Troutdale planners find no systemic code problem after 10-year variance review; most variances tied to unique lot conditions

Troutdale planning staff told the Planning Commission on July 9 that a 10-year review of variance requests found 31 approvals and six denials and concluded there is no single code provision producing repeat hardship requests.

The finding came in a presentation by Nick Ramstead, assistant planner, who summarized his memo and told commissioners, “Variances over the past 10 years, we approved 31. We denied 6.” He said most approvals included conditions to make proposals work rather than rejection.

The presentation explained why that pattern does not, in staff’s view, indicate a broken code. “After staff review, it appears the most common occurring variances are unique occurrences specific to the subject properties,” Ramstead said. He noted the most frequently requested variances involve structure height, signs and setbacks but added that those requests usually reflect…