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Gorge commission committee seeks study of ADUs and relief from steep NSA permitting fees after Multnomah County briefing
Summary
Multnomah County land use director Megan Gibb told the Columbia River Gorge Commission Economic Vitality Committee that National Scenic Area reviews can cost nearly $4,800 and may be disproportionate for small farm or tourism projects; the committee voted to recommend studying accessory dwelling units and the agricultural income test to the full commission.
The Columbia River Gorge Commission Economic Vitality Committee voted to recommend that the full commission study accessory dwelling units and the agricultural income test after hearing a briefing from Multnomah County land use planning director Megan Gibb on permitting barriers inside the National Scenic Area.
At the committee’s May meeting, Megan Gibb said counties frequently hear from farmers and small businesses that current review thresholds and fees make modest, low-impact projects difficult to pursue. "For a full review, NSA review per project, it's almost $4,800," Gibb said, noting that fees were raised about 54% last year and a proposed increase this year would further move the county toward roughly 30% cost recovery. "We might be well beyond what that time is required," she added, arguing for a separate, expedited track for smaller or minimum-impact projects.
Why it matters: Committee members said the fee and review structure can be a practical barrier to agricultural operations, small commercial reuse…
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