Marion County Comprehensive Plan
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MARION COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Department Info Divisions Services Text Links MARION COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN I. Introduction II. Comprehensive Plan Goals and Policies A. Agricultural Lands B. Forest Lands C. Rural Development D. Urbanization E. Transportation F. Parks and Recreation G. Economic Development H. Environmental Quality and Natural Resources I. Energy III. Implementation Tables #1 - Acreage of Land Use Plan Designations (included in I. Introduction) #2 - Specifications for Rural Roads ADT (included in II. E. Transportation) #3 - Parks and Recreation Inventory & Needs #4 - Recreation Standards (Planning Division homepage) http://publicworks.co.marion.or.us/Planning/compplan.asp (1 of 2)12/1/2005 1:08:12 PM EXHIBIT B INTRODUCTION PURPOSE The Marion County Comprehensive Plan was developed for the purpose of providing a guide to development and conservation of Marion County's land resources. It is a generalized long-range policy guide and land use map that provides the basis for decisions on the physical, social, and economic development of Marion County. It represents a public statement of the most desirable land conservation projections for the next 10 to 20 years. These policies and statements are based on inventories, developmental limitations, projected needs, public attitudes, countywide urban growth management project framework and implementation strategy, and the State Land Conservation and Development Commission Goals and Guidelines. The Plan also coordinates the various factors which influence community development such as sewer and water, transportation, housing, commerce, industry, schools, land use, recreation, and natural resources. It establishes goals and policies which recognize and plan for the interrelationships and interactions of these factors. The main objectives of this Comprehensive Plan are: a. To prevent future conflicts between land use activities. b. To provide an objective basis for the land use decisions of elected officials, planners, public agencies, and individual citizens. c. To provide a source of information describing the conditions and characteristics of the community. d. To identify the direction and nature of changes which may be expected within the community. e. To provide a better understanding of specific actions, programs and regulations which may affect the general public. f. To establish a balance between the competing state and county resource preservation goals and development preferences. The Plan has been revised with the express purpose of providing an accurate statement of the County land use program and to comply with the State land Use Goals. There are fourteen State Goals that are applicable to Marion County. It is the purpose and intent of the County Plan to http://publicworks.co.marion.or.us/Planning/Comp%20Plan/INTRO.asp (1 of 14)12/1/2005 1:09:49 PM EXHIBIT B comply with these State Goals. SCOPE The scope of the Plan is comprehensive and long range. It is intended to provide a broad framework within which more specific implementation policies and programs may be developed. Comprehensiveness is required through the establishment of statewide planning goals and guidelines by the Land Conservation and Development Commission in 1975. It is recognized that urbanization must be a shared responsibility between the County and the city involved. Within the general framework of the County Plan, it should be the responsibility of each individual city to develop detailed plans for land use allocation and community development within its urban growth boundary, and specific implementation programs for such plans. Where such detailed plans are already in existence, they have been incorporated within this Plan. ORS 195.025 specifically requires the County to coordinate land use planning within the County. It is extremely important to maintain a clear distinction between the Comprehensive Plan itself and implementing measures. Implementing measures include such controls as the zoning and subdivision codes, public land acquisition, taxation policies and public improvements. These measures are specific actions which are taken to transform the Plan proposals and policies into reality. This Plan does not automatically change zoning; however, an Oregon Supreme Court decision in 1975 reaffirmed that the comprehensive plan and the implementing zoning must be consistent with each other and the zoning must be subordinate to the Plan. The Comprehensive Plan establishes a guide for future zoning within the county as well as a Plan for all other land use decisions. As part of the Plan implementation process, existing zoning is reviewed to determine the appropriateness of the zoning to the achievement of the long-range goals and objectives for land use, conservation and development stated in the Plan. The views of area residents concerning zoning will be sought through the Citizen Involvement Program. Proposals for rezoning any portion of the County resulting from this review will be processed through the normal zone change procedures, requiring public notices, public hearings and citizen involvement. PLANNING PROCESS The preparation of a comprehensive plan involves several logical steps which may be referred to as the planning process. Basically, the steps (or phases) of the process may be identified as: a. Research - the collection of physical, social, economic and demographic information. http://publicworks.co.marion.or.us/Planning/Comp%20Plan/INTRO.asp (2 of 14)12/1/2005 1:09:49 PM EXHIBIT B b. Analysis - the studying of information, definition of problems, identification of possible solutions. c. Plan - the evaluation of possible solutions and the selection of a course of action. d. Implementation - carrying out the Plan directives by establishing land use control ordinances and other specific programs that accomplish the intent of the Plan. e. Review and Amendment - continuously monitoring the validity of the policies and recommendations of the Plan, and amending them as necessary to accomplish long-range goals and objectives. Amendments and changes in the Comprehensive Plan can be made by the Board of Commissioners but only after holding public hearings on the proposed amendments and changes. The last step indicates that the process is continuous, and also implies that it may be repeated. While the Plan is being used to guide development and implementation programs, it is constantly being monitored to be sure that its guidelines are still valid. With the passage of time and the changing of conditions, the Plan may require revision. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT Citizen participation is desirable in many areas of governmental activity. In the planning process, where governmental policies are being established, citizen participation is not only desirable but essential. The LCDC Citizen Involvement Goal No. 1 requires the opportunity for citizens to be involved in the planning process. In the preparation of the Marion County Comprehensive Plan, citizens participated in all phases of the Planning process. Marion County developed an active citizen involvement program by establishing Area Advisory Committees (AAC's) and a committee for Citizen Involvement (CCI). The CCI is a committee of citizens of Marion County that developed and monitored the citizen involvement program to assure that there are opportunities for all citizens to take part in planning decisions. Area Advisory Committees (AAC) are made up of interested citizens appointed by the Marion County Board of Commissioners to provide guidance and recommendations on planning issues. The members of the 8 area committees have reviewed and commented on the County Goals and Policies and land use designations contained in the Comprehensive Plan. These advisory committees also take part in the implementation phase of the planning process. In accomplishing the planning goals and policies, the Area Advisory Committees plus individual citizen response, played a major role in determining the zoning patterns in their areas. http://publicworks.co.marion.or.us/Planning/Comp%20Plan/INTRO.asp (3 of 14)12/1/2005 1:09:49 PM EXHIBIT B A detailed description of the citizen involvement program used in the development of the Plan is included in the Background and Inventory Report. In anticipation of Plan implementation the County has reevaluated its Citizen Involvement Program. The large committees in each of eight areas have been reduced in size to 4 to 6 members. At least one member of the County Planning Commission is on each area committee. The Planning Commission has been designated the Citizen Involvement Committee. Having a Commission member on each area committee will improve communication. The Planning Commission will be studying and making recommendations on ways to implement the Comprehensive Plan. They will seek the assistance and input of the members of each area committee before forwarding their recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. Area committee members can provide their input through the Planning Commission or directly to the Board. The Staff will continue to seek input from the Planning Commission members and/or area committee members located within the affected area on administrative decisions and permit applications scheduled for public hearing. Any input received will be noted in Staff reports and made part of the record. Policies 1. The Marion County Planning Commission shall serve as the Citizen Involvement Committee. The Committee shall periodically review the citizen involvement process and make recommendations on how the