Departments, Planning & Building

PLANNING & BUILDING SERVICES HIGHLIGHTS FOR MARCH, 2020

CITY COUNCIL (CC) ACTIONS ON PLANNING ITEMS

On March 3, 2020, the CC conducted a public hearing on Resolution 20-07, a resolution approving the Luscher Farm Concept Plan for purposes of applying to Metro for an amendment to the Portland Metro Urban Growth Boundary. The CC gave final approval to the plan and adopted its findings for Resolution 20-07 on March 17, 2020.

At special meetings on March 23, March 26, and March 30, 2020, the CC received briefings on community and City issues during the City’s Declared State of Emergency.

PLANNING COMMISSION (PC) ACTIONS

On March 9, the Planning Commission held their second public hearing and tentatively approved the proposed Historic Preservation code revisions.  The final adoption of findings is delayed due to restrictions on public meetings under the City’s emergency declaration for COVID-19.

Please refer to the following web page for the current PC meeting forecast: http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/boc_pc/schedule-and-information

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMISSION (DRC) ACTIONS

City Boards, Commissions, and Committee meetings, unless legally required, were cancelled through April 28 under the City Manager’s emergency declaration in response to COVID-19. As a result, the March 2nd and March 16th DRC meetings were canceled.

HISTORIC RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD (HRAB)

City Boards, Commissions, and Committee meetings, unless legally required, were cancelled through April 28 under the City Manager’s emergency declaration in response to COVID-19. As a result, the March HRAB meeting was canceled.

ADMINISTRATIVE LAND USE DECISIONS

Staff approved two administrative land use cases as follows:

LU 20-0002, a request for Residential Infill Design Review variances to construct a new detached garage. The notice of decision was issued on March 13, 2020. The site is located on South View Road.

LU 20-0003, a request for a lot line adjustment. The notice of decision was issued on March 17, 2020. The site is located on Meadows Road.

PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCES

In March, staff held six pre-application conferences as follows:

  1. PA 20-0013, Major variances to construct carports over parking spaces in an existing residential parking lot on Tract A, 3rd Street.
  2. PA 20-0015, Development Review for an addition to an existing industrial building on Jean Road.
  3. PA 20-0016, Annexation, Resource Delineation, and 3-parcel minor partition or subdivision for new residential lots on Country Club Road.
  4. PA 20-0017, Design Review to replace an existing picnic shelter at George Rogers Park near Furnace Street and Green Street.
  5. PA 20-0019, RID review to construct additions to an existing single-family dwelling on North Shore Road
  6. PA 20-0020, RID review to construct a new single-family dwelling on Lakeview Boulevard.

ANNEXATIONS

The following annexations are scheduled for the City Council Meeting of April 21, 2020.

AN 19-0008 – 4688 Oakridge Road – 0.47 acres
AN 19-0009 – 13962 Knaus Road – 1.0 acres
AN 20-0001 – 16317 Bonaire Avenue – 0.23 acres
AN 20-0002 – 5555 SW Childs Road – 0.42  acres

PLANNING REVIEW OF BUILDING PERMITS, SIGN PERMITS AND BUSINESS LICENSES

In the month of March, Planning staff reviewed 30 building permits, 14 sign permits and 23 business licenses.

CODE ENFORCEMENT

In March, 15 code enforcement cases were resolved without Municipal Court action and one case was decided by Municipal Court action.

PERMIT CENTER ACTIVITY

Customer Contacts: During the month of March, staff served 405 walk-in customers and responded to 1,349 phone calls, or approximately 80 customer contacts per day. Of the walk-in customers, 41% were for Planning, 30% for Building, 20% for Engineering and 9% for other services. Of the phone-in customers 22% were for Planning, 38% for Building, 10% for Engineering and 30% for other services.

Building Permit Activity: During March, Building staff issued three demolition permits on C Avenue, Childs Road, and Bonita Road. Eight new Single Family Residential (NSFR) applications were received. Five NSFR permits were issued, as follows:

  1. 7th Street
  2. Lanewood Street
  3. North Shore Road
  4. Maple Circle
  5. Bonaire Avenue

The above median timeline for review is from application completeness to “ready to issue”. As of November 2018, the Planning Department has provided NSFR plan review services for both Planning and Engineering reviews. Ready to issue includes time that applicants need to address corrections required for code compliance or factors beyond the City’s control.

In addition to NSFR permits, Residential Structural Permits include remodels, additions, decks, etc., of which there were 28 issued in March by Building staff, with the median days being 34. Commercial Structural Permits include Commercial, Industrial, Multi-Family and Institutional, of which there were 20, with the median days being 99.