Lebanon council approves sale of Santiam Bridal Station, adopts development-code changes and Crowfoot Road vacation

Lebanon — The Lebanon City Council on Nov. 12 moved through several public hearings and votes, approving the sale of the Santiam Bridal Station and adopting two ordinances that update the development code and vacate a portion of Crowfoot Road.

Sale of Santiam Bridal Station: The council opened a public hearing at 6:02 p.m. to consider the sale of city-owned surplus property at 750 S. 3rd Street (Santiam Bridal Station). City staff told the council the property had been declared surplus by Resolution 202514 (09/10/2025), is listed on the local historic register, and was originally acquired from Southern Pacific Railroad in July 1996. An appraisal by the Jackson Group (Nov. 2024) placed value at $560,000 and Linn County’s real market value was listed at $609,390. The city received a letter of intent from RB Acquisitions LLC (identified as part of Rick Franklin) to purchase the property for $525,000; staff described proposed terms that split certain closing costs, require buyer payment of half escrow and recording fees, and leave seller payment of title insurance and a 3% brokerage fee. Staff also noted a need to vacate the western half of 3rd Street and record access and public-utility easements prior to sale. Council approved the sale by voice vote after a motion to approve; councilors were told the property would return to the tax rolls.

Code interpretation and parks/trails ordinance: The council then opened and closed a public hearing on Ordinance Bill 2025-10, an amendment to the development code. The city attorney said the ordinance refines code-interpretation procedures (drawing on language from the City of Salem), clarifies ambiguous terms, improves appeal procedures and incorporates prior code interpretation about recreational trails by removing the previous 'recreational areas' definition and delineating public and private parks and trails. The ordinance was read (ordinance number 3041), moved, seconded and approved by voice vote with no public testimony.

Crowfoot Road right-of-way vacation: In a third hearing the council considered Ordinance Bill 2025-11 (ordinance number 3042), vacating a portion of Crowfoot Road tied to a new subdivision. The development services director explained the city no longer requires the previously dedicated parkway from the 2011 annexation and that the vacation would apply only where the new subdivision is proposed; half-street improvements would still be dedicated. The ordinance was read, moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Public comment and follow-up: During the public comment portion, Sarah Brown of the Lebanon local newspaper asked who was buying the bridal station and the anticipated cost to maintain the building. Staff confirmed the buyer as RB Acquisitions LLC (part of Rick Franklin); staff estimated about $10,000 per year in utilities and said a preliminary investigation identified roughly $60,000–$70,000 in immediate improvement needs. The city noted potential revenue from small rentals but described it as limited.

What the motions did not show on the record: The transcript records voice approvals and procedural motions but does not include detailed roll-call tallies for the votes. Each ordinance and the sale motion were moved, seconded and passed by voice vote as recorded in the council transcript.

The council adjourned after other business; the next regular meeting was announced for Dec. 10, 2025.