Yamhill council expands planning-commission eligibility, discusses downtown design work

The Yamhill City Council voted 3-1 on Sept. 10 to direct staff to revise Ordinance 507 to allow two planning commission members who live outside city limits but within ZIP code 97148 and within five miles of the city center to serve on the commission.

The change, advanced by a motion that the council approved after debate, is intended to address a persistent shortage of residents willing or able to serve on the planning commission. Council members said the revision would give the city flexibility to fill vacancies while retaining the authority to remove commissioners for misconduct or nonperformance.

Planning-commission member Sean Freilinger told the council the commission is working on three priority tasks assigned during a recent joint planning session: reviewing the city’s lighting ordinance, creating a local designation for the central business district as a historic district, and drafting more specific standards for downtown development. “We are looking to create a local designation,” Freilinger said in his written report to the council.

Why it matters: Council members said the change responds to a shortage of applicants who live inside the city limits. At several points during discussion members warned that allowing nonresidents should not replace outreach to city residents, and noted that the ordinance change requires public notice and at least one reading before it could be applied to appoint a new member.

Council debate and procedure Council members discussed three practical points: the current ordinance permits one nonresident commissioner; the proposed amendment would allow a second; and any appointments under the revised rule would remain subject to the city’s appointment and removal procedures. As staff explained, changing the ordinance requires public notice and a reading; if the council were unanimous on first reading the change could proceed more quickly, but otherwise the process could extend into subsequent meetings (council members estimated at least 30 days in ordinary circumstances).

Some council members raised concerns about the potential for a majority of commissioners to live outside the city if vacancies and appointments align unfavorably. Staff and other council members noted that the council retains authority to remove commissioners for cause and that planning-commission recommendations are advisory to the council, which makes final land‑use decisions.

Related downtown planning efforts The council heard reports that several efforts to shape downtown design and safety are underway. The Economic Development Committee is drafting recommendations on architectural compatibility, pedestrian-friendly development and ways to slow traffic through downtown to encourage people to spend time and money locally. Jenny Morrison, speaking on behalf of the Yamhill Downtown Association, said the association is planning a “Light up Yamhill all winter long” campaign and using bingo fundraising to pay the initial costs for holiday/winter lighting and beautification.

City staff and planning commission members also said they are coordinating on transportation and streetscape grants. City staff reported continued work with Walt Lewandowski on transportation-system-planning (TSP) and TGM grants that would support trees, lighting and sidewalk improvements in the downtown core.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Direct staff to update Ordinance 507 to allow two members from outside the city limits (must live within ZIP code 97148 and within five miles of the city center). Mover: Council member (not specified in the record). Second: Eskew. Vote: yes 3, no 1. Outcome: passed. - Related procedural note: council members discussed the posting, required readings and the earliest practical timeframe to apply the change to appointments; staff said the change requires public notice and at least a first reading before appointments could proceed.

What’s next Staff was directed to draft the ordinance amendment for public posting and formal readings. The planning commission and Economic Development Committee indicated they will continue work on the three downtown tasks and return with recommendations and draft code language for council review.

Attribution: Quotes and attributions in this article come from statements on the Sept. 10, 2025 Yamhill City Council meeting transcript and written reports submitted to the council.