West Linn Planning Commission Public Hearing for City Operations Support Facility - February 18, 2026
West Linn Planning Commission Public Hearing for City Operations Support Facility - February 18, 2026
The Planning Commission convened at 6:02 PM on February 18, 2026, to continue a quasi-judicial hearing from February 4, 2026, regarding applications CUP-25-02, DR-25-02, and WAP-25-01. The proposal seeks approval to construct a new City Operations Support Facility on vacant parcels at 23800 and 23834 Salamo Road, within the residential R10 zone. The 45-million-dollar project would consolidate operations of the Public Works, Environmental Services, Parks and Recreation, and Water and Streets departments into a single complex, replacing an undersized 1937 facility on a two-acre site. The hearing included staff presentation, applicant clarification, public testimony, and rebuttal.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Dodds (longtime resident, former Planning Commissioner) challenged the zoning of the southern portion of the site, noting that the city's official zoning map shows it as unzoned. He referenced prior city documents that anticipated a zone map amendment and argued that the commission should not approve the application until the zoning is properly determined.
- Mr. Capigan (neighbor) argued that the revised staff report was not made available at least seven days before the hearing, as required by ORS 197.979 B, and that new conditions of approval introduced that evening warranted additional public review. He requested that the record be left open for another seven days.
- William Relier (former City Council President) testified that the city council's 2021 purchase of the property was specifically for emergency staging and debris lay-down, not for a full operations facility. He also criticized the geotechnical analysis as insufficient for a high-risk landslide site, stating that the applicant had not met the burden of proof.
Discussion Items
- Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) : Staff clarified that a TIA is a submittal requirement, not an approval criterion, and that staff did not require one. The applicant voluntarily agreed to conduct a TIA as condition of approval #16. Staff argued that Salamo Road operates at Level of Service A and the site generates minimal trips (peak hour average of 7 exiting trips).
- Noise Study : Similarly, a noise study is not required as an approval criterion. The applicant offered to conduct a voluntary noise study (condition #17) to address public concerns. Staff noted the existing facility, located in a residential area, has no history of DEQ noise violations.
- Geotechnical Engineering & Slope Stability : The applicant's geotechnical engineer, Najib Kalas, confirmed that a historic landslide during I-205 construction (1960s) was man-made and has been stabilized. Over 18 borings, seismic testing, and lab analyses show the proposed buildings will rest on stable basalt bedrock. The access road fill will be reinforced with geogrid to increase stability. A final geotechnical report is conditioned prior to building permit issuance.
- Zoning Uncertainty : Although the official zoning map shows the southern portion of the site as unzoned, staff interpreted Community Development Code Section 5.040 to mean that zoning boundaries extend to the centerline of I-205, thus the entire parcel is R10. Staff acknowledged the map's inaccuracy but maintained the property is correctly zoned.
- Stormwater Management : Stormwater from impervious surfaces will be collected, filtered through proprietary cartridges, and detained before release to an on-site stream at or below existing flow rates. The project avoids direct impacts to the wetland and stream but will disturb 15,120 square feet of buffer area, with mitigation planting required at a 1:1 ratio.
- Construction Parking : During the first four weeks, fewer than 10 contractor vehicles will stage in the Salamo Road acceleration lane. All subsequent parking will be on-site; no construction parking will occur on Green Street or Barrington Drive.
Key Outcomes
- The Commission voted 6-1 (Commissioner Evans opposed) to leave the written record open until February 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM; allow the applicant to submit final written argument by March 4, 2026; and continue the hearing to March 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM for deliberation only (no additional public testimony).
- The Commission discussed the format of meeting materials (single large PDF vs. multiple smaller attachments) but took no formal action; staff will consider adjustments for future meetings.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you for your patience, everyone. Uh we are ready to begin. Okay, good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Westland Planning Commission. Today's date is Wednesday, February 18th, 2026, and it is 6.02 p.m. So first on the agenda this evening, we're going to call to order and do roll call. Thank you. All right. Um Commissioner Dietz. Present. Commissioner Kachiriski. Present. Commissioner Walotney. Here. Commissioner Jones. Oh. Commissioner Evans. I am here. Commissioner Watton. Chair Schulty Hillen. Present. All right. We have all in attendance. Next on the agenda is public comment related to land use items not on the agenda. We do not have any testimony public comment that is not for the C UP tonight. Okay. Next. Is the public hearing quasi judicial continued from February 4th, 2026. This is CUP-25-02 slash DR-25-02 slash WAP-25-01 proposal for new City of Westland operations support facility at the vacant parcel east of the Salama Road Green Street intersection. So evening. Tonight we are holding a public hearing regarding application number CUP-25-02 slash DR-25-02 slash WAP-25-01 for a conditional use permit, class two design review, and water resource area permit at 23800 and 23834 Salamo Road that was continued from the previous public hearing on February 4th, 2026. The proposal is for construction of an operations complex servicing the City of Westland's public works, environmental services, parks and recreation, and water and streets departments on two vacant lots. This is a quad quasi-judicial decision. Unlike in legislative hearings where personal opinion may come into play, quasi-judicial rulings must be grounded in the relevant code. And if the application meets the code, the commission must approve it. The hearing will proceed as follows. After the preliminary legal matters, staff will make a presentation, followed by the applicant. Then anyone who wishes to testify will be given the opportunity. Finally, there will be time for rebuttal by the applicant. The applicant will have 20 minutes initially plus 15 minutes for rebuttal. All requests to speak during public testimony have been received. Commission members may ask questions of the applicant, staff, or anyone else who testifies. If participating remotely, please remember to use the hand icon if you wish to ask questions. Please keep yourself on mute until you are ready to speak so everyone is heard clearly. I will now ask the city attorney to cover the preliminary legal matters. Thank you, Chair. The applicant has the burden of proving that the application is consistent with the City of West Lynn's Community Development Code, comprehensive plan, and any applicable municipal code provision. The criteria that must be addressed in the hearing are Chapter 11, Residential R10, Chapter 32, Water Resource Area Protection, Chapter 41, Building Height, Structures on Steep Lots, Exceptions. Chapter 42, Clear Vision Areas, Chapter 46, Off Street Parking, Loading and Reservoir Areas, Chapter 48, Access, Egress, and Circulation, Chapter 55, Design Review, Chapter 60, Conditional Uses, Chapter 96, Street Improvement Construction, Chapter 99, Procedures for Decision Making Quasi Judicial. As the Planning Commission is sitting quasi-judicially, any testimony, argument, or evidence that speakers give us must be directed at these criteria or at some other criteria in the code or comprehensive plan which you believe should apply to this decision.
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