Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wdo Overview topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Woodburn planners open work session on broad WDO rewrite; no decisions expected
Summary
Staff previewed a citywide rewrite of the Woodburn Development Ordinance (WDO), telling commissioners the session is informational only and that many housing-related changes are mandated by recent state law. Commissioners were asked to flag recurring local issues for staff to carry to council.
Lisa Elsman, chair of the Woodburn Planning Commission, opened the Feb. 26 work session and reminded the commission that the meeting was for review only: “No testimony will be taken and no decisions will be made at today's hearing, and no action is required by the commission,” she said. Staff framed the session as an early-stage briefing ahead of a planned code rewrite and consultant hire.
Staff described the rewrite as large in scope and partly driven by rapid state changes affecting housing definitions and review procedures. A staff member said the first steps will be to brief city council and to bring back more detailed sections to the commission over coming months. Commissioners were asked to identify recurring variance requests, enforcement gaps and community concerns that should shape staff recommendations to council.
Why it matters: the WDO governs how the city regulates housing types, setbacks, parking, signs and other land-use matters. Staff said some state requirements are mandatory and cannot be altered locally, while other items will be shaped by local policy choices. Commissioners and staff agreed the rewrite will likely be phased by topic and may require Measure 56 mailed notices to property owners if use tables change.
Staff outlined next steps: a consultant is expected to be onboarded within weeks, staff will split work into manageable chapters, and some technical changes required by state code will be moved forward quickly. The commission did not take votes; the review is preparatory to formal code drafts and public hearings.
