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Commissioners table Cunningham’s Nolan Hills fee‑waiver request amid questions about abatements and tax‑lot counts
Summary
Cunningham requested a partial waiver of a new $500 per‑tax‑lot fee for the Nolan Hills energy project; company representative said tax‑lot counts are near 100 (about $50,000). Commissioners expressed concern about previous tax abatements and unresolved developer/beneficiary questions and voted to table the request.
Cunningham representatives asked the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners to consider a partial fee waiver for the Nolan Hills energy project on Aug. 5. Planning staff said Cunningham applied June 30 under OR HB 4031 pathways for large energy projects; the company asked the board to waive the newly adopted $500 per impacted tax‑lot fee. Jennifer Drake, representing Cunningham, said early GIS counts put impacted tax lots at roughly 100, producing roughly $50,000 in new fees that Cunningham had not budgeted.
Commissioners pressed for more clarity. One commissioner noted the county had already granted substantial tax abatements through the SIP program and worried about consistency and who would ultimately receive the abatements and benefits. Planning staff said the tax‑lot count was still being verified and that portions of the project could fall under utility purview, which might change the county’s count. After discussion the board voted to table the fee‑waiver request for more information.
Why it matters: the fee would affect project economics and revenue to taxing districts; commissioners signaled they would revisit the request once staff and the applicant clarified tax‑lot counts and who benefits from abatements. The motion to table preserves review options while staff clarifies outstanding questions.
