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West Linn council narrows waterfront plan maps, asks staff to strengthen preservation and affordable-housing language
Summary
After a presentation from consultants and public comment urging protection for wetlands and industrial heritage, the council agreed to use the 1996 flood boundary on plan maps and remove a planning-stage medium-density designation from part of the Ponds District; staff will draft language on historic-structure preservation and affordable-housing for the next work session.
Councilors on Monday moved to refine the draft Waterfront Vision Plan after hearing public testimony urging stronger protections for wetlands and historic industrial buildings.
Consultants from Tool Design and Leland Consulting presented the vision plan and implementation steps, emphasizing the document is a guiding framework rather than a change to the city’s comprehensive plan or zoning. "This is not intended to be, you know, a change to the comp plan or the zoning code, or the development code," Adrian Witte, the consultant, told council during the presentation.
Members of the public urged specific map and language changes. "We recommend clarifying by specifically encouraging the preservation of some of the built industrial structures currently on Moores Island for repurposing and interpretation," said Sandy Carter of Advocates for Willamette Falls Heritage during public comment. Russ Sacks, who testified for wetland preservation, said the planning commission "unanimously determined to remove from the Ponds District map the depiction showing this housing development," and asked staff to reflect that recommendation in the materials the council reviews.
Staff and consultants recommended two near-term edits to reduce confusion: adopt the 1996 flood-elevation boundary on plan maps and remove the medium-density residential "planning stage" shading over areas that the planning commission identified as within the floodplain. Councilors indicated consensus for those edits and directed staff to prepare draft language ahead of the next work session (Oct. 21) that would encourage rehabilitation and reuse of historic structures without foreclosing future options.
Council members also asked staff to draft optional language encouraging affordable housing in appropriate locations in the study area. Jennifer Shook, who presented the implementation and financing strategy, said the city can use tax-increment financing and master-planning partnerships with landowners to prioritize public investments and catalyze private development.
Next steps: staff will return Oct. 21 with suggested map edits and language options; if the council approves changes at that follow-up work session, consultants will update the plan for a public hearing scheduled for Nov. 18.
