Commissioners flag need to review 'community service' and mixed-use zoning classifications

At the July 23 meeting, members of the Troutdale Planning Commission questioned several land-use classifications in the city development code and asked staff to return with possible code updates. Commissioners singled out the broad list of "community service" uses in the General Commercial (GC) zone and asked whether some categories (for example, educational or civic uses) should be handled differently. One commissioner noted that community service uses include a wide range of items — from schools to hospitals — and questioned why some of those are conditional rather than permitted outright. Commissioner Wilcox and others discussed that community-service classification can give the public an opportunity to weigh in on nonstandard uses that may have neighborhood impacts. Commissioners also suggested reviewing whether high-density residential (HDR) zones should include a limited commercial component or mixed-use standards so long-standing businesses in rezoned areas would remain permitted without special review. Staff said the commission could direct planning staff to research classifications and return with policy options. The commission did not take formal action to change code language at the July 23 meeting, but several commissioners supported adding the topic to a future agenda for study.