, may be increased by not more than 35% over the maximum density allowed in the underlying zone. Density bonuses shall be applied in 7% increments by the Planning Commission; satisfied by the applicant’s design;
7. One or more additional uses may be approved without the need to comply with the conditional use permit process or other criteria as part of the PUD provided that the amount of land devoted to uses other than those permitted outright in the underlying zone shall not exceed 20% of the gross acreage of the entire PUD is satisfied; and
8. The percentage of land within the PUD allowed for other uses shall be computed by multiplying the gross area of the PUD by a factor of 0.2 and rounding the result down to the nearest whole number.
(h) Dimensional and bulk standards.
1. The minimum lot area, width, frontage and yard requirements otherwise applying to individual buildings in the zone in which a planned unit development is proposed do not apply within a planned unit development. Such standards may be less than the minimums set forth in this chapter, provided that the residential density, open space and other requirements of this section are satisfied.
2. Other setbacks may be established by the Planning Commission to provide adequate light, ventilation, privacy and other characteristics.
3. If the spacing between main buildings is not equivalent to the spacing, which would be required between buildings similarly developed under this chapter on separate parcels, other design features shall provide light, ventilation and other characteristics equivalent to that obtained from the spacing standards.
4. Buildings, off-street parking and loading facilities, open space, landscaping and screening shall provide protection outside the boundary lines of the development comparable to that otherwise required of development in the zone.
5. The maximum building height shall, in no event, exceed those building heights prescribed in the applicable zoning district in which the planned unit development is proposed, except that a greater height may be approved if surrounding open space within the planned unit development, building setbacks and other design features are used to avoid any adverse impact due to a greater height.
(i) Common areas.
1. In all planned developments, 40% of the total land area shall be devoted to open space. This open space may be in the form of yards, buffers, setbacks, common open areas or recreational facilities. Of this 40%, 75% of this area shall be common or shared open space, and the remaining 25% of said open space may be utilized privately by individual owners or users of the planned development. Notwithstanding the previous standards, the Planning Commission may increase or decrease the open space requirements depending on the particular site and the needs of the development.
2. No open area may be accepted as common open space within a planned unit development unless it meets the following requirements:
a. The location, shape, size and character of the common open space is suitable for the planned development;
b. The common open space is for amenity, recreational or other common functionality purposes and the uses authorized are appropriate to the scale and character of the planned unit development, considering its size, density, expected population, topography and the number and type of dwellings provided;
c. Common open space will be suitably improved for its intended use, except that common open space containing natural features worthy of preservation may be left unimproved. The buildings, structures and improvements to be permitted in the common open space are appropriate to the uses which are authorized for the common open space; and
d. If buildings, structures or other improvements are to be made in the common open space, the developer provides a bond or other adequate assurance that the buildings, structures and improvements will be completed. The City Manager shall release the bond or other assurances when the buildings, structures and other improvements have been completed according to the development plan.
3. Land shown on the final development plan as common open space shall be conveyed under one of the following options:
a. To a public agency, which agrees to maintain the common open space and any buildings, structures or other improvements which have been placed on it;
b. To an association of owners or tenants, created in accordance with the laws of the state, which shall adopt and impose articles of incorporation and bylaws, and adopt and impose a declaration of covenants and restrictions on the common open space that is acceptable to the Planning Commission as providing for the continuing care of the space. Such an association shall be formed and continued for the purpose of maintaining the common open space and other common elements;
c. No common open space may be put to a use not specified in the final development plan unless the final development plan is amended to permit the use. However, no change of use may be considered as a waiver of any of the covenants limiting the use of common open space areas, and all rights to enforce these covenants against any use permitted are expressly reserved; and
d. If the common open space is not conveyed to a public agency, the covenants governing the use, improvement and maintenance of the common open space shall authorize the city to enforce their provisions at the city’s discretion, and shall require City Council ratification of any amendments after initial approval.
4. The development schedule which is part of the development plan coordinates the improvement of the common open space and the construction of buildings and other structures in the common open space with the construction of primary structures in the planned development.
5. Where a PUD has open spaces, parking areas or other elements to be owned or maintained in common by the owners or future owners of land or improvements within the PUD, the final PUD plan shall not be approved and in no event shall any lot or unit be sold or conveyed until the PUD has been found to comply with the following requirements, as applicable.
a. If the PUD is a planned community under O.R.S. Chapter 94, the declaration and plat for the planned community shall be submitted with the final PUD plan for approval by the Planning Commission before being recorded in the official records of the county.
b. If the PUD is a condominium under O.R.S. Chapter 100, the declaration and plat for the condominium shall have been recorded in the official records of the county and a copy of the recorded declaration and plat shall be submitted with the final PUD plan. A condominium declaration and plat that has been approved by the State Real Estate Commissioner and recorded in the official records of the county is not required to be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission and the Planning Commission shall have no authority under this division (F)(3) to require changes thereto.
c. If the PUD contains elements intended for common ownership but O.R.S. Chapters 94 and 100 do not apply, there shall be appropriate legal documents which assure that the common elements will be improved and perpetually maintained for their intended purposes. The legal documents, in such instance, shall be submitted to the Planning Commission for approval as part of the final PUD plan before being recorded in the official records of the county.
d. When a PUD is proposed to be developed in phases, the phased provision of improved common elements shall be proportional with the development of housing and other elements intended for private ownership. Nothing in this division (F)(3)(i) shall prevent the provision of improved common elements at a rate that is proportionally greater than the development of housing and other elements intended for private ownership.
e. Land shown on the final development plan as a common element shall be conveyed under one of the following options:
i. To a public entity which shall agree in writing to perpetually maintain the common element(s) being conveyed; and
ii. To an association of owners created pursuant to O.R.S. Chapters 94 and 100 or as otherwise created under O.R.S. 17.64.090(3), in which instance the city shall be made a party to the legal document which establishes the association and such document shall provide that the association cannot be terminated or discontinued without the city’s prior consent, and that the city may enforce any and all of its provisions.
(j) Transportation.
1. Principal vehicular access points shall be designed to permit smooth traffic flow with controlled turning movements and minimum hazards to vehicular or pedestrian traffic. Minor streets within planned developments shall not be connected to streets outside the development in such a way as to encourage their use by through traffic.
2. Streets in a planned development may be dedicated to public use. All streets will be constructed in accordance with city’s Public Works Design Standards unless an alternative is accepted by the Planning Commission based upon the applicant’s engineer attestation as to its equal functionality, safety and durability.
3. All uses shall comply with access, parking and loading standards as shown in § 152.054. The Planning Commission may authorize exceptions where warranted, or may specify additional requirements when appropriate.
(k) Signs. All signs larger than eight square feet within a planned development are subject to approval of the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission shall consider each such sign on its merits based on the aesthetic impact on the area, potential traffic hazards and the need for the sign.
(l) Compatibility with adjacent development. If topographical or other barriers near the perimeter of the development do not provide reasonable privacy for existing uses adjacent to the development, the Planning Commission shall require buildings in the planned development to be setback an adequate distance, as determined by the Planning Commission, from the perimeter and/or require an attractively designed and maintained buffer in the form of vegetation, fencing, walls and/or berms.
(m) Utility easements. Easements necessary for the orderly extension and maintenance of public utilities may be required as a condition of approval.
(n) Accessory uses in a planned unit development. In addition to the accessory uses typical of the primary uses authorized, accessory uses approved as a part of a planned unit development may include the following uses:
1. Golf courses;
2. Private park, lake or waterway;
3. Recreation area;
4. Recreation building, club house or social hall; and
5. Other accessory structures which the Planning Commission finds are designed to serve primarily the tenants of the planned unit development, and are compatible to the design of the planned unit development.
(o) Review procedures.
1. Planned developments will be reviewed in two phases; a preliminary development plan phase and a final development plan phase. However, pre-application review of the project before these phases is required.
2. The preliminary development plan will include the information and procedures specified in this division (F). If the proposed planned development involves subdividing land, the preliminary plat shall be reviewed concurrently with the preliminary development plan.
a. The Planning Commission shall act upon the application for a planned unit development within 120 days of a determination of complete application by the City Planner, excluding such time as may be required to complete any necessary zoning amendment. A public hearing shall be held in accordance with provisions in § 152.070, as modified by this section.
b. Planned unit development is a limited land use decision and shall be conducted in accordance with O.R.S. 197.195, except that the Planning Commission may take verbal testimony. Pursuant to O.R.S. 197.195, only those submitting written testimony during the 14-day comment period shall have the right to appeal said decision.
c. In taking action, the Planning Commission may approve, approve with conditions or deny the planned unit development based on the preliminary development plan. Any planned unit development authorized shall be subject to all conditions imposed. Any approval of a planned unit development granted hereunder shall be exempted from other provisions of this chapter only to the extent specified in said authorization. Any approval of a preliminary planned unit development granted hereunder shall lapse and become void unless, within 18 months after the final granting of approval, or within such other period of time as may be stipulated by the Planning Commission as a condition of such approval, construction of the buildings or structures involved in the development has begun and diligently pursued. The Planning Commission may further impose other conditions limiting the time within which the development or portions thereof must be completed.
d. The decision of the Planning Commission shall be final unless appealed to the City Council according to the procedures set forth in § 152.076.
3. Within three months to a year following the approval of the preliminary development plan, or approval of the plan with conditions, the applicant shall file with the city a final development plan containing, in final form, the information required in the preliminary plan. This plan may be for the entire development or, when submission in stages has been authorized, for the first stage of the development.
4. If the City Planner finds evidence of a material deviation from the preliminary development plan, the City Planner shall advise the applicant to submit an application for amendment of the planned unit development to the Planning Commission. An amendment shall be considered in the same manner as an original application. If no significant deviation from the preliminary development plan is found, the City Planner will approve the final planned development.
5. The following provisions shall govern the submittal and approval of a final PUD plan.
a. Filing requirements; time extensions. Within 12 months following final approval by the Planning Commission of the preliminary PUD plan, the applicant shall file a final PUD plan on forms supplied by the city. The final PUD plan shall contain in final form all information and materials required by the preliminary PUD plan approval. However, there shall be no burden to demonstrate compliance with the above approval criteria and no findings of fact and conclusions of law for these criteria are required in order for the Planner to approve a final PUD plan. The final PUD plan shall incorporate all conditions imposed by the Planning Commission at the time the preliminary PUD plan was approved. In its sole discretion and upon the written request by an applicant, the Planning Commission may extend the time for filing a final PUD plan for one additional 12-month period or such lesser period as may be established by the Planning Commission.
b. Phased PUD; time limit between phases. The final PUD plan may be submitted for the entire project or on a phase-by-phase basis consistent with the approved preliminary PUD plan. If a preliminary PUD plan was not approved as a phased project, nothing in this division (F)(3)(o)5. shall prevent the City Planner from approving a final PUD plan in phases provided that the final PUD plan complies with all other requirements of this chapter. If the Planner approves a final PUD plan for the first phase of a PUD having approved multiple phases, such approval shall perfect the applicant’s rights under this section to complete subsequent future phases. However, it is further provided that, after final PUD plan approval for the first phase and for each successive phase thereafter, no more than five years shall elapse between the approval of phases. If more than five years pass between the final PUD plan approval of any two PUD phases, the Planning Commission may, without consent of the owners of the PUD, initiate action to terminate undeveloped portions of the PUD under the public hearing provisions of § 152.070(E). Nothing in this division (F)(3)(o)5. shall prohibit or limit the ability of the Planning Commission to establish time periods within which substantial construction of a PUD or any phase thereof is required to occur after a final PUD plan has been approved.
c. Final plat for land division. Application for the approval of a final PUD plan may occur before, after or concurrent with the approval of a final plat for a land division by the City Planner. However, it is further provided that no building permits shall be issued by the city and no buildings intended for human occupancy shall be constructed and no lot shall be sold until the final PUD plan has been approved.
d. Final PUD plan approval criteria. A final PUD plan shall be approved by the City Planner or Planning Commission if they conclude that compliance exists with each of the following criteria:
i. Provisions for the establishment and maintenance of elements to be held in common ownership, if any have or will comply with the standards in this division (F)(3);
ii. The final PUD plan is substantially consistent with preliminary PUD plan and the conditions, if any, which were attached by the Planning Commission to the approval of the preliminary PUD plan. An applicant may seek written clarification from the Planner or Planning Commission regarding whether any anticipated differences between the preliminary and final PUD plans meet the test of being substantially consistent. In no instance shall a final PUD plan be approved if inconsistencies with the approved preliminary PUD plan exist in any of the ways listed below, and when such inconsistencies are found to occur, these shall result in the need to approve a revision to the approved preliminary PUD plan.
A. The exterior boundaries of the PUD shall not change except for slight deviations which are the result of correcting boundary errors or inconsistencies that are found to exist at the time the PUD property is surveyed.
B. The number of housing units shall not be increased and, in no instance, shall the number of housing units be decreased by more than 2%.
C. There are new deviations to provisions of this City Code which were not approved by the Planning Commission as part of the preliminary PUD plan.
e. Engineering construction plans.
i. Engineering construction plans, profiles, details and specifications for all public facility and utility improvements shall be prepared by a qualified engineer registered in the state. The required engineering plans shall be submitted to and approved by the city before the start of construction.
ii. Unless specifically authorized by the Planning Commission at the time of preliminary PUD plan approval, all public facilities and utilities shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the standards and procedures of the city or other public entity to which ownership of said facilities or utilities will be conveyed. The procedures for engineering design, plan approval and inspection shall in all respects be the same as for land divisions under this City Code.
f. Zoning clearance and building permits; development and operation of a PUD. All site, building and construction plans submitted for the purpose of obtaining building and other site improvement permits shall be consistent with the approved final PUD plan. In addition to other provisions of the Municipal Code and law, the city shall have authority under this section to ensure the successful completion of all public improvements. The development and operation of the PUD shall conform in all respects with the approved final PUD plan.
(p) Control of the development after completion. The final development plan shall continue to control the planned unit development after it is finished, and the following shall apply.
1. The building official, in issuing a certificate of completion of the planned unit development, shall note the issuance to the city on the recorded final development plan.
2. After the certificate of completion has been issued, the use of the land and the construction, modification or alteration of a building or structure within the planned unit development shall be governed by the approved final development plan.
3. After the certificate of completion has been issued, no change shall be made in development contrary to the approved final development plan without approval of an amendment to the plan, except as follows.
a. Minor modifications of existing buildings or structures may be authorized by the Planning Commission if they are consistent with the purposes and intent of the final plan and do not increase the cubic footage of a building or structure.
b. A building or structure that is totally or substantially destroyed may be reconstructed without approval of an amended planned unit development if it is in compliance with the purpose and intent of the final development plan.
4. An amendment to a completed planned unit development may be approved by the Planning Commission if it is required for the continued success of the planned unit development, if it is appropriate because of changes in conditions that have occurred since the final development plan was approved or because there have been changes in the development policy of the community as reflected by the Comprehensive Plan or related land use regulations.
5. Revision of a preliminary or final PUD plan. The revision of a preliminary or final PUD plan shall follow the same procedures required for initial approval, provided that the following occur.
a. For changes deemed by the City Planner to be minor, the City Planner shall exercise appropriate discretion to limit and waive the submittal of any of the required filing materials that are deemed to be excessive, repetitive or unnecessary based upon the scope and nature of the proposed PUD revisions.
b. At the sole discretion of the Planner, revisions to an approved PUD plan may be consolidated into a single procedure, the effect of which will be the approval of both a preliminary PUD plan and final PUD plan.
c. The burden of proof and supporting findings of fact and conclusions of law for the criteria shall be strictly limited to the specific nature and magnitude of the change.
d. No modification or amendment to a completed planned unit development is to be considered as a waiver of the covenants limiting the use of the land, buildings, structures and improvements within the area of the planned unit development; and all rights to enforce these covenants against any change permitted by this section are expressly reserved.
(q) Commercial/industrial PUD. In addition to the criteria contained in this division (F), a PUD within a commercial or industrial zone shall be subject to the following standards.
1. The principal uses conducted on the site are either outright or conditional uses for the respective zone. Conditional uses shall meet the review criteria of § 152.071.
2. Secondary uses shall be directly related to the principal use, or provide support services, including, but not limited to, transportation, housing, commercial service and commercial retail.
3. Secondary uses should be limited to 30% of the buildable area within the PUD.
(r) Cluster development (CLD).
1. The purpose of a cluster development (CLD) is as follows:
a. To provide a greater flexibility in development of land on sites that may be too small (infill sites) or not desirable for a planned unit development;
b. To provide housing types that respond to changing household sizes and ages (e.g., retirees, single person households, small families):
c. To promote opportunities for ownership of dwelling units;
d. To encourage a creative approach in land development and for a consistent and interesting;
e. To encourage creation of more usable open space for residents of the development through flexibility in density and lot standards; and
f. To provide guidelines to ensure compatibility with surrounding land uses.
2. Throughout this division (F)(3)(r), the term DEVELOPMENT shall mean a cluster development (CLD).
3. The uses shown in Table A in division (F)(3)(q)5. below are permitted in a residential cluster development.
5. The following uses are permitted in cluster developments:
Table A. Uses Permitted
| |
Land Use | Comments and References |
Table A. Uses Permitted
| |
Land Use | Comments and References |
Accessory dwelling | |
Accessory structure | Includes sheds, storage buildings, residential garages |
Apartments | Called multi-family dwellings/complexes |
Child care, day nursery | |
Church, religious institution | |
Complex, multi-family (over 4 dwellings) | 30% parking reduction for senior facility |
Condominium | State regulated |
Dwelling, duplex | |
Dwelling, multi-family (including 3 or 4 plex) | |
Dwelling, single-family | |
Park (public or private) | Playground, recreation centers, pools and the like |
Parking garage (public or private) | Private only; common area maintained by HOA |
Public transportation station | |
Residential use other than ground floor | |
Residential care facility | Only permitted where MFRs are allowed |
Residential care home | Only permitted where SFRs are allowed |
RV storage | Residential use only; HOA maintenance required |
Schools (public or private) | |
Single-family manufactured home | |
Townhouse | |
Utility facility | |
6. The following exceptions to city standards may be allowed through the CLD approval process without a variance:
a. Minimum lot sizes;
b. Yard setbacks, except perimeter yard requirements;
c. Permitted land uses;
d. Grid street spacing standards;
e. Street frontage requirements on public roads;
f. Connection to public utilities, subject to review and acceptance by City Engineering;
g. Landscaping requirements, as stated herein;
h. Solar setback standards (only on lots that are not along the northern border of the development);
i. Street and right-of-way widths on non-grid streets;
j. Sidewalk placement and size standards; and
k. i. Changes to an approved plan, when the requested change is so minor that the City Planner or designate determines that it would be appropriate for an administrative decision.
ii. Examples of minor changes include, but are not limited to:
A. A reduction in the overall number of lots;
B. Minor architectural changes to approved buildings;
C. Changes to phases that do not impact public facilities or change the number of approved phases;
D. Changes that result in a reduction of impacts (i.e., reduced traffic flows); or
E. Changes that are required to protect or increase public safety.
7. CLDs shall meet the following standards unless otherwise specified. In the case that these standards conflict with other standards within the Zoning Code, these standards shall take precedence.
a. Acreage. Cluster developments may only take place on sites of one acre minimum to seven acres maximum.
b. Densities.
Table B | |
Zone | Densities (per net acre) |
Table B | |
Zone | Densities (per net acre) |
R-1 | Not applicable (CLDs not allowed) |
R-2 | Not applicable (CLDs not allowed) |
R-3 | Not applicable (CLDs not allowed) |
R-4 | 5 to 12 units/acres |
R-5 | 8 or more units/acres |
High Density Overlay Zone | Up to 30 units/net acre |
c. Design requirements.
Table C | |
Feature | Standard |
Table C | |
Feature | Standard |
Building height | Underlying zone |
Lot area | No minimum |
Lot width | No minimum |
Lot depth | No minimum |
Floor area | No minimum |
Open space | Based on size of parent unit |
Setbacks | |
Perimeter | 20 feet when abutting an arterial or collector street (along perimeter), underlying zone in all other cases. Setbacks to common areas determined at the discretion of the Planning Commission |
Front | 10 feet to house, 5 feet when house fronts common open space, 5 feet to townhouse, 20 feet to garage |
Side (corner lot) | No minimum; clearance vision applies |
Side (non-corner lot) | No minimum |
Rear | No minimum; garage setback for alleys, if needed for parking or maneuvering, to be determined by Planning Commission |
Solar | Northern perimeter only |
Non-permeable surface area | Varies according to open space requirements |
Building coverage | No maximum |
Parking - residential | 2 spaces/dwelling unit |
Other | |
d. Open space, park and common area.
i. Definition. OPEN SPACE means land area, which can be physically accessed and used by occupants and users of the CLD for scenic, landscaping or open recreational purposes within the development.
ii. Open space land area requirements. For all CLDs, the required land area used as open space, park or common areas shall be 15% of the net land area (minus roads). Providing a recreation center, developed park, pool, tennis courts, recreation rooms, clubhouse or other similar facilities (as determined by the Planning Commission) will reduce the required land area by up to 5% at the discretion of the Planning Commission.
iii. Open space - general requirements.
A. Public and private roads and the landscaped portions of such roads and rights-of-ways shall not be considered as open space.
B. Development plans shall assure that natural features of the land are preserved and landscaping is provided, or a finding shall be made by the Planning Commission that preservation of significant natural feature(s) is not feasible. Waterways located on the property may be considered as open space for the development.
C. The Planning Commission may require at its discretion the dedication of park land or open space to the city.
D. All common areas, open space areas and landscaped right-of-ways shall undergo site design review concurrently with the development review, and are subject to site design review standards for landscaping, with the exceptions noted herein.
E. Non-accessible open space may be considered as “open space”. However, if these areas are not physically accessible by the users of the development for recreational purposes, up to half of such non-accessible land area, measured on the horizontal, may be counted towards the required area for open space. Pull area credit may only be allowed wherever such features are completely accessible to occupants of the development.
F. Up to 10% of the required open space/common area/landscaped areas may be left in a natural and non-irrigated state at the discretion of the Planning Commission; however, this shall not apply to any required landscaped screening or landscaped strips abutting public or private roads. If the development has a significant natural feature in excess of the 10% allowance, the Planning Commission may allow additional natural feature open space credit.
G. Open space, common areas and common structures shall be financially assured of continued maintenance. A legal mechanism shall be provided which guarantees the continued maintenance of such areas and structures.
H. Parking areas and their required landscape screening shall not be considered as open space.
e. Construction standards. In each development, all provisions of the International and Uniform Building Code, and International Fire Code incorporating Oregon Fire Code amendments shall apply and control design and construction of improvements, except as specifically varied as provided within these standards. City standards and specifications shall apply unless a deviation is granted by the Planning Commission as part of the CLD approval process.
i. Non-residential off-street parking and loading. In residential CLDs, off-street parking and loading space for all non-residential uses shall be limited to 80% of the minimum standards of § 152.054. All non-residential parking and loading areas shall be screened from view from roads and residences, and shall be located behind structures where feasible. All parking lots shall be accessed from interior roads or alleys within the CLD unless the Planning Commission determines that this is not feasible.
ii. Signage.
A. Monument or entrance signage shall be reviewed with initial site design review and integrated into the overall building and site design or separately at the discretion of the developer. If other similar signage is proposed separately from the overall development, then it shall require sign permit review at the time of submittal.
B. All entrance or monument signage within or adjacent to a CLD related to the development shall integrate the development theme into the design of the signage.
C. All entrance or monument signage shall conform to the requirements within each respective zone, and with § 152.055.
D. In a residential CLD, other than the entrance signs, no signs shall be visible from adjacent residential properties.
E. Monument signs may be incorporated into the fence or wall design subject to site design review approval.
iii. Streets and utilities.
A. All construction of streets and utilities within developments shall be required to comply with city standards and specifications at the discretion of the Planning Commission, if recommended by the City Engineer, except that the Planning Commission can grant exceptions to specific standards and specifications as follows:
1. Street width;
2. Right-of-way width; and
3. Sidewalk width/placement.
B. The city may require those streets needed for traffic circulation to be public streets under the provisions of the city’s transportation plan and the city street standards of § 152.052.
C. The applicant shall provide to the city easements for all public utilities (sewer and water) on the subject property subject to acceptance by the Engineering Division. If required, all public easements may need to be dedicated without reservation, also at the discretion of the City Engineering Division.
iv. Landscaping.
A. Required landscaping. A portion of the required landscaping shall be provided on the property to visually screen any multi-family complex residential uses from adjoining single-family and duplex property.
B. Street trees. Street trees shall be placed adjacent to all public and private roads within all types of developments, as specified in § 152.053. However, street trees along alleys and private internal driveways are not required.
v. Fences and walls. Perimeter walls or fencing, if required or proposed, shall integrate the architectural character plan and site plan elements into the design. Walls or fences may be required if the Planning Commission determines it is necessary to meet one or more approval criterion.
A. Approval of any perimeter fencing or wall is discretionary to the Planning Commission, and may be required to be modified based on approval criterion and the specific design submitted for review.
B. If a perimeter fence is required, the Planning Commission can consider a vegetative screen in lieu of a fence.
vi. General development design requirements.
A. The total minimum number of dwelling units of all combined zones within a residential CLD may be located anywhere within the development subject to Planning Commission approval, and subject to all applicable setbacks and regulations established herein.
B. All development parking lots shall be screened from view from public or private streets (excluding driveways of 20 feet width or less), and from all residences by a screen of no less than three feet in height. Screening shall not exceed a height of four feet.
C. Parking lot screening shall be achieved by either landscaping or fencing, or a combination of each.
D. All parking spaces shall be paved, and shall meet the parking space standards within § 152.054 and all applicable code standards.
E. If detached parking structures are proposed, they shall integrate the architectural character plan and site plan into the design. The Planning Commission may require a compatible design with adjacent development if necessary to meet one or more approval criterion.
F. Accessory dwelling units, when allowed in the underlying zone, are permitted.
G. A development may contain community building(s) or recreation center(s) that are clearly incidental in use or size and related to the dwelling units. Such buildings shall be located on the same parent parcel of the development, and shall be commonly owned by the residents.
H. An existing attached or detached single-family dwelling that is incorporated in to a development may be permitted to remain, and, at the discretion of the Planning Commission, may be considered as an existing nonconforming residence subject to all non-conforming structure requirements within the City Code.
I. An architectural theme is required for all structures within any development. The theme shall be continued on all elevations for each building, and onto the entire site (including, but not limited to, lighting, fencing, accessory structures and signage) as is applicable based on the specific theme chosen by the developer. For assurance of ongoing compliance, an Architectural Review Committee (ARC) shall be created for each development through the CCRs for each development. The ARC shall be formed for the purpose of reviewing future changes and additions to structures including fencing and trim within the development, which shall be self-regulating following the city approval of each structure within the development, as stated within the CCRs.
J. All required open space within any planned development shall be “usable” as passive or active recreational land without sharing the space as a combined use with non-recreational uses, including, but not limited to, drainage retention areas that are fenced or otherwise not visual or usable open space amenities.
vii. Trash enclosures. All developments within CLDs that contain multi-family dwellings or multi-family complexes shall provide centrally located trash collection enclosures for the multi-family dwellings or multi-family complexes. Trash enclosures shall be architecturally compatible in terms of color and materials with adjacent residential units. Trash collection bins or carts within the enclosures shall be as approved by the collection company.
(s) Cottage developments.
1. The purpose of a cottage development (COD) is as follows:
a. To provide a greater flexibility in development of land on sites that may be too small or not desirable for a planned unit development;
b. To provide housing types that respond to changing household sizes and ages (e.g., retirees, single person households, small families);
c. To promote opportunities for ownership of dwelling units;
d. To encourage a creative approach in land development and for a consistent and interesting architectural theme within each development;
e. To encourage creation of more usable open space for residents of the development through flexibility in density and lot standards; and
f. To provide guidelines to ensure compatibility with surrounding land uses.
2. Throughout this division (F)(3)(s), the term DEVELOPMENT' shall mean a cottage development (COD).
3. The uses shown in Table D in division (F)(3)(s)4.b. below are permitted in a residential cottage development.
b. The following uses are permitted in cottage developments:
Table D. Uses Permitted | |
Land Use | Comments and References |
Accessory structure | Includes shed, storage buildings, residential garages |
Dwelling, single-family | |
Park (public or private) | Playgrounds, recreation center, pools and the like |
Parking garage (public or private) | Private only; common areas maintained by HOA |
5. The following exceptions to city standards may be allowed through the COD approval process without a variance:
a. Minimum lot sizes;
b. Yard setbacks, except perimeter yard requirements;
c. Permitted land uses;
d. Grid street spacing standards;
e. Street frontage requirements on public roads;
f. Connection to public utilities, subject to review and acceptance by City Engineering;
g. Landscaping requirements, as stated herein;
h. Solar setback standards (only on lots that are not along the northern border of the development);
i. Street and right-of-way widths on non-grid streets;
j. Sidewalk placement and size standards; and
k. Changes to an approved plan, when the requested change is so minor that the City Planner or designate determines that it would be appropriate for an administrative decision. Examples of minor changes include, but are not limited to:
i. A reduction in the overall number of lots;
ii. Minor architectural changes to approved buildings;
iii. Changes to phases that do not impact public facilities or change the number of approved phases;
iv. Changes that result in a reduction of impacts (i.e., reduced traffic flows); or
v. Changes that are required to protect or increase public safety.
6. Development standards. CODs shall meet the following standards unless otherwise specified. In the case that these standards conflict with other standards of the zoning code, these standards shall take precedence:
a. Site size. Cottage developments (CODs) have no minimum site size but must include a minimum of four cottage units per development.
b. Densities.
Table E | |
Zone | Densities (per net acre) |
R-1 | Not applicable (CODs not allowed) |
R-2 | 4 to 9 units/acres |
R-3 | 4 to 10 units/acres |
R-4 | 5 to 12 units/acres |
R-5 | 8 or more units/acres |
c. Design requirements.
Table F | |
Feature | Standard |
Table F | |
Feature | Standard |
Building height | 25 feet |
Lot area | No minimum |
Lot width | No minimum |
Lot depth | No minimum |
Floor area | 1,000 square feet or less (300 square feet exempt for garage) |
Open space | 500 square feet per each dwelling unit |
Setbacks | |
Perimeter | 20 feet when abutting an arterial or collector street (along perimeter), underlying zone in all other cases. Setbacks to common area determined at the discretion of the Planning Commission |
Front | No minimum |
Side (corner lot) | No minimum, but 10 feet required between buildings |
Side (non-corner lot) | No minimum, but 10 feet required between buildings |
Rear | No minimum, but 10 feet required between buildings |
Solar | Northern perimeter only |
Non-permeable surface area | 60% of parent property (maximum) |
Building coverage | 50% of parent property (maximum) |
Parking - residential | 1.75 spaces per cottage dwelling unit |
d. Open space, park and common area.
i. Definition. OPEN SPACE means land area which can be physically accessed and used by occupants and users of the COD for scenic, landscaping or open recreational purposes within the development.
ii. Open space land area requirements. For all CODs, the required land area used as open space or common area shall:
A. Be a minimum of 500 square feet per cottage;
B. About 100% of the cottages in the development;
C. Have cottages abutting on at least two sides; and
D. Cottages shall:
1. Be oriented around and have the main entry taken from the common open space; and
2. Be within 100 feet walking distance from the common open space.
iii. Open space - general requirements.
A. Public and private roads shall not be considered as open space.
B. Development plans shall assure that natural features of the land are preserved and landscaping is provided, or a finding shall be made by the Planning Commission that preservation of significant natural feature(s) is not feasible.
C. The Planning Commission may require at its discretion the dedication of park land or open space to the city.
D. Up to 10% of the required open space/common area/landscaped areas may be left in a natural and non-irrigated state at the discretion of the Planning Commission; however, this shall not apply to any required landscaped screening or landscaped strips abutting public or private roads. If the development has a significant natural feature in excess of the 10% allowance, the Planning Commission may allow additional natural feature open space credit.
E. Open space, common areas and common structures shall be financially assured of continued maintenance. A legal mechanism shall be provided which guarantees the continued maintenance of such areas and structures.
iv. Landscaping and street trees. Street trees shall be placed adjacent to all public and private roads within all types of developments, as specified within § 152.053. However, street trees along alleys and private internal driveways are not required.
v. General development design requirements.
A. All development parking lots shall be screened from view from public or private streets (excluding driveways of 20 feet width or less), and from all residences by a screen of no less than three feet in height. Screening shall not exceed a height of four feet.
B. Parking lot screening shall be achieved by either landscaping or fencing, or a combination of each.
C. All parking spaces shall be paved, and shall meet the parking space standards within § 152.054, and all applicable code standards.
D. If detached parking structures are proposed, the following shall apply.
1. Pitched roofs are required on all parking structures, and shall be no less than a 4:12 pitch.
2. Paint color and building materials shall be consistent with the design of the dwelling closest to the structure.
E. All required open space within any planned development shall be “usable” as passive or active recreational land without sharing the space as a combined use with non-recreational uses, including, but not limited to, drainage retention.
F. Private open space shall be a minimum of 300 square feet of private, contiguous, usable open space adjacent to each dwelling unit, for the exclusive use of the cottage resident.
G. Cottages shall have a roofed porch at least 80 square feet in size with a minimum dimension of eight feet on any side. Porches are not included within floor area calculations.
H. All required parking for cottage developments shall be located within 100 feet of the cottage that it serves.
I. Accessory structures in cottage developments are limited to storage buildings that may be up to 80% of the smallest cottage, and to parking structures or garages that may contain up to six parking spaces on the interior. All accessory structures in cottage developments shall have an architectural theme that matches the theme of the cottages.
vi. Trash enclosures. Centralized trash enclosures may be required at the discretion of the Planning Commission. If required, trash enclosures shall be architecturally compatible in terms of color and materials with the cottage units. Trash collection bins or carts shall be as approved by the collection company.
(t) Termination of a PUD. A PUD may be terminated by action of the Planning Commission subject to the following procedures.
1. If substantial construction or development of the PUD has not occurred or if no lots or units therein have been sold, the PUD may be terminated by filing with the city a written petition signed by the owner or owners who control a majority interest in the land covered by the approved PUD. Upon receipt of a petition submitted by the PUD owners, the Planning Commission shall consider the matter in open meeting and may declare the PUD terminated. The Planning Commission’s termination of a PUD shall be evidenced by a final order declaring the same and, after the final order is signed, the PUD shall be terminated and previous PUD plan approvals shall be considered void and of no further effect. Termination of a PUD shall in no way affect other land use actions taken by the city which concern the PUD property.
2. If substantial construction or development of the PUD has occurred or if lots or units within the PUD have been sold, the PUD may be terminated by filing with the city a written petition signed by the owner or owners who control a majority interest in the land covered by the approved PUD. Upon receipt of the petition, the Planning Commission shall give public notice of the proposed PUD termination and conduct a public hearing on the matter. The Planning Commission may declare the PUD terminated if it concludes that the termination will not produce greater than minimal harm to the public health, safety or general welfare. The Planning Commission’s termination of a PUD shall be evidenced by a final order declaring the same and, after the final order is signed, the PUD shall be terminated and previous PUD plan approvals shall be considered void and of no further effect. Termination of a PUD shall in no way affect other land use actions taken by the city which concern the PUD property.
(G) Monuments.
(1) In addition to requirements of state law and other provisions of this chapter, permanent monuments of a type approved by the city shall be set in the following locations:
(a) At each boundary corner of the subdivision, at the beginning and end of the property line curves and at any other points required by the city; and
(b) At intersections of street center line tangents or offsets therefrom, and where such intersect on private property, at the beginning and end of the center line curve or offsets therefrom.
(2) Any required monument that is disturbed or destroyed before acceptance of all improvements shall be replaced by the applicant.
(3) Complete field notes, in a form satisfactory to the city, showing references, ties, locations, elevations and other necessary data relating to monuments and bench marks set in accordance with the requirements of this chapter shall be submitted to the city, to be retained by the city as a permanent record.
(Ord. 1283, passed 12-2-2013; Ord. 1338, passed 10-1-2018; Ord. 1349, passed 8-19-2019) Penalty, see § 152.999
(A) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to assure that variances may be granted, as provided in this section where practical difficulties, unnecessary hardships and results inconsistent with the general purposes of this chapter may result from the strict application of certain provisions. This section shall not be used to allow a use that is not permitted by this chapter for the district in which the land is located. In granting a variance, the city may impose conditions similar to those provided for conditional uses to protect the best interests of the surrounding property, the neighborhood or the city as a whole.
(B) Authorization to grant or deny variances.
(1) The Planning Commission may authorize variances from the requirements of this chapter where it can be shown that, owing to special and unusual circumstances related to a specific piece of property, the literal interpretation of this chapter would cause an undue or particular hardship, except that no variance shall be granted to allow the use of property for purposes not authorized within the district in which the proposed use would be located.
(2) In granting a variance, the city may attach conditions which it finds necessary to protect the best interests of the surrounding property or neighborhood and to otherwise achieve the purposes of this chapter. The conditions to an authorized variance shall also be a part of the public record on the deed and be a part of the requirements for an issuance of a zoning clearance permit.
(C) Application.
(1) The property owner or his or her authorized agent may make application for a variance from the provisions of this chapter by filing an application on a form and in a manner prescribed by the city in § 152.004, with the Planning Department at least 40 days prior to the meeting date the matter is intended to be considered.
(2) Such application shall be accompanied by a legal description of the property, plans and elevations necessary to show the proposed development; a filing fee in the amount established by general resolution of the City Council; a map showing the subject property and surrounding properties and current property owners within 250 feet of the property subject to such variance application, a statement, plans and supportive evidence that all of the following conditions in division (E) below exist.
(D) Burden of proof. In order for the City Planning Commission to grant a variance, all the conditions and circumstances listed in divisions (E)(1) through (E)(4) below must be found to exist. The specific findings by the Planning Commission in granting a variance must be factual and supported by substantial evidence. The burden of producing substantial evidence to support the requisite findings is on the applicant seeking the variance from the provisions of this title. If no evidence is produced concerning any or all of the findings listed in divisions (E)(1) through (E)(4) below, the application must be denied based upon improper or inadequate findings. All evidence produced must be recited in the findings for approval of any variance application.
(E) Criteria for granting a variance. No variance shall be granted unless it can be shown that all of the following conditions exist.
(1) Exceptional or extraordinary conditions apply to the property that do not apply generally to other properties in the same district or vicinity, which conditions are a result of lot size or shape, topography or other circumstances over which the applicant has no control.
(2) The variance is necessary for the preservation of a property right of the applicant substantially the same as is possessed by owners of other property in the same district or vicinity.
(3) The authorization of the variance shall not be materially detrimental to the purposes of this chapter, be injurious to property in the district or vicinity in which the property is located or be otherwise detrimental to the objectives of any city development plan or policy.
(4) The variance requested is the minimum variance from the provisions and standards of this chapter which will alleviate the hardship.
(F) Hearing. Before a variance is granted, the proposed variance shall be considered by the Planning Commission at a public hearing, or administratively by staff. Notice of said hearing or administrative action shall be provided as per § 152.004.
(G) Action of the Planning Commission. The City Planning Commission shall make its findings and conclusions available in writing within ten days after the decision on the proposed variance. Upon the filing of said order with the City Recorder, the order shall be in full force and effect. An order denying the variance shall be entered and filed in a like manner, with the necessary findings, where the Planning Commission, based on the standards specified herein, determines that the variance should not be granted.
(1) The Planning Commission, at the time of a public hearing, or staff, in the case of an administrative action, may attach conditions to an authorized variance, which it feels are necessary to protect the public interest and carry out the purpose of this chapter.
(2) The conditions to an authorized variance shall also be part of the public record and be a part of the requirements for an issuance of a building permit. The variance shall not be effective if any such express condition is not fulfilled or is violated or if the activity of the applicant exceeds any express limitation in the variance. It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or permit the use of any property in violation of the express conditions or limitations of any variance granted with respect to such property.
(H) Appeal. Appeal of a decision made by the Planning Commission shall be filed and conducted in accordance with § 152.076.
(I) Administrative authority. The following type of variance application can be handled administratively:
(1) Deviation from the minimum building setback of not more than 20%;
(2) Deviation from the building height limitation of not more than 10%;
(3) Deviation from a residential accessory dwelling living area of not more than 5%; and
(4) Expansion of a conditional or non-conforming use by not more than 20% of the gross building volume.
(J) Time limit on and extension of approval of a variance.
(1) Authorization of a variance shall be void after six months if:
(a) A building permit has not been issued and substantial construction has not taken place; or
(b) Construction on the site is a departure from the approved plan.
(2) The City Planner, in the case of an administrative action, or Planning Commission, may, upon written request by the applicant, grant that authorization may be extended for an additional six months; provided that:
(a) No changes are made on the original approved variance;
(b) The applicant can show intent of initiating construction on the site within the six month extension period; and
(c) There have been no changes to the applicable Comprehensive Plan policies and zoning ordinance provisions on which the approval was based.
(3) Notice of the decision regarding the extension shall be provided to the applicant.
(K) Effect. No building or zoning permit shall be issued in any case where a variance is required until 14 days after the decision of the City Planning Commission is filed with the City Recorder, and then only in accordance with the terms and conditions of said approval. An appeal from the action of the Planning Commission shall automatically stay the issuance of the building or other permit until such appeal has been completed and the City Council has acted thereon.
(L) Time limitation. In the case where an application is denied by the Planning Commission, or denied by the City Council on appeal from the Planning Commission, unless specifically stated to be without prejudice, it shall not be eligible for resubmittal for the period of one year from the date of said denial unless, in the opinion of the Planning Commission, new evidence is submitted or conditions have changed to an extent that further consideration is warranted.
(Ord. 1283, passed 12-2-2013) Penalty, see § 152.999
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