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Planning commission recommends against adding "general merchandise" to interchange zone
Summary
After staff presented findings and a resident comment opposing the change, the Stayton Planning Commission voted to recommend the city council not add 'general merchandise' as a permitted use in the interchange development zone, citing the comprehensive plan and interchange area plan.
The Stayton Planning Commission voted on Sept. 30 to document a recommendation to the city council that "general merchandise" not be added to the interchange development zone's list of permitted uses.
Staff read findings of fact recommending denial based on the Interchange Area Management Plan (adopted November 2006) and the city comprehensive plan policy EC4, which the staff said discourages commercial development at Highway 22. Staff also read a written public comment from a resident urging the commission to vote against the amendment on the grounds that stores such as Dollar General typically locate in economically depressed areas and could harm downtown businesses.
Commission debate focused on compatibility and scale. One commissioner outlined three reasons for opposing the amendment: general merchandise is not compatible with the interchange concept, proposed building sizes (8,000–10,000 square feet) would be out of scale for the corridor, and permitting general merchandise would alter expectations for future development. Chair Larry McKinley reiterated that the legislative hearing addressed a zoning criteria amendment broadly, not a specific business site.
A motion to record the recommendation that "general merchandise" should not be added to table 17.16.070.1 (interchange development permitted uses) was seconded and carried by voice vote. The commission closed the hearing and directed staff to forward the recommendation to the city council for consideration.
