Departments, Planning & Building

PLANNING & BUILDING SERVICES HIGHLIGHTS FOR AUGUST, 2020

CITY COUNCIL (CC) ACTIONS ON PLANNING ITEMS

Council was on recess and there were no meetings in August.

PLANNING COMMISSION (PC) ACTIONS

On Aug 10, the PC conducted Work Session #2 on the 2020 Annual Community Development Code Amendments (LU 20-0015), and adopted the Findings, Conclusion and Order for code amendments allowing Seasonal Outdoor Dining Enclosures (LU 20-0019).

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

On August 3, 2020, the DRC held a public hearing via Zoom on AP 20-01 [TR 499-19-05510], a request for a Type II permit to remove two trees to construct a new single-family house and detached garage, the application was tentatively denied 6:0.

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On August 17, 2020, the DRC approved the Findings, Conclusion and Order 6:0 denying AP 20-01 [TR 499-19-05510], a request for Type II permit to remove two trees to construct a new single-family house and detached garage.  The public hearing for LU 19-0049, a request for a Development Review Permit for a structure accessory to an existing car wash located in the Lake Grove Village Center Overlay, was continued to September 9, 2020.

HISTORIC RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD (HRAB)

The Historic Resources Advisory Board held their August meeting via Webex and discussed the following:

  1. HRAB elected Kasey Holwerda as Chair and Rachel Verdick as Vice-Chair.
  2. HRAB also awarded funding from the City’s Historic Preservation Grant to: 2725 Iron Mountain Blvd (Lake Oswego Hunt) $6,000; and 257 Iron Mountain Blvd. (Davidson House) $4,000
  3. The Historic Preservation Code revisions are expected to be completed on September 1st, when the Lake Oswego City Council adopts Findings, Conclusion and Order at their first public meeting since the August recess.
  4. The Certified Local Government Grant (CLG) cycle has been completed and was awarded to the city for this year’s completed work on the Historic Preservation code and public outreach.
  5. HRAB also discussed future projects that include the Historic Preservation Handbook and the Reconnaissance Level Survey of Lake Grove.

ADMINISTRATIVE LAND USE DECISIONS

Staff approved one administrative land use case LU 20-0020, a request for a Minor Variance to reduce the rear yard setback to construct a new single-family dwelling in order to preserve a large tree on Maple Street. The Notice of Decision was issued on August 26, 2020.

 

PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCES

In August, staff held five pre-application conferences as follows:

  1. PA 20-0049, Convert an existing accessory structure to an ADU on Summit Drive.
  2. PA 20-0051, Unavoidable utility crossing (sewer) in an RP District and within the Floodplain Overlay on Bryant Road.
  3. PA 20-0052, RID Review Design Variance to reduce a rear yard setback in order to construct a deck for an existing dwelling on Alder Circle.
  4. PA 20-0053, Conversion of an existing accessory structure into a detached ADU on Palisades Terrace.
  5. PA 20-0054, Minor variances to required yard setbacks in order to construct a new single-family dwelling at Tax Map/Tax Lot 21E19BA03400.

PLANNING REVIEW OF BUILDING PERMITS, SIGN PERMITS AND BUSINESS LICENSES

In the month of August, Planning staff reviewed 24 building permits, 7 sign permits and 22 business licenses.

CODE ENFORCEMENT

In August, 14 code enforcement cases were resolved without Municipal Court action.

PERMIT CENTER ACTIVITY

Customer Contacts:   During the month of August, the Permit Center was open by appointment only and closed to walk-in customers.  Staff responded to 947 phone calls, or approximately 46 customer contacts per day. Of the phone-in customers 37% were for Planning, 34% for Building, 9% for Engineering and 20% for other services.  Staff served walk in-customers via the vestibule, mailing information, posting public information signs for trees and public hearing and regular remote meetings to ensure social distancing.

Building Permit Activity: During August, Building staff issued one demolition permit on Lords Lane. Three New Single Family Residential (NSFR) applications were received, along with one application for an Accessory Dwelling Unit. Four NSFR permits were issued as follows:

  1. C Avenue
  2. Crest Drive
  3. Upper Drive
  4. Summit Drive

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 19 issued in August by Building staff, with the median days being 39. Commercial Structural Permits include Commercial, Industrial, Multi-Family and Institutional, of which there were 6, with the median days being 23.