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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes - 2026-03-16 PM 503-635-0290 380 A AVENUE PO BOX 369 LAKE OSWEGO, OR 97034 WWW.LAKEOSWEGO.CITY CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO Development Review Commission Minutes March 16, 2026 The Commissioners convened at 6:02 PM, via Zoom. Members Present: Chair Larry Linstrom, Vice Chair Yuko Mino, John Dewes, Kristen Bates, Dwight Sangrey, Helen Leek, Meetal Salunkhe, and Ali Afghan, City Council Liaison (disconnected from the meeting at 6:13 PM) Members Absent: None Staff Present: Johanna Hastay, Planning Manager; Souvanny Miller, Consulting Attorney; and Kat Kluge, Administrative Assistant Chair Linstrom asked if there were any changes to the agenda, Johanna Hastay, Planning Manager, relayed that she had invited Souvanny Miller, Consulting Attorney, to lead a discussion regarding some procedural topics. REPORT ON COUNCIL ACTIVITIES - Ali Afghan, City Councilor Council Afghan provided details about the following recent City and City Council activities: the application for 4000 Kruse Way, to rezone from commercial to residential, was approved but appealed; an ordinance regarding Home Occupation Use was tentatively approved; the bond for the new South Shore Fire Station project was approved to go forward; Lynn Peterson was appointed as the Pro Tem City Manager; and the DRC-relevant 2026 Goals were listed out. With the schedule for City Council meetings, Councilor Afghan noted that he will next attend during the first meeting of May 2026. Chair Linstrom asked for the residential plan for 4000 Kruse Way, Councilor Afghan replied that there was no set plan for this property. Commissioner Leek inquired whether Councilor Afghan could share why they asked for the resignation of the prior City Manager, Councilor Afghan answered that he did not believe they asked for that person's resignation, rather, it was a mutual decision, and something he preferred not to discuss during a DRC meeting. MINUTES March 2, 2026: There were no revisions noted. Development Review Commission Minutes March 16, 2026 Page 2 of 3 Commissioner Sangrey moved to approve the Minutes of March 2, 2026, as written, Seconded by Commissioners Leek and Dewes, simultaneously, and passed 6:0 [Yea-Linstrom, Mino, Dewes, Salunkhe, Leek, Sangrey/Nay-N/A), with 1 abstention (Bates)]. FINDINGS LU 25-0043: A request for a: • A Development Review Permit for the new elementary school building; • A Conditional Use Permit modification to increase the size of the school building from approximately 51,000 sq. ft. to 69,500 sq. ft., and to increase the capacity of the school from 540 students to 570 students; and, • Removal of 21 trees to accommodate the project. (Additional trees will be removed under a separate Invasive tree removal permit.) This site is located at 1133 Andrews Rd. (Tax Reference 21E03BD03700). The Staff Coordinator was Courtney Simms, AICP, Associate Planner. Commissioner Sangrey moved to approve the Written Findings, Conclusion, and Order of LU 25- 0043, as written, Seconded by Vice Chair Mino and passed 6:0 [Yea-Linstrom, Mino, Dewes, Salunkhe, Leek, Sangrey/Nay-N/A), with 1 abstention (Bates)]. The above vote differed from the original tentative decision vote, as noted by Ms. Miller (Commissioner Leek voted “Nay” during the hearing on March 2, 2026). Commissioner Leek indicated that she was potentially changing her decision vote because you could not fight the Transportation System Plan, there being no flexibility to it. Ms. Hastay relayed that she and other members understood the concerns raised by Commissioner Leek during the last hearing; acknowledging that the decision on whether to cast a vote to now approve was up to Commissioner Leek to make; however, she noted that the Commission had, at an earlier meeting, determined that a final vote should reflect the tentative vote unless the Commissioner declares otherwise. Chair Linstrom called for a revote of the Findings, with the following results: passed 5:1 [Yea-Linstrom, Mino, Dewes, Salunkhe, Sangrey/Nay-Leek), with 1 abstention (Bates)]. SCHEDULE REVIEW AND MANAGEMENT UPDATE Ms. Hastay, updated DRC members on upcoming meetings: By March 31, 2026, mandatory Ethics Training must be completed. April 13, 2026, has a Planning Commission joint session at 6:30 PM, to review the draft Tree Code amendments. April 20, 2026, or May 4, 2026, will possibly have a hearing on an application in progress. Ms. Hastay turned over the floor to Ms. Miller, who provided a presentation regarding the following outlined topics: Development Review Commission Minutes March 16, 2026 Page 3 of 3 • Ex parte contacts: Types of decisions / What was an ex parte contact? / What were not considered ex parte contact (exceptions)? / What must happen if an ex parte contact occurred? / Why was it important to disclose contacts? / FAQs. • Bias and Conflicts of Interest: Definitions / Types of conflicts of interest / Types of benefits. • Best practices to ensure a clear record: DRC’s role in applying criteria to facts / Risks of not providing a clear record / Understanding where you were in the hearing process / Directing all questions, debates, deliberations toward the criteria. Ms. Hastay added one additional topic: • Application of criteria and interpretation of guidelines: Availability of staff/legal counsel to answer questions. Members’ questions discussed: • Timing of ex parte contacts. • Extent of disclosures made. • Conversations held with other DRC members. • Identifying types of site visits. • Timeframe for potential financial benefits. • Defining a “known” person. • Asking questions during deliberations. • Making personalized comments during deliberations. • Responding to disparaging remarks by the public or by the Applicant. Ms. Hastay and members thanked Ms. Miller for providing the informative presentation. ADJOURNMENT Chair Linstrom thanked City staff and DRC members for their time, then adjourned the meeting at 7:25 PM. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Kat Kluge, Administrative Support