Planning commission opens hearing on proposed 84,073‑sq‑ft WinCo in Woodburn

The Woodburn Planning Commission opened a quasi‑judicial public hearing on a proposal to build an 84,073‑square‑foot WinCo Foods grocery store on vacant commercial lots east of Interstate 5 between Stacy Allison Way and Evergreen Road.

Chris Kerr, community development director, told commissioners the application is a consolidated Type 3 packet that includes a lot‑line adjustment, design review, a street adjustment and three variances. "This is a proposed 84,073‑square‑foot grocery store," Kerr said, summarizing the site layout, parking and required code reviews. Staff recommended approval of the consolidated application but recommended denial of the requested wall‑sign variance.

Kerr said the project includes conditions such as a five‑foot right‑of‑way dedication along Stacy Allison, cross‑access easements, a mid‑block pedestrian path and a transit shelter along Evergreen. He also described tree buffers and a requirement that 50% of parking‑lot landscape islands include bioretention features to assist stormwater management.

Applicant representatives described WinCo’s employee ownership model, noted the company’s Woodburn distribution center and said the project would create local jobs. Mark Lavin, WinCo’s senior director of real estate, said the company will pay applicable impact fees and work with the city on conditions. "We are and will continue to be good citizens of Woodburn," Lavin said.

At the hearing’s close, commissioners voted to leave the written record open for 28 days so parties can submit additional evidence and for the applicant to file a seven‑day rebuttal after the close of that period. The commission will consider the record and deliberate at a later meeting.