Westfir schedules December hearings on land development code amendments

Planning staff updated the council on the status of the land development code amendments, saying the most recent draft text had been submitted to the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) for review. Staff said DLCD comments heard earlier should now be incorporated but that no formal DLCD deadline had been set in the email exchange; staff will follow up if comments are not received.

Staff also reviewed the public-notice schedule: a planning commission hearing is set for Dec. 2, followed by a city council hearing on Dec. 11. Staff reminded the council that an ordinance must be available to the public at least one week before a meeting for the council to adopt it in a single meeting; otherwise adoption would require two meetings. Council discussed the possibility of a special meeting if timing requires, and staff said they would try to post ordinance language to the public by Nov. 25 to enable a December vote if possible.

The chair asked staff to confirm what form (ordinance versus resolution) is needed to adopt the housing needs analysis; staff said because the changes are land-use amendments it will likely be an ordinance and will follow the Type 4 land-use procedure. The council and staff agreed to monitor DLCD feedback and keep the December schedule if feasible.