Lane County asks planning commission to consider code change for Clean Lane project

The Lane County Board of Commissioners voted to request that the Lane County Planning Commission consider a code amendment to allow an integrated materials and energy recovery facility (IMURF) as an outright permitted use on property owned by a unit of local government.

Deputy Counsel Mallerie BBE told the board the item was a procedural step tied to the Clean Lane project, which the board authorized in October 2024. She said the county remains contractually bound to pursue land‑use approvals at the Gan property even as appeals in the state court system persist and officials evaluate Short Mountain Landfill as an alternative site. "In light of those court challenges, Lane County has also been evaluating whether an alternative site for the project is feasible and has been considering moving the project site to the Short Mountain Landfill," Mallerie BBE said.

Commissioner Far moved to approve order number 26081811 requesting the planning commission consider amending Lane Code section 16.280 280 to explicitly permit an IMURF on county‑owned property; Commissioner Triger seconded the motion. The board approved the motion by a 3-2 vote. The official transcript contains inconsistent transcriptions of the dissenting names; the board record reflects a 3-2 approval and the planning commission will now consider the code amendment.

If the planning commission recommends amendment, the change would be a prerequisite to final land‑use approvals at Gan. Until a site shift to Short Mountain is finalized, Lane County staff said the county remains contractually obligated to continue pursuing approvals at Gan.