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Commissioners question infrastructure, duplex potential and emergency access for large phased housing project
Summary
Commissioners discussed a phased housing development of roughly 400 homes, emergency access, infrastructure responsibilities, potential duplex conversions, and links to the city's housing needs analysis and urban growth boundary projects. No formal land-use decisions were made at the meeting.
Members of the Coos Bay Planning Commission spent part of the meeting discussing a proposed phased housing development with roughly 400 homes and related infrastructure and zoning questions. The item was a discussion; no final land-use decision or vote was recorded.
Commissioners and staff described the project as phased, with public improvements and infrastructure required ‘‘right before’’ new homes come online. Staff said an approved secondary emergency access currently connects to Fulton off Radar Road — described in the meeting as an emergency-only access, with use dependent on obtaining necessary easements. "There is an approved secondary, like, emergency access that currently is connecting to Fulton off to Radar Road," a staff member said.
Commissioners asked whether the project would require expanding the urban growth boundary (UGB). Staff said the development and its projected units had been contemplated in the updated housing needs analysis but noted the City Council had not formally adopted that updated report. "It's already been contemplated in the current HNA," a staff member said, adding that the UGB planning project is a separate, ongoing process.
Commissioners also discussed whether lots in the development could support duplexes and thereby increase the unit count (one commissioner noted the rough math: 400 units could become 800 if every lot supported duplexes). Staff said current zoning allows duplexes in theory but that lot sizes (speakers referenced roughly 0.12–0.14 acres for similar recent lots) and planned unit development (PUD) approvals may limit practical options. "The approval is under a PUD," a staff member said. Commissioners noted that if the developer sought to change the project substantially from the approved plans, those changes could require returning to the land-use review process.
No formal motion or vote was recorded on changes to the project; discussion emphasized contingencies — easements, infrastructure funding and timing, and the need to follow land-use procedures if the proposal were altered.
