By Alex Paul
Linn County Communications
Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker at their Oct. 28 meeting began consideration of a proposed Code Text Amendment that will allow Accessory Dwelling Units in the Urban Growth Area-Rural Residential and the Rural Residential zoning districts throughout rural portions of the county.
Linn County Associate Planners Kate Bentz and Julia Fox told the commissioners during a Public Hearing that Planning Commission members approved the proposal at their Oct. 14 meeting.
Linn County has allowed ADUs in Urban Growth Boundary areas since 2018, but none have been constructed, according to Planning Manager Alyssa Boles.
According to the Planning and Building Department staff, an ADU cannot be more than 900 square feet and must be placed within 100 feet of a primary house. They must be on property that is at least two acres in size.
The property must have an adequate water supply, septic waste capacity, adequate road access, adequate access for emergency services and environmental protection standards for special habitat zones, such as density standards.
ADUs cannot be used as short-term rentals, although long-term rentals are permitted.
There can only be one ADU per property and the property cannot be divided into two separate parcels that would split the primary structure from the ADU.
An ADU can be attached to the primary structure, within it (such as a basement or garage conversion), or detached as a separate unit.
The proposed text amendment would allow historic homes to qualify as ADUs. They would have to be within the Rural Residential Zone and have been constructed between 1850 and 1945. There is no square footage rule, but the building could not be altered to exceed 120 percent of the original square footage.
No members of the public spoke for or against the proposal.
The commissioners were scheduled to resume the Public Hearing at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
In other business, the commissioners:
- Were told by Juvenile Director Torri Lynn that there were 17 young people from Linn County, 10 from Benton County, two from Clackamas County, and one each from Lincoln and Marion counties, held during September. There were 36 referrals and 188 youth were in the Probation Unit. The Victim Advocate made 128 contacts. Lynn said that the Sweet Home Fire District has received a grant and a portion of it will help fund the Juvenile Department’s fuels reduction program.
- Were informed by Ryan Vogt, executive director of the Community Services Consortium, that the organization that serves Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties, is dealing with financial issues. Vogt said strengthening the organization’s financial condition is a key goal.
- Approved a request by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office to issue a Request for Proposals to contract with area vehicle towing companies. The plan is to divide the county into five geographic zones and companies can bid on the entire package, or individual zones. Contracts will be for four years, with an option for two, two-year extensions.
- Approved the purchase of two F250 Ford pickup trucks for the Road Department from Northside Ford in Portland for $98,962.39. The purchase is through the OregonBuys program.
- Approved the transfer of .04-acre of county property to Joel and Gwendolyn Beer to conclude a property line adjustment on Country Lane between Lebanon and Sweet Home.
- Announced that the Board of Commissioners will not meet on Tuesday, Nov. 11, which is the Veterans Day holiday.