Planning commission recommends rezoning 7177 Columbia Blvd. to enable police station

The St. Helens Planning Commission recommended that City Council rezone 7177 Columbia Boulevard from General Commercial to the Holton Business District and forwarded that recommendation at its public hearing.

Planning staff described the measure as a map amendment and emphasized it was a recommendation to council, not final approval: "The public hearing is now open. This is a legislative land use hearing," Chair Shoemaker said at the start of the hearing, and planning staff later said, "we're simply talking about changing the color of the zoning map, to enact the different zoning group, which allows things, such as a police station." The commission voted 4-0 to recommend the zone change.

Why it matters: Planning staff told commissioners the amendment would correct a small area of General Commercial zoning surrounded by Holton Business District zoning — what staff described as a form of spot zoning — restore the map boundary originally considered in 2009 and make explicit that a public safety facility, including a police station, is a permitted use in the district. Staff also said the amendment would not change the comprehensive plan designation and therefore does not require a comprehensive-plan map amendment.

Staff presentation and background

Jacob (planning staff) told the commission the site is the former PGE building and that the City of St. Helens is the applicant for the map amendment. He traced the issue back to zoning work done around 2007–2009 when the city created tailored districts such as Riverfront District and the Holton Business District. He said rules adopted earlier prohibited first-floor residential in parts of the Holton Business District, creating nonconforming residential uses on some lots; those restrictions were removed in 2015. Because multifamily housing (three units or more) is already allowed in both General Commercial and the Holton Business District, staff said the change is neutral for housing quantity but broadens variety of residential types allowed in that block, which staff linked to Statewide Planning Goal 10 (housing).

Staff identified three reasons for the proposed amendment: "1, to clean up some things from the past; 2, because the city council has selected the site as the full under full utility release station" (the site being the lead candidate for the police station); and 3, to align the zoning map with the intent of prior code and map work. Staff also noted that one use that would no longer be possible in the Holton Business District is RV parks, but that staff did not consider the site suited to that use.

Public testimony and applicant status

Planning staff said he had spoken with the property owner, Wayne Weigand, who was described as aware of the proposal and "a little nervous" about the change because of RV parking concerns. Staff emphasized that the hearing is a recommendation to council and that no development approvals or building permits are being granted as part of the map amendment.

Deliberation and vote

After closing the public record, a commissioner moved to recommend the rezoning per the staff report. The motion was seconded; the commission recorded aye votes from Commissioner Kingsbury, Commissioner Herman, Vice Chair Sisco and Commissioner Kester. Planning staff said the commission's action will be forwarded to City Council for a final decision.

Council liaison and related development context

Councilor Hubbard, the city council liaison, addressed the commission later in the meeting and reiterated that the site had been considered through prior multi-site selection processes and that the city is still resolving financial and ownership details for the police station project. Hubbard encouraged the commission to stay involved on architectural review and storefront/facade design for the area. He also said the city has been in early-stage talks with a developer about riverfront parking and waterfront development; legal counsel advised that, because of prior public process, the city can directly solicit a developer rather than run a new open RFP.

Next steps

The commission's recommendation will be transmitted to the St. Helens City Council for a public hearing and final action. Planning staff and the council liaison indicated additional, later reviews (design, site plan, and development approvals) would occur if and when the city or a developer pursues a police station at the site.