The Planning Commission held two public hearings, one for a Park System Plan and one for a conditional use permit to operate a Wellness Center, during its meeting Sept. 19.
Elizabeth Auvil and Colin McArthur, of Cameron McCarthy Landscape Architecture & Planning, presented the Park System Plan, which has been under development for more than a year. During that time, the firm inventoried the city’s current parks, surveyed residents, assessed the needs of the city
They looked at the “walkability” of the current parks using national standards, which determine that one-quarter mile is considered a reasonable distance to walk to a neighborhood park, Auvil said. This allows them to see which neighborhoods in Sweet Home are considered to have reasonable access to parks. Alternatively, they found the east side of Sweet Home lacks enough parks. They also found that Sweet Home has a high ratio of residents to parks.
Community survey results and a needs assessment revealed that 70% or the residents felt there is a need for more parks and that existing parks need improvements. A number of amenities were also suggested by the residents, including more playgrounds, covered spaces, signage, ADA improvements and sidewalks.
The firm also found a need for more social gathering places, expanded and connected trail systems, and funding sources to improve the park system. Forming goals from these results, they developed the proposed system plan with recommendations to develop three or four new parks totaling 41 acres in the next 20 years.
Commissioner Joe Graybill asked if the lakeshore areas operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers were taken into consideration for the plan. McArthur responded they worked with Linn County on a plan regarding Lewis Creek Park but, although the city plan focuses on city-owned facilities, the plan does acknowledge future partnership opportunities for expansion.
Responding to another question, McArthur clarified that estimated costs for park improvements and expansions do not include operation costs.
Park & Tree Committee Member Nancy Patton spoke in favor of the Park System Plan. Community and Economic Development Director Blair Larsen noted for the record that the document does not obligate the city to follow through on any of the recommendations.
“This document is a planning and aspirational document,” he said. “What it does is it adopts really what the community has said it wants and what we are aspiring to.”
The commission approved the plan for recommendation to City Council for adoption.
A final public hearing will be held at the Oct. 8 City Council meeting. If approved by the council, the Park System Plan will be a sub-element to the city’s Comprehensive Plan. The plan can be found in the agenda packet from the Sept. 19 meeting at sweethomeor.gov/meetings.
Next, the commission held a public hearing for and approved a conditional use permit request from the City of Sweet Home for use in the former City Hall building to be used as a wellness center.
Contained within the staff report is a comment by Fire Chief Nick Tyler, who noted his concerns.
“First, an alarm system should be functional and monitored,” he stated in the report. “I was not a part of this planning process, but I would like to have the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office walk this building to ensure that it is ready for the new use. Having outpatient medical office, medical/dental tenants, as well as childcare is a complex fire code issue.”
Some of the commissioners asked about Chief Tyler’s comment, to which Planning and Building Manager Angela Clegg said part of the issue has already been addressed via a fire alarm system inspection, and the rest will be determined through a renovation building permit process.
Three Hope Center leaders spoke in opposition to the permit request, stating concerns about the potential for mentally ill clients to gather in the area. The Hope Center is a safe shelter for women and children, and their concern was about the safety of the women if more people hang out in the area. The director said they have had trouble with homeless individuals and vandalism for the past three years.
Commission Chair Laura Wood expressed empathy for their concerns, but added she believes having a tenant in the building will actually make the situation safer by providing more security and accountability. Commissioner Eva Jurney agreed.
“I think it’s really important for us to recognize that the Hope Center is housing vulnerable populations,” Jurney said.
She noted, however, that there was a lot of activity in that area when the city occupied the building. Furthermore, it is out of the Planning Commission’s authority to control vandalism or to require certain security measures, but Jurney hopes the property owner and/or tenant would take the Hope Center’s situation into consideration.
Chair Wood said the application included a requirement for needed repairs and renovations to be completed within a year, but Clegg clarified the purpose for the day’s meeting was to approve the use of the building, and a separate building permit packet will address physical renovations.