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Lebanon commission unanimously backs code change to clarify trails as recreation areas
Summary
The Lebanon Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend a development code amendment that clarifies recreation-area definitions to include publicly owned or maintained recreational trails and approved a one-word amendment specifying the planning administrator as the final administrative decision-maker on appeals.
The Lebanon Planning Commission on an unanimous vote recommended that the City Council adopt a development code amendment clarifying that recreation areas include publicly owned or publicly maintained recreational trails.
City Attorney (name not provided) told the commission the package grew out of an earlier code-interpretation request and staff review intended to remove ambiguity between the development code, the comprehensive plan and the city’s trail master plan. "What we did is we put together a, an amended or a replacement, code interpretation" to make the purpose and review process clearer, the City Attorney said.
The commission also approved a one-word amendment to the appeal provision in section 16.25.030 (appeal subsection 1). Commissioner (mover) proposed adding the word "administrator" so the sentence will read that the planning administrator shall be the final decision of the city; the motion to amend was seconded and passed with all present voting "aye."
Public testimony included Thad Nelson, who identified himself as a Build Lebanon Trails board member and said, "We very much support the changes. They're overdue," arguing the amendment would allow trails to extend into multiple zoning areas to address a lack of green space near new apartment developments. Commissioner Regina said she was "struggling" with applying the change in low-density residential neighborhoods, expressing concern that multiuse paths can alter the lifestyle residents expect.
Staff said the amendment aligns the development code with an existing, council‑adopted master plan for trails, preserves an administrative review step and maintains the public's right to appeal administrative decisions to the commission. The City Attorney noted that land-use appeals beyond the commission could be taken to LUBA (the Land Use Board of Appeals).
A motion to recommend the development code amendment and associated findings to the City Council was moved and seconded; the commission voted unanimously to forward the recommendation.
The commission also confirmed its November meeting date, which will include a conditional-use permit application for the existing Walgreens, and introduced Dan from the Cascades West Council of Governments, who will support the commission while the city recruits a new Community Development Director. The meeting was then adjourned.
