The Oregon City Planning Commission voted Nov. 12 to amend Condition of Approval 41 attached to PD402 (Rose Road planned unit development) to allow the applicant to submit alternate housing-design diagrams and to give planning staff sole discretion to determine whether a proposed home meets the intent of the approved design exhibits. The commission specifically directed staff not to approve plan 22,114, which staff and commissioners described as a "snout house" inconsistent with pedestrian-friendly design.

Tony Conkel, planning staff, explained that Condition 41 was originally drafted during the PUD approval to mitigate impacts from transferred density by limiting garage wall width to 40 percent of the street-facing facade (with certain exceptions). After the city adopted housing design standards in Oregon City Municipal Code 17.20, the code standard increased the allowable garage proportion to 50 percent (and in some circumstances up to 60 percent with setbacks). The applicant submitted 25 sample housing diagrams; staff recommended allowing the applicant to use those diagrams as an alternative review path and to give staff discretion to determine whether a submitted plan meets the exhibits and the intent of the standard, excluding plan 22,114.

Michael Hammons, representing the applicant, said he "fully support[ed] staff's recommendation" and that the 40 percent garage standard had been "extremely restricted" for builders. A nearby resident, Sharon Felix, asked how to obtain diagrams of the development; staff said the designs were available in the hearing packet and offered to provide copies on request.

Commission discussion focused on whether the submitted plans generally complied with current code; staff said most designs were within roughly a foot of meeting the 17.20 requirements and that the alternative review would help implement pedestrian-friendly design while avoiding inappropriate "snout house" types. A motion to approve MD-703 (amend Condition 41 as recommended by staff) passed on a roll-call vote: Commissioners Dunne, Groener, Stein, Lejois and Chairperson Powell voted in favor (5-0).