Staff warns that allowing new floating residences outside exception area would require Goal 16 exception and state coordination

Planning staff reminded commissioners that the county’s exception area around the John Day River was established under a memorandum of understanding with the state and that new floating residences outside that exception area are not permitted under current rules. Any proposal to add new floats outside the exception area would require a Goal 16 exception application and state review; staff noted the typical application fee for a Goal 16 exception is $5,000 and the process can take several months.