West Linn staff advance CDC 'cleanup' changes but pull limited land‑use decision proposal for attorney review

At its July 16 meeting, the West Linn Planning Commission heard a staff presentation on a package of Community Development Code (CDC) “cleanup” amendments and was told staff will move forward with three technical amendments while pulling a fourth, more substantive change for legal review.

The three topics staff proposed to carry forward are (1) clarified minimum/maximum density calculations and standardized definitions for “developable gross area” and “developable net area,” (2) a clarification to the partition minimum‑density exemption so a small land division cannot be used to evade minimum density requirements, and (3) new, objective standards to encourage rectilinear (square or rectangular) newly created lots. Planning staff said they will remove topic 4 — a proposed change to limited land‑use decisionmaking that would have shifted some Class 2 design reviews and subdivision decisions away from public hearings before the Planning Commission — and return that item after consultation with the city attorney.

Darren Weiss, planning staff, told the commission: “we're proposing to pull out topic 4 from the code amendment package, and just move forward with the first 3 topics, and then circle back to the planning commission with topic 4 after I can get together with the city attorney's office.” The Planning Commission scheduled a public hearing on topics 1–3 for August 6, 2025; topic 4 will be returned to the commission at a later date for discussion.

What staff would change

• Density…