West Linn Planning Commission Meeting – March 5, 2025: Docket & Housing Strategy
West Linn Planning Commission Meeting – March 5, 2025
The West Linn Planning Commission met on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 6:00 PM in a hybrid format at City Hall. Commissioners present: Jones, Evans, Wolvotney (Vice Chair), Watton, Schulte Hillen, and Matlin (Chair). The meeting lasted approximately 45 minutes, adjourning at 6:45 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Meeting Notes (January 15, 2025): Unanimously approved by all commissioners (motion by Commissioner Wolvotney, seconded, voice vote: all yes).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comment was received for items not on the agenda.
Discussion Items
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2025 Planning Docket: Staff planner Aaron Weiss presented the annual docket, which lists prioritized code and policy projects. The current active projects from 2024 (Waterfront, Vision 43, Housing Production Strategy) are recommended to continue. Staff proposed four new projects: (1) Climate-Friendly Equitable Communities (CFEC) Metro 2040 town center boundaries adoption (deadline end of 2025), (2) FEMA model code for salmon habitat (deadline July 31, 2025), (3) code cleanup (similar to 2024 process amendments), and (4) Housing Production Strategy implementation. Two optional projects were also discussed: an Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA) update and updates to CDC Chapters 25 (historic resources) and 58 (Willamette Falls Commercial Design Overlay). Staff recommended removing two old projects: parking standards for high schools (now moot after CFEC parking reforms) and floodplain ordinance (to be replaced by FEMA model code). Commissioners expressed support for the staff recommendations and added the EOA and chapter updates as medium-priority items. Commissioner Walotney raised the topic of tree code cleanup (deferred to a larger future project) and reminded the commission of the long‑standing “Committee for Citizen Involvement” process review project. The commission gave general approval to forward the recommended docket to City Council.
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Housing Production Strategy (HPS): Aaron Weiss reported that the HPS is moving toward adoption. A work session with the consultant team is scheduled for two weeks (focusing on the Construction Excise Tax – CET). A public hearing before the Planning Commission is set for April 2, 2025, followed by City Council consideration in late April with adoption expected in May 2025. Commissioners discussed CET (split views from the joint meeting), Strategy 6 on surplus land and land banking, and the three potential city‑owned properties identified for affordable housing: the Bolton fire station, the Skyline (Bolton reservoir) property, and the current public works yard (after the new facility is built). Commissioner Jones noted that the City is committed to implementing the strategies but can substitute strategies if needed. Commissioner Schulte Hillen asked about the timeline for Vision 43 implementation (currently working on a new mixed‑use chapter for Highway 43). The HPS adoption is a legislative resolution, not a land‑use action, so it is not appealable to LUBA.
Key Outcomes
- 2025 Planning Docket: The commission agreed to forward the staff’s recommended docket (three active projects plus four new projects) to City Council, and also to include the Economic Opportunities Analysis and historic code updates as medium‑priority items for future consideration. No formal vote was taken; consensus was expressed.
- Housing Production Strategy: The commission confirmed the schedule: work session on March 19 (focus on CET), public hearing on April 2, and adoption process through council by May 2025.
- Committee for Community Involvement Liaison: Commissioner Walotney continued as the liaison to the Committee for Community Involvement (CCI), which is developing a survey and marketing program to boost neighborhood association participation.
- Staff Announcements: The first July 2025 meeting is likely canceled (July 2 near Independence Day), with a possible second meeting in July if needed. Commissioners were reminded to complete the Oregon Government Ethics Committee (OGEC) online training (about 1–1.5 hours). The McLean House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and a celebration will be held in late spring. A CLG grant application was submitted for a historic inventory of the Robinwood neighborhood.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, well, welcome to the Westland Planning Commission meeting for Wednesday, March 5th, 2025. I'd like to call this meeting to order and ask Mr. Weiss, could you please uh call the role? Yes. Commissioner Jones. Here. Commissioner Evans. Commissioner Wolvotney. Here. Commissioner Watton. Here. Commissioner Schulte Hillen. Here. And sorry, Vice Vice Chair Wolvotney. And Chair Chair Matlin. Here. Okay. With that, we'll move on to our second item for tonight, which is public comment related items not on the agenda. Do we have anyone? No public comment this evening. Great. Thanks. All right, let's move on to our third item. Approval of meeting notes from January 15th, 2025. Does anyone have any edits or comments to make about the meeting notes? Or would like to make a motion to approve. Commissioner Walatney. If no one has any comments, I'll make a motion to approve the meeting notes for January 15th, 2025. Oh, there it is. My bad. Okay. We have a motion and a second. Please call the vote. Mr. Weiss. Commissioner Schulte Hillen. Yay. Commissioner Watton. Yes. Commissioner Evans. Yes. Commissioner Jones. Yes. Vice Chair Wolwatney. Yes. And Chair Metlin. Yes. Okay. Now to our fourth item is a discussion of the 2025 planning docket. So I believe I'll be turning it over to you, Aaron.
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