Seaside planning commission opens comprehensive‑plan hearing, keeps record open to July 7 as DLCD reviews draft

The Seaside Planning Commission on June 2 opened a public hearing on a proposed new comprehensive plan and a modernized GIS zoning map, heard a consultant presentation and voted to keep the record open through July 7 to permit additional state review and public input.

Consultant Scott Fraggins of 3J reviewed a two‑year outreach effort, a six‑point vision statement (housing, strong economy, nature in the city, inclusive neighborhoods, accessibility and safety, history and culture) and a 10‑chapter draft plan. Fraggins said the updated zoning map will be published in GIS format so residents and staff can zoom, layer and inspect current land‑use classifications.

Fraggins emphasized community engagement: “It’s a really big deal to update your comp plan,” he said, noting the team compiled a policy‑tracker matrix that shows which goals and policies were kept, modified or removed based on public feedback.

Staff and consultant explained the plan is undergoing post‑acknowledgement review by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD). Planning Director Jeff Flory recommended keeping the public record open and continuing the hearing to the July 7 commission meeting so DLCD staff and the community can review and submit comments. The commission voted to keep the record open.

During the public comment period residents raised map‑accuracy, drainage, property rights and safety questions. Barbara Fox raised drainage concerns and urged the city to use a drainage engineer for long‑range planning: “I really think more specifically of having a drainage engineer on board to rectify,” she said. Derek Hamilton told commissioners the published map shows a platted street as a drivable road where it is not; Flory explained that some platted streets appear on maps even when undeveloped and encouraged parcel‑specific follow‑up with staff.

Other commenters pressed for clarification about how the comp plan differs from ordinance changes and whether the plan would automatically rezone properties. Staff reiterated that the comp plan guides policy; any ordinance or zoning‑code changes would be a separate process with their own hearings and notices. Residents were told the record will accept written comments and survey responses while the hearing remains open.

Next steps: the commission will accept written comments, survey responses at seaside2050.com and in‑person testimony at its July 7 meeting; staff will continue to coordinate with DLCD. The commission’s recommendation will later go to the city council, which is required to hold at least one public hearing before adopting the plan.