Staff previews floodplain code updates, planning schedule and subdivision appeal outcome

City planning staff told The Dalles Planning Commission on May 15 that the city is moving forward on floodplain code updates, mailings to affected property owners, schedule changes for upcoming meetings and that the city council denied an appeal of the Alfred Subdivision approval.

Sandy Freund, senior planner, said the city is adopting updated floodplain provisions based largely on the 2020 model code and has sent the draft to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) and to FEMA for review. Freund said the city will issue Ballot Measure 56 notices to impacted property owners and property owners who may be affected when new maps are adopted next year; she cautioned that required notice language "may impact your property values" can alarm recipients and encouraged commissioners to direct callers to staff for information.

Freund also announced schedule changes: the June 19 commission meeting will be canceled for the Juneteenth holiday, July 3 is undetermined and July 17 will be a joint planning commission–city council meeting to discuss an ongoing economic opportunities analysis that staff expects to seek adoption of in September. Freund said the economic-opportunities work had just been kicked off earlier that day.

On the Alfred Subdivision appeal, Freund reported the planning commission's earlier denial of the appeal had been affirmed by city council, resulting in final city approval of the subdivision. She cautioned the approval could still be appealed to the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). Freund also said staff will explore a hearings officer program over the next year, noting council and commission interest but that staff wants to "make sure it's the right thing for us" before implementation.

Commissioners asked no further questions during the staff-update period and the meeting adjourned shortly after the updates.