Council approves annexation and residential zoning for former rail right-of-way tied to future Mount Fir trail

The Independence City Council on Aug. 26 adopted an ordinance annexing a roughly 50-foot-wide former rail right-of-way and designating the parcel residential, a city planner said.
Fred Evan, the city planner, told the council the property is "a small, about 50 foot wide right of way, toward the south end of the community" that once belonged to the M. M. Olson Timber Company. He said the strip was bought at one point with a State Parks grant and carries a recreational restriction on part of the corridor. "This rail right away is envisioned to be either the future Mountain For Extension or a trail associated with the future Mountain For Avenue Extension," Evan said.
Evan said bringing the right-of-way into city limits would allow the city to control how any future road or trail is designed instead of relying on county review. He reviewed his analysis under the "Oregon State planning goals," the "Independence comprehensive plan" and the "Independence film code administrative section, subchapter 11, subchapter 12, and subchapter 14," and recommended approval.
The council read Council Bill 2025-07 and adopted the ordinance; staff identified the adopted ordinance as ordinance number 1627. A motion to read the proposed ordinance for the first reading was made by Councilor Morton and seconded by Councilor Martin Lewis; subsequent readings and a final adoption vote were taken and the ordinance passed.
The annexation, described in meeting materials as AX 2025-02, covers a remaining portion of a former railroad right-of-way and is intended to support a future transportation corridor and trail connections to a planned river-side trail at the south end of town, Evan said. The staff report noted the annexation does not require separate Planning Commission review because it combines annexation and zone change in a single application.
Why it matters: annexation and zoning change places the city in control of design standards for a corridor that staff say is a key transportation and recreation connection. Councilors asked limited questions during the hearing; a representative noted that the city of Long Beach sent an email on Aug. 19 supporting the annexation for its water access implications.
The council did not attach conditions or immediate development approvals beyond the zoning designation; future design and implementation decisions will follow city processes and any applicable restrictions stemming from the State Parks grant.