[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,75,86,98,110],{"_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",6598565,"mediaKeyId","3033138-9d0e045fb6e6deb2286283d219e06d41","parentId",3033138,"title","Washington County launches 15-month Community Development Code assessment with DLCD grant","audioSeconds",548,"startMs",3003000,"endMs",3551000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033138-9d0e045fb6e6deb2286283d219e06d41&start=3003&end=3551","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033138-9d0e045fb6e6deb2286283d219e06d41/thumbnail_3003000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6598565/Washington-County/Oregon/Washington-County-launches-15-month-Community-Development-Code-assessment-with-DLCD-grant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598565-0ee4534ba1acb24730db9b868ff21e9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775914094&Signature=K9mNOQe6rOpcFFlH74sfWVJ2aAKje6vDQmdBLcHvLd6TrcryC9ZTlQzVP8TaSF1Od8Le5HhD~FtMtaf9RZbgPYardHcYvyl1xE~iJxp4RD7Bplg6T4OEM0GXiRjuxWrM0jVNW~~YA9XBYD9tWfLTOm6h7Z0mXMpMJIUqaFtBHnQeJyn4M9lrVxOPXmpybVV~6fpWubBXOOrJCj8fqxBzx-VwDDAhOFywvc36Xjw7cxj-t9I2GsyCDMVN4uaKbknbZTFfdxRzm9eD~5~TAWUGTFF1CqjLK8XEbNAEf4OAYaGqTEsVHbpNNDHX9tS8zxwPk9Zk6wSpcfZpcUEm7QBIyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington County","date","2025-04-17T03:33:28.033Z","article","Washington County planning staff announced the start of a 15‑month Community Development Code (CDC) assessment, funded in part by a grant from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD).

The county received a $146,000 DLCD grant to pay primarily for consultant support. Suzanne Savin, senior planner, said the consultant on the contract is Cascadia Partners and that the assessment will identify inconsistent, outdated or repetitive standards and those that are not clear and objective, with a focus on how the code affects housing.

Savin said the CDC has never had a comprehensive review since its original adoption in 1983 and noted the document has grown to about 1,200 pages. \"It has become a very large and unwieldy document,\" she said. The assessment will produce two deliverables: a CDC assessment report identifying problems and high‑level recommendations, and a CDC amendments priorities report recommending the order in which code changes should be tackled. A later phase will draft code language for those changes.

The consultant team will conduct stakeholder interviews and virtual focus groups with developers, homebuilders, housing advocates, service districts, building services and engineering staff, city planning staff and community members. A project web page will provide an overview, timeline and a public comment form. Staff also plan an open house to present findings and gather public feedback.

County staff proposed a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to provide technical review and perspective. The TAC’s members are expected to include one planning commissioner (the commission selected Commissioner Rosenberry as its TAC representative during the meeting), a market‑rate developer, an affordable housing developer, representatives from Clean Water Services and Metro, traffic and road engineering staff, a housing advocacy representative, a community member, a DLCD representative, a current planning staff member and a city staff member. The TAC will meet virtually about four times during the project and will review draft products and provide input on barriers to housing and equity considerations.

Savin and staff said the CDC assessment is the first phase in a longer program to comprehensively update the code, with later phases expected to develop draft code concepts and amendments for formal review.

Planning commissioners asked about the TAC role and the commissioner representative’s responsibilities. Savin said the representative will provide perspective from the commission, bring back observations to the broader commission and act as a conduit for feedback between the TAC and the Planning Commission. Commissioner Rosenberry volunteered to serve as the commission’s TAC representative.

Staff said the timeline includes review opportunities for the Planning Commission in late 2025 and spring 2026 and that the project will incorporate state statute changes that may occur while the work is underway.

The commission did not take a formal action on CDC code changes at the meeting; the item was presented for information and to secure a commission representative for the TAC.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Washington County Land Use Planning Commission Meeting, 04/16/25","oneSentenceSummary","Washington County planning staff announced the start of a 15‑month Community Development Code assessment, funded in part by a $146,000 Department of Land Conservation and Development grant.","taxTitle","Washington County, Oregon","taxId",2762,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598547,"Planning Commission accepts March minutes and hears work program, code assessment and public records briefings",0,5054000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033138-9d0e045fb6e6deb2286283d219e06d41&start=5054&end=5054","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033138-9d0e045fb6e6deb2286283d219e06d41/thumbnail_5054000.jpg","/articles/6598547/Washington-County/Oregon/Planning-Commission-accepts-March-minutes-and-hears-work-program-code-assessment-and-public-records-briefings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598547-0162513b4d8b2f7f00322c133911bf56/orig.mp4?Expires=1775914094&Signature=dzhy4vzwKYkJKKYY9op8KYedQEykOGLXSj35jOI3FuJdoMYKmr3ECEEHCv7Q5em8HBPvVTW9ZcedEGra8zFysgLP2gNgrTrCy6sUWUT04E7au9AeJqjyXPhODaBvLaaRtI09J0An0uqweceIbpMPTHOyni7casiihwvuZqKlLYh9j~XQzvSyYdSl4u6mW9Fu4LfRZQWHeXn1EYpq6TjV18Oyy6T3cl49mCKrKmDpYz2~X8aqh6UZmdEh8z~iO6Wns-037pMRqsR1n4Rh2XzL9PoY7DTO8A2xxFh7nBlwMM--IPAYAl-kS~mPOqWVQSl0EmPW1cIpqXzPxvDwJFrooA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington County Planning Commission met on April 16, 2025. Chair Rachel Mori B. Du called roll and opened the meeting. The commission accepted the minutes from its March 19, 2025 meeting without objection. The meeting included a director’s report, a public records training presentation, a briefing on the draft 2025–27 planning work program and a detailed presentation launching the Community Development Code assessment. The commission selected Commissioner Rosenberry to serve as the Planning Commission’s representative on the CDC assessment Technical Advisory Committee. The meeting was adjourned without further action.

No formal ordinances, resolutions or code amendments were adopted at the meeting.","At its April 16 meeting the Washington County Planning Commission accepted the March 19, 2025 minutes, heard the director's report, a public records overview, a draft work program briefing and the Community Development Code assessment kickoff, and adjourned without further action.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598551,"County counsel’s overview: public records rules apply broadly to commissioners and staff",1157,467000,1624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033138-9d0e045fb6e6deb2286283d219e06d41&start=467&end=1624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033138-9d0e045fb6e6deb2286283d219e06d41/thumbnail_467000.jpg","/articles/6598551/Washington-County/Oregon/County-counsels-overview-public-records-rules-apply-broadly-to-commissioners-and-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598551-2c0acdedb73f57fc993a04963758febd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775914094&Signature=SOMX1lWVoPZ0o1kTrsxXfHczxKVkbPndwugCPBsF9Qk9edBa4IWByG0cuSeMwUq--Kup9Kr~h3m0qeHZDXHGb1QFLhz2CeaZwFOXUHsd48JY3gkT8e9ngp5uxvr1G-2q~DBFJvBCY3C0k83TS5KyLuSyhrECNTYMxjY8~NiOi9nJiMWsVuRbbQWqHQSHCQMV3uZCslS7aWEdH2Bqa33eWgcrobP~4nL4cbU-2-huo3XUrcq9yroPv3DHK0nB74jErgAkYuLlDesFSdvuRSZpC1cETcH5IbYq0NlEeiK-1ySqRMdL0Yca6rXA85FD3~bypTgW5BJeszZ0PDAhCp-tIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A county presenter provided the Planning Commission a high‑level overview of the Oregon Public Records Law and practical guidance for commissioners and staff about records and exemptions.

The presenter said the law broadly defines a public record as any \"writing\" created in service to government — including maps, photographs and preserved voicemail transcripts — unless an exemption applies. The presenter emphasized that the intent of a requester is not relevant to whether they may inspect records: corporations, media outlets and private individuals may all request public records.

The presenter reviewed common exemptions, including public safety‑sensitive materials (for example, facility emergency plans or camera locations), ongoing law enforcement investigations, business trade secrets, and medical or health information that a requester may not be entitled to receive. The presenter explained that attorney‑client privileged communications and certain internal deliberative materials can be redacted, but staff will review and justify such redactions.

The presenter reiterated that notes and communications created by commissioners in their official capacity are public records. \"If you are writing things related to your work here, that is technically a public record because you are doing it in your capacity as a planning commissioner,\" the presenter said. The presenter also said the briefing was informational and not legal advice.

Commissioners asked procedural questions about who must be carbon‑copied on communications to ensure retention; staff advised copying a designated staff member (for example, Todd) to ensure a maintained public record and retention under county systems.

The presenter encouraged commissioners to be mindful about email and written communications because they may be subject to disclosure and recommended coordinating with staff when in doubt about retention or exemptions.","A county presenter gave a high‑level briefing on the Oregon Public Records Law, describing what counts as a public record, common exemptions and practical advice for commissioners about emails and notes made in their official capacity.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598555,"County plans online permitting rollout, proposes 8.5% fee increase and small new fees for compliance and planning",395,78000,473000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033138-9d0e045fb6e6deb2286283d219e06d41&start=78&end=473","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033138-9d0e045fb6e6deb2286283d219e06d41/thumbnail_78000.jpg","/articles/6598555/Washington-County/Oregon/County-plans-online-permitting-rollout-proposes-85-fee-increase-and-small-new-fees-for-compliance-and-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598555-1d042702a890eb28af902e756f821660/orig.mp4?Expires=1775914094&Signature=YwR8ciDPakxOjaBhbQ6-j2p17Wa-qCQfOemdqUDQbc7mHpf6G8bvsbaon4zcP1haRXHU8WOKSeuFxhD-eSbDd3xeqdXH~Sgaf6wxTk3rrN7rtcZ5DymIPsDLMRKb1stAO-wxhWAzQVcQ4I2~9uXpgAgIUNLOVvWbzldHnvK99jJ-z8ZvSGxcdskd5T7FIyaWx2V3k8CYtGQLEfeQ3TIbLsVCrQP~u6CuMoLSCXKPcnYaetiyTY5thBwIKEwfAE2zLF~0N81RP1Z2DNNeihDMsMeDT8Rk4-qgOMBD6r3Lf5KxE2G1bQ-7u05zkScAqKaTM2YEXoQUm1W~nb7HVddivQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Washington County staff briefed the Planning Commission on near‑term changes to permitting and proposed fee adjustments intended to stabilize permit program reserves and fund county planning work.

An unidentified county staff member delivering the director’s report said the county has just implemented an online application process for trade permits (building, plumbing, mechanical) with an eventual rollout to full building permits and a refined online process planned for current planning (land‑use) applications. Staff noted a roughly 60‑day timeline for beta testing the land‑use online application and said going digital should reduce manual data entry and improve transparency by allowing documents to be posted immediately online.

The same staff member described proposed fee changes: an overall proposed 8.5% increase across both current planning and building services, driven in part by a county decision to pick up 6% of PERS costs this year and other one‑time county cost increases. To reduce general‑fund cuts to code compliance and community planning, staff proposed two additional fees: a 0.004% fee on building permits to support the code compliance program and an additional 0.04% fee to support community planning. Staff characterized those new fees as designed to offset otherwise significant general fund reductions for those programs.

Staff also described a new workflow tool, Project Docs, to streamline service provider letters where the county is the service provider or where development in a city accesses a county road. Tony Mills was identified as the county staff contact for Project Docs.

Other director’s‑report items included a development forum held last Thursday with about 30 participants to discuss technology changes and development review improvements, and staff noted the next development forum will be Oct. 9. Metro’s Regional Flexible Fund Allocation (RFFA) step‑2 public comment period was noted as open through April 30. Staff reminded commissioners of a volunteer appreciation event April 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wingspan Event Center in Hillsboro; RSVPs were due the next day.

Commissioners asked whether online permitting will save time for applicants. Staff said early expectations are modest time savings (\"at least a day to two days\" on trade permits) and faster routing and improved transparency for current planning when applications are digital. Staff said they are also migrating to a newer cloud version of Accela to improve reporting and workflow transparency.","Washington County staff told the Planning Commission they are launching online trade‑permit applications, preparing an eventual online land use application, and proposing an 8.5% across‑the‑board fee increase plus two small new fees to stabilize reserves and support code compliance and community planning.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598560,"Washington County planning staff present draft 2025–27 work program emphasizing housing and fiscal responsibility",1249,1528000,2777000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3033138-9d0e045fb6e6deb2286283d219e06d41&start=1528&end=2777","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3033138-9d0e045fb6e6deb2286283d219e06d41/thumbnail_1528000.jpg","/articles/6598560/Washington-County/Oregon/Washington-County-planning-staff-present-draft-202527-work-program-emphasizing-housing-and-fiscal-responsibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598560-3ad5087d1f22bb81d2e4fa4a24a4bbe3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775914094&Signature=S1Yx4K6rXCjbavwUq1LW6LAs2s5QENe9seXVsinWJINZNPqy~-961pI94nVOgP-RgJ2aqysuRQvDRmq5Z1FKKtVU5HCaJ5x7OOEU-tYl2TieMgH2D2s4c--yKiJPfZjptBpoQMMjNxiPNxgwfRC7i5CTgSwDa69raYOZwcJ549D1I0Gfo0SsdzSoyGCuDQPstExJIjVyKowJXo13VjKyf2HN4p31wHtBY7ULTvsaDkSxbLN8Bpq6CYAAug3272k-h-snYHmWuVyr6FqapPyV4M7BqM2JeLB-ZAvN7Kak61vveIUW3v3O-oyp-A4GGRGTIBwZ3MZFS9mnfpz5dqXTfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning staff presented a draft planning work program for the 2025–27 biennium that the county will release for public comment, with adoption expected by the Board of Commissioners in July 2025.

Theresa Cherniak, community planning section manager, described the program’s five themes: housing production and affordability; natural resources and climate; multimodal transportation system planning and funding; planning code updates; and a new fiscal responsibility category. Staff emphasized that much of the work is mandated by state statute or rulemaking and that staff capacity and budget constraints shape the program’s achievable scope.

Key initiatives flagged in the draft include: developing a housing capacity analysis and housing production strategies (work that must be completed in future cycles), a rural accessory dwelling unit ordinance, continued updates to significant natural resource protections in rural areas, land use changes to comply with Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities rules (including pedestrian‑friendly design), adopting town center boundaries identified in Metro’s 2040 plan (notably Raleigh Hills), and model ordinance language to address FEMA pre‑implementation floodplain compliance.

On transportation, staff described scoping for a major Transportation System Plan (TSP) update (primarily locally funded), updates to the county’s complete streets design standards and cross sections, and near‑term work on the Transportation Safety Action Plan. Staff also noted continuing involvement with neighboring cities on urban growth boundary (UGB) expansions and updates to urban planning area agreements, citing Sherwood and a possible North Plains relook.

Under the fiscal responsibility theme, staff highlighted two ongoing studies: an urban services framework examining the financial and practical considerations of providing urban services (sewer, water, fire, parks) to unincorporated urban areas and an assessment of the interim park system development charge program where the current fee is lower than that charged by Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD).

Cherniak said the draft table that usually goes to the Board was not ready at the time of the commission briefing; staff plan to release the draft for public comment beginning the coming Friday and keep an online open house open until May 30, 2025. Staff will bring a recommended final work program to the Board for adoption in July 2025.

Commissioners asked about how adoption proceeds at the board (staff said the work program is not an ordinance and typically is adopted at a single meeting after public comment and any recommended changes). Several commissioners requested more orientation material and incremental check‑ins, and Vice Chair Monte Blanco asked for more guidance to help new commissioners navigate the CDC and the county’s planning documents.","Staff outlined the draft planning work program for the 2025–27 biennium, prioritizing housing production and affordability, climate and natural resources, multimodal transportation and a new fiscal responsibility category that includes an urban services framework and park SDC assessment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Washington County launches 15-month Community Development Code assessment with DLCD grant

Planning Commission accepts March minutes and hears work program, code assessment and public records briefings

County counsel’s overview: public records rules apply broadly to commissioners and staff

County plans online permitting rollout, proposes 8.5% fee increase and small new fees for compliance and planning

Washington County planning staff present draft 2025–27 work program emphasizing housing and fiscal responsibility