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Board upholds hearings officer; approves zone change to farm‑timber and a template‑test dwelling for Wagner Lane parcel
Summary
The Marion County Board of Commissioners approved a zone change and comprehensive plan amendment to farm‑timber for a 21.67‑acre parcel on Wagner Lane SE and granted administrative approval for a template‑test dwelling following staff and hearings‑officer recommendations.
Salem — Marion County commissioners on Aug. 27 approved a zone change, comprehensive plan amendment and administrative review that will change a 21.67‑acre parcel on Wagner Lane SE from Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) to Farm‑Timber and allow a template‑test dwelling under the county code.
Planning staff summary Austin (planning staff) told the board the parcel is planted with commercial timber and is in a fringe area between agricultural EFU lands and timber lands along the Silverton Hills and Santiam Canyon. Staff reported that about 74.4% of the parcel’s soils are classified as high‑value soils (Macaulay clay loam) and that the parcel’s timber productivity was estimated at about 172 cubic feet of wood per acre per year.
The applicant, Norman Bickel, purchased the property in 1992, replanted after wildfire damage and has the parcel under timber assessment, the applicant told the board. Because the land is managed as timber rather than farm crops, the applicant requested the farm‑timber zone; in EFU timber harvest income generally does not qualify a property for a dwelling, but the farm‑timber zone permits a template‑test dwelling when template criteria are met.
Hearings officer and board action Staff said the hearings officer recommended approval with conditions and that staff concurred with the findings. Austin said the applicant met the template‑test criteria (density and compatibility with nearby dwellings as required by state law and county code). Norman Bickel spoke briefly and said he concurred with the staff and hearings‑officer reports.
Commissioner Cameron moved to close the public hearing and approve the application, accepting the hearings‑officer recommendation with conditions; the board approved the motion by voice vote.
Ending The planning staff will finalize findings and conditions consistent with the hearings‑officer recommendation and record the zone change and plan amendment.
