Troutdale planning panel recommends Town Center Plan to committee and council after debate over heights and parking

The Troutdale Planning Commission voted unanimously on Jan. 27 to recommend the Troutdale Town Center Plan to the Town Center Committee and, ultimately, City Council, while asking staff to include a written statement noting areas for additional study and public concern.

The motion, moved by Commissioner Prickett and seconded by Commissioner Allen, authorized staff to forward the plan to the Town Center Committee and City Council with supplemental language documenting the Planning Commission’s review and areas for further analysis. The commission recorded affirmative votes and the motion passed unanimously.

The meeting focused on Chapter 3 (implementation) and the plan’s executive summary. City planning staff explained three primary implementation steps baked into the plan: designate a city staff member to carry out the plan (staff identified Marley Boxler as the lead), create a Town Center Alliance Board (TCAB) as an ongoing advisory/oversight body, and pursue a sanctioned Main Street program to support branding, events and small‑business recruitment. Staff framed those as recommended, not mandatory, actions and noted a phased 5/10/15‑year timeline for studies and work items.

Public comment and several commissioners centered on building heights and how taller buildings would affect the downtown’s character. Miss Janssen, a former Town Center Committee member, told the commission that outreach repeatedly identified Troutdale’s “small town charm” as the community’s primary asset and warned that urban‑scale buildings “will ruin” the Main Street feel. Staff replied that the draft plan does not advocate taller buildings in the established downtown core and that the only area where a 75‑foot threshold was contemplated is the Confluence opportunity site; a 55‑foot threshold had been modeled for certain peripheral opportunity sites based on economic feasibility work.

Commissioners coalesced around recommending base height standards for districts (for example, existing 35‑foot limits in much of downtown and a higher allowance at the Confluence) while using a case‑by‑case mechanism — either a variance or conditional‑use review — to consider exceptions. Staff said a conditional‑use path carries more decision criteria and would be more defensible if contested.

Parking and land‑use mix were recurring concerns. Miss Clark, who participated in prior town hall meetings, said the plan shows potential hotels but limited dedicated parking and warned that the plan’s assumptions may not cover workers and visitors. Staff acknowledged a parking‑garage study remains in the implementation list and that the plan’s recommended actions would need to be vetted through the city’s budget process; staff estimated the combined recommended studies and initial implementation work could total roughly $750,000 over five years, though funding would be subject to the budget committee and the pursuit of outside grants.

The Planning Commission also discussed oversight and next steps: staff recommended creating a TCAB to provide design review 'light' and the opportunity to comment on development proposals; staff said the advisory board could have appeal rights similar to other agencies that can appeal city decisions. Commissioners agreed the TCAB should be notified and allowed to comment on Type 2–4 applications but that the process would be integrated into existing application timing so as not to delay formal review.

After the vote, staff said the Town Center Committee would meet Feb. 17 for a final review before the plan proceeds to council; staff also announced a Feb. 10 multi‑city meeting on the Halsey Corridor code audit and noted the Planning Commission's next regular meeting on March 10.

The commission’s recommendation includes language asking staff to incorporate the commission’s comments and any minority‑report material into the staff report to preserve different viewpoints in the official record. The motion affirmed the Planning Commission’s overall support for the plan as presented while signaling the need for additional study on heights, parking, and select implementation items.

What’s next: the Town Center Committee will review the plan on Feb. 17, then the plan will go to City Council for final consideration; several implementation studies remain subject to budget approval.