SIGN ORDINANCE TARGETED FOR REVISIONS DOWNTOWN
New ideas for regulating signs would mean fewer of them on downtown sidewalks and none at all on the slope of window awnings. Those are just two of the suggestions for updating the city's “very confusing sign code,” explained City Planner Fred Evander. At this past week's planning commission meeting, he and the commissioners agreed that a good first step might be to identify a few storefronts for a mock try-out of revised guidelines. Currently, there are no plans to require existing signage to be changed or taken down, but discussion of the issue will continue, he said.
70-ACRE ANNEXATION APPROVED TO ADD ESTIMATED 100 HOMES
Annexation of 70 acres in a nearly 260-acre expansion of the city’s urban-growth boundary was approved by the Independence City Council at the last meeting – but the plan raised several questions, including an inquiry from the state’s Fair Housing Council.
Prompted by City Councilor Shannon Corr to address the fair-housing inquiry, City Planner Fred Evander said he thought the correspondence seemed “confused” on the issue – more than 15% of the 100-home project already has been designated as multi-family housing. “We identified it as MX (mixed use) a long time ago,” he explained. Under a new law, cities with 10,000 or more residents must allow construction of what’s been called “the missing middle housing” segment – homes between lower-rent high-volume apartment buildings and more costly single-family homes.
Councilor Corr also noted that Fire Chief Ben Stange and School Superintendent Jennifer Kubista were in the audience – and asked if they had been informed about the annexation. The proposed change has been in the works for years, Mr. Evander pointed out. “I know that I particularly brought it up to (former superintendent) Buzz on several occasions,” added Mayor John McArdle, referring to Buzz Brazeau, who retired in 2017 from Central School District and who this year became superintendent for Philomath schools.
Some residents of Monmouth’s Madrona Street also attended the meeting, and Mr. Evander said traffic concerns cited by one will be subject to a second look – once subdivision plans begin being submitted.
Wetland maps have been completed and, as required by law, were certified by the US Army Corps of Engineers, according to Chuck Goode, who owns the property. The plans include provisions for setting aside the wetlands and also for mitigating them, though it isn’t clear which option will be taken or whether the final proposal will be a combination of both. Joe Matteo, who owns a hazelnut farm next to Mr. Goode’s land, said he is worried about storm-water run-off, which could impact his crop. Mayor McArdle directed city staff to address that concern.
Prompted by City Councilor Shannon Corr to address the fair-housing inquiry, City Planner Fred Evander said he thought the correspondence seemed “confused” on the issue – more than 15% of the 100-home project already has been designated as multi-family housing. “We identified it as MX (mixed use) a long time ago,” he explained. Under a new law, cities with 10,000 or more residents must allow construction of what’s been called “the missing middle housing” segment – homes between lower-rent high-volume apartment buildings and more costly single-family homes.
Councilor Corr also noted that Fire Chief Ben Stange and School Superintendent Jennifer Kubista were in the audience – and asked if they had been informed about the annexation. The proposed change has been in the works for years, Mr. Evander pointed out. “I know that I particularly brought it up to (former superintendent) Buzz on several occasions,” added Mayor John McArdle, referring to Buzz Brazeau, who retired in 2017 from Central School District and who this year became superintendent for Philomath schools.
Some residents of Monmouth’s Madrona Street also attended the meeting, and Mr. Evander said traffic concerns cited by one will be subject to a second look – once subdivision plans begin being submitted.
Wetland maps have been completed and, as required by law, were certified by the US Army Corps of Engineers, according to Chuck Goode, who owns the property. The plans include provisions for setting aside the wetlands and also for mitigating them, though it isn’t clear which option will be taken or whether the final proposal will be a combination of both. Joe Matteo, who owns a hazelnut farm next to Mr. Goode’s land, said he is worried about storm-water run-off, which could impact his crop. Mayor McArdle directed city staff to address that concern.
MINET UPDATE
Independence expects to pay slightly more than $271,000 toward the MINET debt by year’s end, according to the city’s latest financial report. That’s 45% of the nearly $600,000 anticipated need, with the remaining 55% paid by Monmouth. In other news about the municipal company, MINET General Manager Don Patten received the Edwin B. Parker Enduring Achievement Award, which was bestowed at the Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference in Ashland, Ore. The award is given to an individual who provides “a lasting legacy,” demonstrating an influence on the future of telecommunications. In accepting the honor, Mr. Patten noted that, although his name was on it, “it is each of you that do the hard work.”
FINAL NOTE:~Faucet Spills Water on Board of Commissioners~
An overflowing sink on the second floor of the Polk County courthouse building rained down on the offices of the County Board of Commissioners last week, causing a minor flood. Hardest hit apparently was Chair Craig Pope, whose soggy floor required sopping up – everywhere, that is, but the one spot that might have been beneficial. “It missed my lemon tree,” Mr. Pope said.
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