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Record of Proceedings

Cornelius Planning Commission Meeting - December 9, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, December 9, 2025
BodyCornelius, Oregon
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, December 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:18:45

Original source
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0:05

We have an agenda, and it is 701.

0:08

It is December 9th, 2025.

0:12

We are the planning commission for the city of Cornelius.

0:16

We are in the city council chambers on a nice moist December evening.

0:23

And so tonight we have four sets of minutes to consider, two uh legislative applications for which we will hold the public hearing, and then some uh a presentation, and then we'll talk about our schedule for the new year.

0:44

Okay.

0:48

So we will uh call the meeting to order, and if you would call the roll, please.

0:56

Commissioner Baker.

0:58

Present.

0:59

Commissioner Hinze present.

1:02

Vice Chair Owens.

1:04

Present.

1:05

Chair Waffle.

1:06

Present.

1:07

All present.

1:09

All right.

1:10

Um the first items are uh approval of planning commission minutes of uh earlier this year, June 24, August 12th, September 9, September 23rd, uh oh five sets, September 20, uh September 9th, September 23rd, and October 28th.

1:30

Um the uh Ms.

1:34

City Recorder, um, can you advise us if we were the about our ability to vote on these even if we did not attend the meeting?

1:45

What's your advice?

1:48

Yes, uh, even if you did not attend the meeting, you can vote on the minutes.

1:54

Did you want me to say more?

1:56

So we don't have to abstain.

1:58

You do not have to abstain.

2:00

Um even if you weren't on the commission when that meeting happened, you can still vote on the minutes.

2:06

Okay.

2:06

All right.

2:07

Can we combine them like I moved for the minutes to get adopted on for the Tuesday, October 28th, June 4th?

2:17

Yeah.

2:18

Okay.

2:21

So do we have a uh a motion to approve any or all of these minutes?

2:29

My motion to approve all minutes.

2:31

All right.

2:32

Is there a second?

2:36

I'll second that motion.

2:38

Okay.

2:39

I have one just a typo to correct.

2:43

Um if I can find it.

2:57

No, I don't.

2:57

Disregard.

2:58

All right.

2:59

Uh all those in favor of approving these five sets of minutes.

3:04

Um the uh June 24, August 12, September 9, September 23, and October 28th.

3:12

Uh please say aye.

3:13

If you're in favor, aye.

3:16

And opposed.

3:17

Same.

3:18

All right.

3:19

All the all sets of minutes are approved.

3:23

Thank you very much.

3:28

So with that, we will go into our first public hearing of the evening.

3:33

It is a uh legislative action, as both of them are.

3:37

Uh the uh this is a public hearing on a parks master plan.

3:43

It is comprehensive plan amendment uh 2025-02.

3:49

Uh the applicant is the city of Cornelius.

3:52

Um it affects multiple properties throughout the city, and it is a type four legislative comprehensive plan amendment to repeal the current parks master plan and replace it with a new parks master plan.

4:07

The it affects various zones throughout the city, and the criteria that are applicable are statewide planning goals, the Metro Urban Growth Management Functional Plan, the Cornelius Comprehensive Plan Amendment Criteria, and uh the Cornelius Municipal Code, Chapter 18.130 comprehensive plan amendment procedures.

4:35

Um with that, let's see if there's anything else I'd like to get into the record.

4:45

So we have both a staff report and then the then the extensive plan document itself.

4:52

Uh the uh I will uh then turn it over.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation███████████████████████████████████35%
Urban Planning████████████████████20%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Land Use████4%
Transportation Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Cornelius Planning Commission Meeting - December 9, 2025

The Cornelius Planning Commission held a regular meeting on December 9, 2025, at 8:00 PM in the city council chambers. The meeting included approval of multiple sets of minutes, two public hearings on legislative comprehensive plan amendments, and a staff presentation on improving public testimony materials. All recommendations were made to the city council.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: Five sets of planning commission minutes (June 24, August 12, September 9, September 23, and October 28, 2025) were approved unanimously. Commissioners were advised they could vote on minutes even if they did not attend those meetings.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Neither public hearing received any oral or written testimony from the public. No speakers appeared in person or online for either the Parks Master Plan or the Urban Planning Area Agreement amendments.

Discussion Items

  • Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2025-02 – Parks Master Plan: Staff presented a new Parks Master Plan to replace the 2009 plan. The plan provides a blueprint for the city's park system, which has doubled from 25 to over 54 acres since the last plan. Key changes include new community parks, pocket parks, trails, and a community center concept. Staff reviewed compliance with statewide planning goals (especially Goal 8 – recreation), Metro’s Urban Growth Management Functional Plan, and city comprehensive plan criteria. The plan includes extensive public engagement (surveys, community events, work sessions). Commissioners noted a typo (missing beginning year in a population growth statement) and expressed appreciation for the plan’s stewardship and risk management sections. No opposition was raised.
  • Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2025-03 – Urban Planning Area Agreement (UPAA): Staff presented an updated UPAA to replace the 1988 Washington County/Cornelius agreement. The new agreement clarifies jurisdictional boundaries within the urban growth boundary, corrects outdated designations (e.g., a cemetery still classified as industrial), and reflects annexations and growth since 1988. Staff noted the county is also amending the Forest Grove map to resolve a parcel split over natural resources. Commissioners discussed future efforts to expand the urban growth boundary through the state legislature.
  • Staff Presentation on Public Testimony Improvements: Staff introduced a draft handout and poster board aimed at helping community members understand how to provide testimony that addresses decision criteria. Ideas included a simplified “who we are” FAQ and application-specific criteria displays. Commissioners supported the effort, suggesting a debrief and addition of a FAQ section for those unfamiliar with quasi-judicial processes.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Minutes: The five sets of minutes were approved unanimously.
  • Recommended Parks Master Plan (CPA 2025-02): The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the comprehensive plan amendment to the city council for adoption.
  • Recommended Urban Planning Area Agreement (CPA 2025-03): The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the updated UPAA to the city council, with a note about needed map cleanup.
  • Next Steps: The city council will hold public hearings on both amendments on January 5, 2026. Staff will refine the testimony materials for future meetings. Upcoming work sessions include a January 13, 2026 work session on code amendments and a January 27, 2026 hearing on a transportation system plan map amendment.

Meeting Transcript

We have an agenda, and it is 701. It is December 9th, 2025. We are the planning commission for the city of Cornelius. We are in the city council chambers on a nice moist December evening. And so tonight we have four sets of minutes to consider, two uh legislative applications for which we will hold the public hearing, and then some uh a presentation, and then we'll talk about our schedule for the new year. Okay. So we will uh call the meeting to order, and if you would call the roll, please. Commissioner Baker. Present. Commissioner Hinze present. Vice Chair Owens. Present. Chair Waffle. Present. All present. All right. Um the first items are uh approval of planning commission minutes of uh earlier this year, June 24, August 12th, September 9, September 23rd, uh oh five sets, September 20, uh September 9th, September 23rd, and October 28th. Um the uh Ms. City Recorder, um, can you advise us if we were the about our ability to vote on these even if we did not attend the meeting? What's your advice? Yes, uh, even if you did not attend the meeting, you can vote on the minutes. Did you want me to say more? So we don't have to abstain. You do not have to abstain. Um even if you weren't on the commission when that meeting happened, you can still vote on the minutes. Okay. All right. Can we combine them like I moved for the minutes to get adopted on for the Tuesday, October 28th, June 4th? Yeah. Okay. So do we have a uh a motion to approve any or all of these minutes? My motion to approve all minutes. All right. Is there a second? I'll second that motion. Okay. I have one just a typo to correct. Um if I can find it. No, I don't. Disregard. All right. Uh all those in favor of approving these five sets of minutes. Um the uh June 24, August 12, September 9, September 23, and October 28th. Uh please say aye. If you're in favor, aye. And opposed. Same. All right. All the all sets of minutes are approved. Thank you very much.

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