Oregon City planning commission leaves record open, questions commissioners over Hilltop Walmart comments; deliberations set for May 12

The Oregon City Planning Commission on April 8 continued its review of a proposed Walmart and associated comprehensive plan and zone change requests for the Hilltop area, accepted a second packet of exhibits and public comments into the record, and left the record open for written rebuttal before scheduling date-certain deliberations.

Christina Robertson Gardner of the planning division told commissioners staff would enter a second set of exhibits, labeled A through H, into the public record, including letters from PacLand, Miller Nash, Jim Bean, Mark Holiday and Greg Niedermeier, a table breaking down public comments provided by the applicant, and 803 postcards submitted by residents in the surrounding area. Gardner said the originals of the postcards were available for review.

City counsel and staff advised the commission that, because the commission had allowed new evidence after the March 10 hearing, statutory procedural rules require an opportunity for rebuttal. Counsel recommended the record remain open seven days for parties and members of the public to submit written material responding "to what you just received," followed by an…