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Planning commission recommends against allowing general-merchandise stores in Staytons interchange zone
Summary
At a Stayton Planning Commission meeting, staff recommended and the commission voted to not forward a proposal to allow general merchandise stores in the interchange development zone, citing gateway character, traffic and impacts on local businesses; the applicant may appeal to city council.
Stayton Planning Commission Chair Larry McKinley presided over a public hearing on a proposed text amendment (land use file 9-12/23) that would add "general merchandise stores" as a permitted use in the city's interchange development (ID) zone. After a staff presentation and public comment, the commission voted to recommend that the city council not adopt the amendment.
Staff told the commission the change would affect four parcels near Highway 22, two of which are already developed with an Arco service station and a Dairy Queen. "Permitting this additional use will affect all parcels within the ID zone," staff said, and recommended "that to be consistent with the comprehensive plan that you do not recommend this text amendment." Staff added an alternative: if the commission were to allow the use, it should be limited by site-plan review to roughly 8,000 square feet.
Jennifer Carter, a Whitney Street resident, testified during public comment that adding discount chain stores would "threaten" Staytons small-town character and harm locally owned businesses. "These small box retailers that carry a wide variety of items at discount prices are also small town killers," she said, citing studies about local dollars recirculating and alleging low pay and safety problems at national chain stores.
Commissioners focused on the ID zones purpose as a gateway for traveler-oriented services and raised traffic and view-shed concerns. Commissioner Pete Ellis said the zone is intended for businesses where travelers "stop and then continue along their way," and that "a general merchandise store wouldn't fit that need." Commissioner Richard Lewis warned the use could create circulation problems accessing Highway 22 and nearby streets, saying "we're opening a lot of problems for the city."
The commission moved and voted to not forward the proposed zone amendment to the city council. Chair McKinley announced the motion carried and noted that the applicant could appeal the planning commission's recommendation to the city council, which can review and potentially override the commission's decision.
The hearing record includes staff's recommendation, citizen testimony opposing chain discount stores, commission deliberations about traffic and gateway character, and a formal commission recommendation not to forward the amendment.
