Comprehensive Plan
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CITY of LA GRANDE ORDINANCE NUMBER 3208 SERIES 2013 “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA GRANDE, UNION COUNTY, OREGON, AMENDING THE STATEWIDE GOALS CHAPTERS 8, 11 AND 12 OF THE CITY OF LA GRANDE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; RECODIFYING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; REPEALING ORDINANCE NUMBER 3182, SERIES 2009, AND ALL OTHER ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE” WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission has updated the Park Master Plan, which was incorporated into the Goal 5 Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan; and, WHEREAS, the updated Park Master Plan will amend the Goal 8 Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, replacing all prior adopted Park Master Plans; and, WHEREAS, a large portion of the UGB Expansion Area identified in the Goal 9 chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, which was added to the City’s UGB in 2006, contains a large amount of land encumbered by wetlands and special flood hazard areas. The Comprehensive Plan Map was amended to remove this encumbered land from the UGB in exchange for land between Interstate 84 and Pierce Road, referenced as the UGB Exchange Area; and, WHEREAS, the City contracted with Anderson Perry & Associates to conduct a Public Facilities and Services Analysis for the UGB Expansion Area identified in the Goal 9 Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan and the UGB Exchange Area located between Interstate 84 and Pierce Road; and, WHEREAS, Anderson Perry & Associates recommended amendments to the Goal 11 – Public Facilities & Services Chapter of the City’s Comprehensive Plan; and, WHEREAS, the City contracted with DKS Associates to conduct a Traffic Analysis for the UGB Expansion Area identified in the Goal 9 Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan and the UGB Exchange Area located between Interstate 84 and Pierce Road; and, WHEREAS, the Traffic Analysis will be incorporated into the Transportation System Plan as a supporting document because it includes long range transportation projects that are necessary to mitigate transportation impacts resulting from development within the UGB Expansion Area and UGB Exchange Area; and, WHEREAS, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvement Plan, Map 3-2, identifies an irrigation ditch in the May Lane area as a future multi-use path and this ditch is to be removed from the Plan as constructing a path at this location is not feasible; THE CITY OF LA GRANDE ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The Comprehensive Plan text shall be and hereby is amended and recodified as follows: City of La Grande Ordinance Number 3208 Series 2013 Comprehensive Plan Page 2 of 258 FOREWARD Recognizing the need for an effective means of guiding and coordinating the physical development of La Grande, the City Council adopted the Comprehensive Land Use Plan on July 11, 1973. In 1973, the Oregon State Legislature passed Senate Bill 100 which created the Land Conservation and Development Commission and required all City and County Governments to adopt Comprehensive Land Use Plans in compliance with Statewide goals to be adopted by the L.C.D.C. Thus, in December 1974, the L.C.D.C. adopted 14 Statewide goals that all Comprehensive Plans must address. As a result of the added requirements placed on La Grande by the goals, the City sought and received a grant from the Federal government to update and revise the City's Comprehensive Plan to comply with the Statewide goals and guidelines. The City contracted with the firm of Lynn Steiger and Associates to update the Plan. The Plan was subsequently rewritten by Lynn Steiger and Associates after many work sessions with committees and the Planning Commission and adopted by the City in 1977. After adopting new Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances in 1979 and an Urban Area Management Agreement with the County in 1980, the Plan was submitted to L.C.D.C. in 1981. The 1981 Plan was not approved due to several goal deficiencies. Consequently, a revised and updated Plan was prepared in 1983. The changes in the Plan reflect both the intent of the Statewide Planning Goals and those of the City of La Grande. The 1983 Plan was acknowledged by LCDC and updated in 1990, 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2009. INTRODUCTION THIS INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL HAS BEEN INCLUDED TO PROVIDE CITIZENS AND LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE PLAN IN ORDER THAT THE INFORMATION CAN BE MORE EASILY UNDERSTOOD AND UTILIZED. The Concept. This Land Use Plan is a public document prepared by the Planning Commission and adopted by the City Council with assistance and input from community residents. It provides long-range guidelines for decision-making with regard to land use suitability, development proposal evaluation, public utility, facility and street improvement projects, and other considerations related to community growth. The Plan will be used by public bodies as the basis upon which to make community development decisions and by businesses or private individuals to make investment or construction decisions, wherein it is desirable to have some assurance that community growth will take place. The Purpose. The three basic purposes of this Plan are (1) to encourage desirable growth, (2) to accommodate anticipated development, and (3) to make provisions for those uses which may be needed by a community, but which may have such undesirable characteristics as noise, smoke, or odor. The Plan can be used to encourage desirable growth in that it identifies those uses which are wanted, and provides areas for their development. Anticipated development, as projected in the Plan, can be accommodated by constructing those road and utility improvements which will be needed in order for that development to be realized. The Plan has also attempted to provide for the location of those uses which may have undesirable characteristics, but are needed in the community. City of La Grande Ordinance Number 3208 Series 2013 Comprehensive Plan Page 3 of 258 Flexibility. This Plan is flexible in that provisions are made for reviewing and updating it as conditions in the area change. Such conditions may be economical, physical, social, political, or environmental. Existing Uses. Any legal use existing at the time this Plan was adopted can be continued providing such use is not determined to be a nuisance under local nuisance provisions. Legality. The State enabling legislation stipulates that all cities and counties must have plans which (1) assure coordination and consistency (factual basis), in community development decisions, and (2) provide the basis for regulations, e.g. zoning and subdivision ordinances which express public policy. The term coordination above refers (1) to planning interaction with other agencies at various levels of government, and (2) to transportation improvements, which are among the most important means of plan implementation. The law also requires plan review and revision as changing needs and desires arise. In December 1974, the State Land Conservation and Development Commission (L.C.D.C.) adopted fourteen land use planning goals. The state goals do not actually have a direct affect on local plans, but do spell out what must be taken into account in preparing a Plan. Cities and counties are still responsible for preparation of their own respective plans. Counties are required to coordinate all of the plans prepared within their boundaries. Zoning. In addition to public utility, facility and transportation improvement, zoning is among the most important means of plan implementation. Zoning maps and land use plans are somewhat similar in that both delineate areas suitable for various uses, and attempt to assure use compatibility. Plans are more general and flexible, and provide long-range guidelines for orderly development. Zoning is specific and short-range, and is regulatory rather than recommendatory. Since the Baker vs. Milwaukee (Oregon Supreme) Court case determined that the Comprehensive Plan has precedence over zoning, any conflicts that exist between this Plan and the Zoning Ordinance will have to be resolved. Citizen Involvement. A tabloid was prepared and distributed to the local citizens through The Observer which explained the planning process being undertaken and the Land Conservation and Development Commission goals. Included in the tabloid was a questionnaire intended to provide the citizens an opportunity to respond to particular issues and questions. A series of public meetings were held throughout the City to explain the planning effort and the tabloid. The opinions and recommendations received from the citizens are reflected in the Plan Map and related policies and recommendations. A copy of the questionnaire results are filed in the City Planning Office. Several local and state committees and organizations were contacted and sent copies of the tabloid for their opinions and recommendations as well. Their opinions are also reflected in the Plan Map and related policies and recommendations. The responses received by the various committees and organizations are on file in the City Planning Office. Other citizen involvement was provided through mailed agenda material, public meeting notices, newspaper articles and radio broadcasts, and polling of Planning Committee members and residents on planning issues. City of La Grande Ordinance Number 3208 Series 2013 Comprehensive Plan Page 4 of 258 HISTORY Indians used to camp along the Grande Ronde River, fish its water, dig camas in the meadows and hunt game in the surrounding timbered hills. The Grande Ronde Valley then was a valley of peace. But in 1843, the Indians were interrupted by the first wagon train and life has never been the same. The first white emigrants were impressed by the Grande Ronde Valley but Eastern Oregon then was wild country and every train fought its way to the promised land--the Willamette Valley. It wasn't until 1860 that any of the pioneers doubled back. In that year a freighter, Ben Brown, took a claim north of the river to farm.