Lane County reverses denials, conditionally approves three forest-template dwellings

The Lane County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 25 reversed three hearings-official denials and conditionally approved three forest-template dwelling applications, adopting a board interpretation that Rural Comprehensive Plan Goal 5, Flora and Fauna Policy 11 does not apply to template dwellings as presented in the applicants’ draft findings.

Shauna Adams, the county’s land management division staff planner, summarized the procedural history and staff recommendation before the board. “For the record, this is Shauna Adams, and I'm the land management division staff planner for the matter now before you,” Adams said while outlining the Nov. 2023 hearings-official denials, the board’s on-the-record review and the applicant-supplied findings and exhibits prepared for today’s orders.

The three properties are identified in the agenda and include proposals submitted by EJK Investments and a separate application tied to Edward J. King (file numbers and assessor map references were read into the record). The board had initially closed its on-the-record hearing Dec. 17, 2024, reversed the hearings official decisions at that time, and directed staff to prepare revised orders; staff now presented three modified board orders for final adoption.

Commissioner LeBlanc praised the work of staff and outside counsel and said he would support the orders. “This was a lot of lifting and a lot of research,” he said. The board moved to adopt each order in turn; each motion passed by a 3–2 vote, with Commissioners Buck and Trigger recorded as the dissenting votes. As announced on the record, the motions carried “3 2 with commissioner Buck and Trigger in nay.”

Adoption of the orders finalizes the county-level approvals but does not foreclose appeal. Adams and counsel noted the approvals would be effective upon signing and are appealable to the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). The board's interpretation of Policy 11 will be applied to future template-dwelling applications by county staff unless LUBA issues a stay or otherwise rules to the contrary.