West Linn Planning Commission agrees to sign letter supporting Metro 2040 waterfront implementation grant

Planning staff asked the West Linn Planning Commission to authorize the chair to sign a letter of support for a Metro 2040 planning and development grant to implement the city-adopted waterfront vision.

Steve Coper described the grant request as work to implement the waterfront vision adopted by city council and said the funding would support drafting a zoning code and studies necessary to implement mixed-use redevelopment envisioned in the plan. "We would respectfully request a letter of support, from the planning commission signed by the chair that we can include in that grant application packet," staff said.

Commissioners asked whether changes were made to the waterfront vision between the commission’s recommendation and council adoption. A councilmember present said council removed language suggesting wetlands were developable and moved mapped buildable lands to the far side of 5th Avenue; otherwise the planning commission recommendations were largely approved. Several commissioners said they would prefer to see the draft letter and any changes in writing before finalizing support.

Commissioner Evans moved that the commission sign on to the grant and the motion received a second. The roll call vote recorded five votes in favor and two opposed (Commissioner Jones and Commissioner Dietz stated they wanted to see more detail in writing), and the motion passed 5–2. Staff said they would circulate a draft of the letter to the full commission and avoid outside-of-hearing decision-making before the public process advances.

The motion authorizes a letter of support in concept; commissioners requested staff circulate the draft letter and additional written details before finalizing the submission packet.