Council approves annexation and R‑3 zone change for small Rice Lane parcel

The Amity City Council on March 12 approved an annexation and concurrent zone change for a small parcel near the intersection of Rice Lane and Merlot/Bridal Lane, adopting staff and planning commission recommendations and directing staff to prepare an enacting ordinance.

“For the record, my name is Holly Byram, and I work for the Mid Willamette Valley Council of Governments,” the contract city planner told the council during the staff presentation, describing the property as a roughly 6,000‑square‑foot lot adjacent to the Merlot Estate subdivision and surrounded on several sides by incorporated property. Byram told the council that water and sewer service are available, that Merlot Street is fully dedicated and Rice Lane will require a six‑foot dedication along the southern frontage, and that the staff report recommended three conditions of approval.

Applicant counsel Don Kelly told the council he would “stand on the staff report” and that the applicant concurred with the recommended findings and conditions. Council then moved, seconded and approved the motion to adopt the findings and conditions and directed staff to prepare an ordinance enacting the annexation. The motion text in the record referred to “annexation file number 24 10 dash 0 1 a n x” with the concurrent zone change as presented.

The three conditions noted in staff materials require (1) submittal of a legal description and documentation of the 0.5‑street‑width dedication of Rice Lane abutting the property, (2) dedication of the 6‑foot right‑of‑way along Rice Lane as required at development, and (3) demonstration that any private well on the parcel has been abandoned and capped prior to development. Council members asked clarifying questions about sidewalks and stormwater connections; staff confirmed a future sidewalk would be required at building permit stage and engineering review indicates stormwater from the parcel will not discharge into the Merlot Estates detention tract but into Rice Lane facilities.

The council’s approval closes the initial evidentiary hearing for the application and commits staff to prepare the ordinance implementing the annexation and zone change. No opponents appeared in person or remotely during the hearing and no written materials were entered that changed the staff recommendation.