Florence council approves Dobson Farms general plan amendments and Florence Tech Park PUD to clear path for industrial campus

The Florence Town Council on Oct. 7 unanimously approved a set of major general-plan amendments and a PUD amendment that reclassify several Dobson Farms parcels from suburban neighborhood to an industry district and establish standards for the Florence Tech Park.

The approvals cover multiple ordinance items tied to the Dobson Farms East and West proposals and the Florence Tech Park PUD amendment. The council voted separately on each ordinance and adopted them by recorded roll call votes that were all unanimous.

Why it matters: Council members and the applicant framed the changes as a pivot from anticipated residential buildout toward industrial and technology uses — including distribution, light industry and data centers — that the town expects will use less water, create local jobs and add to the town’s nonresidential tax base.

Julie Vermillion, a planner with CVL Consultants representing the applicant, told the council the general-plan amendment is needed because the town’s 2022 general-plan update designated the land as suburban neighborhood; converting to the industry-district place type restores…