Goldendale council designates interim planning body to clear path for ADU ordinance

The Goldendale City Council on June 19 approved Resolution No. 756 to designate the subdivision review committee as the city’s interim planning commission for up to six months, a step the council said is needed so work on an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) zoning ordinance can proceed.

City Administrator Sandy Wells explained that state law requires a planning body to review zoning text changes and that Goldendale currently lacks a functioning planning commission because several terms have expired and one member has moved away or passed. Wells said the subdivision review committee—composed of the mayor, city administrator, city engineer, public works director and building official—will serve temporarily while the council considers whether to reconstitute a planning commission or create a mayor-appointed planning agency.

“We are required by state law to have a planning commission to review and make recommendations on the comprehensive plan and amendments to the city's zoning ordinance,” Wells said, adding that changing the term from 'planning commission' to 'planning agency' would require ordinance language updates because multiple code sections reference the commission.

Councilmembers asked how members would be selected if the council creates a planning agency, whether community members could serve, and whether appointees would need technical qualifications. One councilmember asked about selection criteria; Wells said there are no statutory qualifications and the mayor could appoint community members or staff, and that the ordinance committee would provide recommendations before final action.

A resolution motion to designate the subdivision review committee as Goldendale’s interim planning commission for a period not to exceed six months was moved and seconded, and the council voted to approve the resolution. The motion text on the record identified the interim committee and stated it would cease once a quorum of planning commission members is appointed.

Council discussion also clarified that the ADU ordinance under consideration would add accessory-dwelling-unit provisions to the zoning code (it does not rezone areas). Several councilmembers said the interim appointment is intended to avoid delaying the ADU code work while the city fills planning positions.

Next steps: the council instructed the ordinance committee to continue work on the ADU ordinance, and the interim committee will process necessary zoning text changes until a permanent planning body is appointed.