The complete Blue River Community Plan was recommended for approval to the County Commissioners by the Lane County Planning Commission on Tuesday August 20th 2024.
This will be the final step before our land use rules are updated.
County staff along with state rural land use experts worked together with the community and community focus groups to develop this plan.
In the 70’s, Oregon implemented strict land use laws to protect the state from over developing. As with any sweeping laws, unintended consequences can occur that require updates to address negative impacts.
We at MCP, have been pushing for Lane County to help address these issues for decades. The devastation of the Holiday Farm Fire and the relief money provided to the state has enabled our County Commissioners to take action and help us.
The Complete Blue River Community Plan is the culmination of those efforts.
The new Community Plan provides property owners something that the community desperately needs: FLEXIBILITY.
It goes without saying that the new plan will, no doubt, need some tweaking and changes over the years as we move forward. The county staff is aware and will be monitoring feedback as we move forward.
The codification of this plan is providing real hope for many Blue River property owners.
Along with that is a very real fear of change. We have lost a lot. Old Blue River will not be restored to what it was, it will be something new. That brings sadness to some, hope and excitement to others. The uncertainty of change usually brings with its some level of stress, yet this is balanced out by the hope of what is to come.
The following information is provided by Lane County – it is the action by the planning commission:
Item(s): Blue River Complete Community Plan
Department File No. 509-PA23-05691 / Amendments to the Lane County Rural Comprehensive Plan and Lane Code to implement a Complete Community Plan for the Rural Community of Blue River.
1st Motion Language: Move to forward a recommendation of the Blue River Complete Community Plan and code to the Board of County Commissioners with the following adjustments:
- Eliminate cross-references to building code and remove occupancy standards
- Add in a pathway for a proposal that cannot meet the compatibility standards for a CUP option
- More carefully define light industrial
- More consistently use term screening and define it
- Remove language surrounding similar uses to exception for the Blue River Drive overlay
Amendments to the Motion: Friendly Amendment by Commissioner Dignam to also include:
- Allow for more use flexibility, by allowing increased building size (up to 40kSF) with Type II: Instruct staff to review recommended changes from TBG and evaluate how to address it.
- More equitably define signage rules
This motion passed with 5 Planning commission members in favor and one opposed.
Link to the proposed Complete Blue River Community Plan
After the Planning Commission vote, the above plan will be adjusted according to the motion adjustments.