Sherwood planning commission reviews Old Town strategic action plan, prioritizes wayfinding, parking and redevelopment

The City of Sherwood Planning Commission spent its Dec. 9 work session reviewing a draft Old Town strategic action plan that lays out near‑term priorities for making the downtown more discoverable and economically viable.

Councilor Giles, speaking for the council, framed the plan as a tool to guide city and private investment without creating new zoning obligations. "It's illegal for us as a as a city to say, we want this particular business to open up a store here, and we don't want anybody else," Giles said, arguing the city must rely on incentives rather than mandates to shape the commercial mix. He and staff described possible incentives including fee relief — "we will waive a certain percentage of SDCs" — and façade or grant programs to attract restaurants, arts businesses and other discoverable retail.

The draft prioritizes a set of city‑owned parcels for early action. Staff said Site D, adjacent to the art center, is the council's top near‑term target and should remain city‑owned while the city raises money to develop it and then ground‑lease retail tenants. Site A, the old schoolhouse site, at "about an acre," was also listed as a priority. Commissioners pressed staff on how redevelopment would interact with community events such as the Saturday market; staff said council directed them to preserve market viability and explore permanent pop‑up or linear market options.

Design and public‑realm measures were a major focus. Staff proposed extending Sherwood's curbless streetscape up Pine Street, improving wayfinding from Highway 99, and addressing overhead utilities. Commissioners and a consultant urged a consistent streetscape palette (benches, light poles, bollards) and consideration of climate‑sensitive landscaping, bioswales and stormwater capture as sites are redeveloped.

Public testimony came from Anne Brucker, owner of Mosaic Arts Loft, who described renovating her building in phases to activate an alley frontage and asked the commission to consider alley paving and improved rear access. "We serve, right now, we're about 55 families," Brucker said, emphasizing the arts center's role in bringing foot traffic to Old Town.

Transportation and parking emerged as an early priority. Staff recommended a parking study and management plan; commissioners said shared, public parking (likely above‑ground rather than costly underground garages for small sites) and partnerships for off‑site parking should be evaluated to support new businesses.

Longer‑range ideas include negotiating a pedestrian railroad crossing or an adjacent rail‑to‑trail connection to link Sherwood with neighboring communities; staff cautioned the railroad option will be difficult and require buy‑in or easement acquisitions.

Staff said the draft action plan is not a comp‑plan amendment and therefore would not immediately change zoning, but it could prompt future comp‑plan or code updates. Commissioners asked staff to add a clear timeline and performance indicators; staff committed to include priorities and near‑term actions in a table for the Jan. 13 public hearing and to recommend adoption to council in February.

The commission will take public testimony at the Jan. 13 public hearing and deliver a recommendation to City Council, which is expected to consider adoption in February.