[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6662913,"mediaKeyId","2391800-351cb2e4a0a504c062064e855c79ff57","parentId",2391800,"title","Klamath County planning staff warn of budget shortfall; fee increases and service changes possible","audioSeconds",336,"startMs",5517000,"endMs",5853000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391800-351cb2e4a0a504c062064e855c79ff57&start=5517&end=5853","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391800-351cb2e4a0a504c062064e855c79ff57/thumbnail_5517000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6662913/Klamath-County/Oregon/Klamath-County-planning-staff-warn-of-budget-shortfall-fee-increases-and-service-changes-possible","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6662913-7c065d1ec6235b8ea7cd23d0344d951c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148599&Signature=XXOlx0HjLVieaNLFaHIxaLTGrcJvA2KeotsDxSyMXTs6GUYryZ1vb7H6qn8B7lEFaXMD7OrqSkF1~POP~Pdrn1lfO0eLOD5q-LcP1peb7CdQXqD6YrTTUQzF0-aKkKP76rT0bFeVEUME45-ohCJOaGNpttB7eeMjhEBb5TpvFLlsubBvenAzbuFVR8y-AM0VYYQfWpf3AFzP9wL--f1CFrEYpYA0eqaNP4nq-ntHFFWZPE-YqkPtS1E0IeQeXHM5W5wUb2Gr6UD1Wu3YD-TcSjMkLEUdcUaOcLD7iNimeRRpvMVYAvFybUsY9xfsv6fkSG9UrMppxI~j6-9ecC~WhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Klamath County","date","2025-02-26T04:33:16.933Z","article","Planning Department staff told the Klamath County Planning Commission that the department is facing a multi-year budget shortfall and will ask the Board of Commissioners for direction during the county\u0000budget process.

Justin Throne and department staff presented a summary of permit activity and fee revenue, saying the department currently receives no general-fund support and has relied on one-time American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to cover operations in recent years. Throne said the department's fee revenue in 2024 covered about $225,000 of the department's costs, while expenses (including internal service charges such as GIS and building occupancy costs) are materially higher and reserves have been used to balance the account. Staff estimated they are roughly $60,000 short to make next fiscal year work if no changes are made and that, once ARPA funds are exhausted, the shortfall would increase to about $260,000.

The department outlined options: (1) request general-fund support from the Board of Commissioners (the board has asked departments to program a 30% cut across many budgets); (2) phase in fee increases over multiple years to avoid a single large jump (an immediate 200% fee increase was mentioned as a raw math example but staff proposed a phased approach instead); (3) rely on large, one-time fee projects (for example, major solar projects) to replenish reserves; or (4) reduce staffing and extend permit-review timelines. Staff warned that cutting planning staff would increase lead times for applicants and reduce the department's ability to provide front-counter assistance and pre-application services.

Commissioners and Planning Commission members discussed the tradeoffs and asked staff to bring detailed alternatives to the Board of Commissioners and the budget committee in March and April. Staff said they will present a set of options to the board in March, with the budget committee review in April and a final budget adoption scheduled for June.

Why it matters: The Planning Department is the county's front line for development review; sustained reductions in staff or services could slow permitting and affect local development activity, utility coordination and infrastructure projects.

Next steps: Staff will prepare a budget request package and formal alternatives for the Board of Commissioners in March and will participate in the budget committee process in April. Staff asked the commission for feedback on priorities and signaled they would email a summary to commissioners following the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2-25-2025 BOCC Planning Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","Klamath County Planning Department staff told the Planning Commission the department has exhausted ARPA one-time funds and faces structural budget shortfalls; options discussed include phased fee increases, further ARPA draws and possible staffing reductions that would lengthen permit review timelines.","taxTitle","Klamath County, Oregon","taxId",52087,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6662917,"Planning commission and county approve rezoning of 0.54-acre Austin Street lot to light industrial",1805,3566000,5371000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391800-351cb2e4a0a504c062064e855c79ff57&start=3566&end=5371","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391800-351cb2e4a0a504c062064e855c79ff57/thumbnail_3566000.jpg","/articles/6662917/Klamath-County/Oregon/Planning-commission-and-county-approve-rezoning-of-054-acre-Austin-Street-lot-to-light-industrial","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6662917-bf6ed972bb8ac82a21c8fe4358db5408/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148599&Signature=XEYj~xdfpmkpIQXVKHu5kTtnNSOZbu1Jj9m6erdN3HxQm8TmyTO9gucSwJoAZX9~FwIoJ7KuPMuyYkEgdTx~2gr1iGBGsVPnhc7LUCwDnU-pmRtV3WG79DiWmOnWu8rd1uJmF9tONzJZfj38I4qPT2JBT9OcKQxWiiXbCJdYEP4lJhpdzA6KMwJzd8-WkJShBocU0aL5XsDzNgs-HdR9N5U7nFmGDsFCWTgJexVOqeuIQL~RahYTaSmuVSZ61Dr-ru6pQFWSqqVkT297I5WCgk2Buo4IkMjAtIOUdvIuAm3Akhttnv9DYZOQez6oN5SVJSls6mJfpu0wwTB-1Xorhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Klamath County planning officials approved a comprehensive-plan map amendment and zone change for a 0.54-acre parcel at 3303 Austin Street, changing the designation from suburban residential to light industrial to allow a small automotive/repair-shop use, subject to commercial site-plan review and county Public Works sign-off.

Planning staff presented the site, inside the county urban growth boundary but outside city limits, as surrounded on multiple sides by existing light industrial uses and vacant industrial land. Justin Throne said the parcel sits adjacent to existing light-industrial parcels and that South Suburban Sanitary District and local fire officials had responded with no objection after a pre-application review. Throne noted the change would reduce the county\u0000industrial land deficit by a small amount and that no public comments had been received on the application.

The Planning Commission moved, on findings in the staff report, to recommend adoption of the requested comprehensive-plan and zoning changes from residential (suburban residential RS) to light industrial (IL). The motion required completion of a commercial or industrial site-plan review and final order requiring consultation and sign-off from Klamath County Public Works on stormwater and infrastructure. Planning Commissioner Jennifer Fairfield made the motion; a second was recorded and the commission voted to recommend approval.

At the joint meeting, the Board of Commissioners voted to uphold the Planning Commission recommendation with the same conditions. Commissioners emphasized the role of the required site-plan review in addressing details such as off-street parking and drainage; Justin Throne and agency commenters said those technical matters would be evaluated at the site-plan stage.

Why it matters: The rezoning converts a small inholding of residential-designated land within an industrial neighborhood to light industrial, responding to local demand for small industrial parcels within the urban growth boundary. County staff stressed that the approval does not authorize construction or change of use until site-plan review is complete and agency sign-offs obtained.

Implementation notes: The applicant and county must complete a commercial site-plan review that will evaluate parking, stormwater drainage and other site-specific design and infrastructure matters before any permits are issued.","Klamath County planning staff, the Planning Commission and the Board of Commissioners approved changing a 0.54-acre parcel on Austin Street from suburban residential to light industrial, subject to site-plan review and Public Works sign-off on drainage and other infrastructure.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6662921,"Klamath County planning bodies approve rezone for 2.5-acre Pinot Grande site with limits on uses and traffic",3342,270000,3612000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391800-351cb2e4a0a504c062064e855c79ff57&start=270&end=3612","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391800-351cb2e4a0a504c062064e855c79ff57/thumbnail_270000.jpg","/articles/6662921/Klamath-County/Oregon/Klamath-County-planning-bodies-approve-rezone-for-25-acre-Pinot-Grande-site-with-limits-on-uses-and-traffic","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6662921-b6337c66d433e2fd05a3a46497a4b6fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148599&Signature=lymzga0UH-gktbTGsLP0wges9lpMmcHbCPBY2ZQLgQV9Geto470maFk2nHNPpSB8snOYmyrVCP44lmtMZ1Fh-oj3-5yDReoyoAa90J3BdZslk~LQisq2VC83aqU2TcEywFYkcivFJFa8YD64qrN-bs7AHX-PdqivbQb1eMf~w0x8NpX3zoP1RDHuAZlDFClTQ8HZnq76AbNFQ1iE~-n~YavZxxPzAKoAyvfmsBtY8xsc2qsNcijtNwVazDyT73hRkuGxuqdNd05Sl51cDa6hRXhDYbknJIizzKFCFNEukNRvtaBuE4NUF4LyrbI3Gvo6bpEa6dAnmZb5DH9Cm0Twrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Klamath County planning staff and elected officials approved a comprehensive-plan map amendment and zone change for a 2.5-acre parcel along Highway 97 near Chiloquin so the parcel can be used as a headquarters and equipment yard for a reforestation and firefighting contractor.

The recommendation from the Klamath County Planning Commission — and the Board of Commissioners\u0000decision to uphold that recommendation later in the joint meeting on Feb. 25, 2025 — converts the parcel\u0000from agricultural resource (Exclusive Farm Use, EFUCG) to Transportation Commercial (CT) with a limited-use overlay restricting permitted activities and a traffic cap agreed with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).

Planning staff described the property as a longstanding, nonconforming small parcel (roughly 2.5 acres) with no surface- or groundwater rights and several preexisting nonfarm dwellings nearby. Justin Throne, planning staff, told the commission that the parcel is effectively isolated from productive farmland by the Williamson River and a railroad and that the only applicable exception to resource-land protection that fit this situation was an \"irrevocably committed\" exception under Oregon land-use rules. Throne also said ODOT reviewed the proposal and had agreed to a condition capping traffic to 400 daily trips and 40 peak-hour trips for uses allowed on the site.

Applicant representative Dave O'Connor told the hearing the operator is a forestry and firefighting company that plans to use the lot for fleet storage, heavy equipment maintenance and administrative support for reforestation work and wildfire response, not for general retail or public-serving commercial uses. \"They're not proposing a full-on commercial spot,\" O'Connor said. O'Connor also said the property had been cleaned and cleared by the applicant since purchase and that the owner does not expect routine agricultural use to be practical given the lack of water rights.

The Planning Commission motion, made by Planning Commissioner Jennifer Fairfield, recommended approval with two primary conditions: adoption of a limited-use overlay under Klamath County Land Development Code article 59.08 restricting uses to a headquarters and facilities for area reforestation activities (administration, fleet storage, heavy equipment repair and related activities allowed in CT); and a requirement that any commercial or industrial site-plan review receive sign-off from Chiloquin Fire & Rescue on water-supply and fuel-break standards and from Klamath County Public Works on stormwater and infrastructure matters. The commission further recommended the traffic cap (400 daily/40 peak) as a condition vetted by ODOT.

The Board of Commissioners subsequently moved to uphold the Planning Commission recommendation with the same conditions; the chair recorded an \"aye\" and the motion carried. The final approvals require a subsequent commercial site-plan review and final order before any building permits or occupancy for commercial activities are issued.

Why it matters: The change requires a formally adopted exception to the county's resource-land policies and narrows the eventual uses on the site through a limited-use overlay and agency sign-offs. The restrictions are intended to prevent spot zoning that would allow higher-traffic, public-serving businesses adjacent to a constrained segment of Highway 97 while permitting a reforestation and firefighting operations base that proponents say will support wildfire response in the region.

Implementation notes: The approvals do not authorize immediate construction. The applicant must complete a commercial site-plan review and secure sign-off from Chiloquin Fire & Rescue and County Public Works; ODOT may also take enforcement steps if the permitted trip cap is exceeded.

","The Klamath County Planning Commission recommended and the County Board of Commissioners approved changing a 2.5-acre parcel near Chiloquin from Exclusive Farm Use (EFUCG) to Transportation Commercial (CT) for a reforestation headquarters, subject to a limited-use overlay, site-plan review and a trip cap vetted with ODOT.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Klamath County planning staff warn of budget shortfall; fee increases and service changes possible

Planning commission and county approve rezoning of 0.54-acre Austin Street lot to light industrial

Klamath County planning bodies approve rezone for 2.5-acre Pinot Grande site with limits on uses and traffic