On Jan. 13 the Reedsport Planning Commission met to adopt a new ordinance that will allow a mixed use of residential and commercial uses in a C-1 or commercial zoned area. The Planning Commission and city planner did a good job in providing a workable solution for many in our area to have an affordable business combined with their residence.�

This pattern of development is not new, and it does reflect the old inner-city neighborhood stores where an owner lived above his business. In the Old Town section where there are far too many stores closed, it is everyone’s hope to find a way to revitalize this three-block area and create a neighborhood atmosphere in the process.

Unfortunately, when I tried to speak during this Planning Commission meeting and lay out some of my concerns with regard to the implementation of the proposed code changes, I ran into a procedural problem. The Planning Commission had closed debate on the proposed code changes in their earlier meeting on Dec. 9. I suspected that this was incorrect, because the Dec. 9 meeting only commissioned the city planner to come up with a workable plan by the Jan. 13 meeting.

In all of the prior Planning Commission hearings I have attended in other cities, the staff recommendations are presented and open for public discussion and then voted on by the commission members. I simply wanted to have input to some of the details that will certainly cause planning issues down the road.

For example, the Planning Commission agreed with the 65 percent commercial use and 35 percent residential use without debate and without apparently acknowledging that their planner also stated that “more than 50 percent commercial” would be acceptable.

What is going to happen is that someone will invariably be forced to come before the Planning Commission and ask for a “variance” because he or she only has 60 percent commercial space not the required “65 percent.” If the code simply stated the space requirement had to be more than 50 percent, the commission could spend more of its time on matters of greater consequence.�

Finally, I wish to thank those who volunteer their time and effort without pay to do this important public service and to thank those who supported me in trying to open up an important debate. Maybe everyone can now work to get some public grants to implement our new code for mixed use in a commercial zone and give Old Town a needed “breath of fresh air.”

B.J. Jones

Burdick Building owner
Reedsport