Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Philomath planning commission receives training on bias, ex parte and new housing laws; staff warned to adopt clear, objective code changes
Summary
City attorney Ashley DeGill briefed the Philomath council and planning commission on quasi‑judicial rules (bias, ex parte contacts, conflicts), appeal windows and recent 2025 state legislation (including SB 974 and HB 2138) that expands limited land‑use decisions, requires clear and objective tree and housing standards, and may shift more residential approvals to staff level.
City attorney Ashley DeGill led a joint work session training for the Philomath City Council and Planning Commission on July 28, covering Oregon land‑use fundamentals, quasi‑judicial standards, ex parte contacts, conflicts of interest, and several 2025 legislative changes that are expected to change how local housing applications are handled.
“Oregon has 19 statewide planning goals,” DeGill said in her overview of the statutory framework that informs local comprehensive plans, zoning and land‑use decisions. She stressed that local plans and ordinances must be consistent with those state goals and that the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) acknowledges local comprehensive plans.
Quasi‑judicial procedures, bias and ex parte contacts
DeGill distinguished legislative actions (policy choices) from quasi‑judicial actions, which require neutral adjudication. Drawing on LUBA (the Land Use Board of Appeals) decisions, she described conduct that can…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
