By Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The Sweet Home City Council last week approved the annexation of an Alder Street property, prompting a discussion among city staff and the council about annexing the entire area.
The council held a public hearing on the annexation during its regular meeting on March 13. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the annexation during a meeting on March 12.
Alan and Peggy Stutz requested the annexation of the .52 acre 845 Alder St. property, located in the city’s urban growth boundary, with a rezone from Linn County’s urban growth area rural residential 1-acre minimum zone to Sweet Home’s medium-density residential zone, which is the designation for the property in the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
With the approval, the council will hold three readings of an ordinance annexing the property before deciding whether to adopt the ordinance, officially annexing the property.
“There’s an old house there that’s not livable,” said property owner Alan Stutz. “The primary reason we’re trying to get this annexed in is because the existing septic system failed.
“We had it tested when we purchased the property. It’s failed to the point where it’s not really repairable under county rules of repair, and their rule for us is that we’re within 300 feet of the city’s system, sewer system, so they won’t grant us a permit for a brand new septic system. The city’s system actually stops one property over, so we would be extending that from that point through our property.”
That will provide full city services to the property, allowing him to build a new house on the property, Stutz said.
The city last annexed property in 2010 when it annexed two properties east of this one, said Economic and Community Development Director Jerry Sorte. He believes those were annexed for the same reason.
During review of the application, Sorte said, the Engineering Department recommended the city annex the portion of Alder Street adjacent to the property and possibly Old Holley Road and 8th Ave-nue in the area around the property and inside the urban growth boundary, Sorte said.
The annexation of those areas would allow the city control over the development of those streets, including the intersection of Elkhorn and Old Holley Road, Sorte said. Elkhorn is gated at that point because the county would not approve the connection due to safety concerns.
It was not included as part of this request because a variety of notification is required before the council can consider it, Sorte said. “We’ve started to have some conversations at the staff level, and if the council were to provide direction to staff and the Planning Commission to consider annexation of any or part of that area, that’s something we could do.”
Present at the meeting and voting to approve the annexation were Bob Briana, Susan Coleman, Lisa Gourley, Mayor Greg Mahler, Dave Trask and Diane Gerson. James Goble was absent.