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Sherwood planning commission approves 32‑unit Old Town ‘Rockpoint’ apartment amid tree‑preservation concerns
Summary
The Sherwood Planning Commission approved LU2025‑007 (Old Town ‘Rockpoint’) with conditions and the addition of a public-comment exhibit; commissioners and neighbors debated tree preservation, stormwater permitting and parking but staff found the project meets city code.
At a meeting of the Sherwood Planning Commission, members approved the Old Town multifamily project known as Rockpoint (LU2025‑007), adopting the findings and conditions in the staff report and adding a public‑comment exhibit from resident James Booker.
Staff presented the project as a 32‑unit multifamily development in the Old Town Overlay District and recommended approval, concluding the application met applicable city code findings and conditions. Planning staff noted the application seeks adjustments permitted under SB 1537 and that the project is subject to subsequent engineering and permitting reviews.
The commission’s discussion focused on tree preservation, stormwater permitting and parking. Resident James (Jim) Booker, who lives nearby in the Old Town Overlay District, urged preservation of mature trees and submitted a written comment that staff entered as Exhibit P. "I just wanted to highlight a couple things related to the tree canopy," Booker told the commission. Planning staff explained that multifamily developments must meet tree canopy requirements (staff stated a 40% canopy target for multifamily as part of the code) and that an inventory and tree protection measures are conditions of approval.
Planning staff and commissioners also clarified stormwater and wetland permitting: long‑term stormwater compliance and construction erosion control must be shown to Clean Water Services (CWS) before grading or building permits, and the developer has obtained a Department of State Lands fill permit for the wetland impacts noted in the application.
Applicant Adrian, identified in the record as the project developer, said the plan generally remains as previously presented, accepted the revised conditions and confirmed two trees are required to be retained on the approved plans. On parking, Adrian said the project is designed to provide one on‑site space per unit plus a limited number of visitor spaces, and that property management typically charges for parking rather than bundling it into rent.
Commissioners pressed staff on what would happen if an identified Douglas fir or other required tree could not be preserved. Staff pointed to existing city code provisions (including penalties and replacement requirements) and said any significant deviation from the approved plan would require either a staff‑level modification or a return to the commission, depending on circumstances.
After deliberation, a commissioner moved to approve LU2025‑007 based on applicant testimony, public testimony, and the staff report, amended by the addition of Exhibit P; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The record does not list a roll‑call of individual votes in the transcript; the chair announced the motion carried.
The commission’s action grants land use approval subject to the findings and conditions in the staff report (dated 10/24/2025), the requirement to meet final engineering and Clean Water Services permitting, and the tree‑preservation measures that appear in the approved site plans. If required protected trees are lost or cannot be preserved, staff indicated there are code enforcement remedies and that the commission could be asked to reconsider conditions if the site plan is materially altered.
