Projects Open For Public Comment

The city of Independence Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 7, 2025 (7:00 pm) to consider
a potential change to the Independence Zoning Map. The change would switch the zoning of 19.39 acres in the Medium-
Density Residential (RM) Zone to the High-Density Residential (RH) Zone.

The change is proposed because:

  • The recently adopted city of Independence Housing Needs Analysis recommended “identifying targeted areas to
    rezone for higher density housing” because “there is a very small surplus of capacity in the Urban Growth
    Boundary for townhouse/plex units and multifamily units.”
  •  15.43 acres of the area is currently occupied by multifamily development – the Legacy Oaks Apartments.
  •  The remaining 3.96 acres are well suited for walkable residential development given the presence of nearby
    existing multifamily housing and the proximity of the area to the nearby schools

To view the potential properties impacted by the change, please view the  map here.

Staff Contact: If you have questions, please contact Fred Evander, Community Planner, at the Independence Civic Center,
555 S. Main Street, Independence, OR 97351, (503) 837-1168, or fevander@ci.independence.or.us.

Process: If the Planning Commission votes to forward the changes to the City Council following the Public Hearing, the
Independence City Council will consider the Planning Commission recommendation during a public hearing on Tuesday,
May 13, 2025. The City Council hearing will start shortly after 6:30 pm.

Public Hearing Locations: Both Public Hearings will be held at the Independence Civic Center at 555 S. Main Street,
Independence, OR 97351. The meeting location is accessible to people with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for
the hearing impaired, or for other accommodations, should be made at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting to Myra
Russell, City Recorder, 503-838-1212 / TTY: 800-735-2900. The City is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

Information Available: Information about the proposed zoning map change is available online. Paper copies of the
materials are available for inspection at no cost at the Independence Civic Center. A staff report for the proposal will be
available at least seven days prior to the hearings (per Independence Development Code Section 11.025(A)(7)). Physical
copies of the documents may be obtained from the City for a minimal cost.

Submittal of Testimony: Anyone wishing to present written testimony may submit the testimony prior to and at the public
hearings. Oral testimony may be provided at the hearings.

Appeal Process: Individuals that would like to reserve their right to appeal the proposal should comment or submit a
letter, along with any concerns related to the changes, by the close of the public hearings. Failure to raise an issue in
person or by letter, or failure to provide sufficient specificity to afford the decision-maker the opportunity to respond to the
issue, precludes the ability to raise the issue at a subsequent time on appeal (before the Independence City Council or
before the Land Use Board of Appeals).

 

PDF Document of Public Notice or Spanish Version

Proposed Project: The Independence City Council will hold a public hearing on April 8, 2025 (6:30 pm) to consider a proposal to annex an 8.9-acre portion of 6675 Corvallis Road (Taxmap 8.4.33, Taxlot: 200), located west of the Southern Pacific Railroad and accessed off 6th Street. The request seeks to annex the property into the City and replace the existing County Suburban Residential Zone (that applies to the property) with the City Low-Density Residential Zone.

A portion of the 50-foot right-of-way located directly north of the property (Taxmap 8.4.33, Taxlot: 201), which is owned by the City of Independence, would also be annexed and designated Low-Density Residential as part of the application.

No division of the annexed land or approval of a development would occur as part of the request.

A map of the area included in the proposal can be viewed here.

Project Location: A portion of 6675 Corvallis Road (Taxmap 8.4.33, Taxlot: 200) located west of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and a portion of the City-owned right-of-way located directly north of the property (Taxmap 8.4.33, Taxlot: 201).

Application Criteria: The decision on the application will be based on the approval criteria in the Independence Comprehensive Plan and Independence Development Code (IDC) Subchapters 10, 11, 12, 14, and 20. The approval criteria are available for review at the Independence Civic Center or online at: https://www.ci.independence.or.us/codes-plans-maps/.

Time and Place of Public Hearing: April 8, 2025 (6:30 pm) at the Independence Civic Center (555 S. Main Street, Independence). The meeting location is accessible to people with disabilities. Any requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired, or for other accommodations, should be made at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting to Myra Russell, City Recorder, 503-838-1212 / TTY: 800-735-2900. The City is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

Information Available: The above noted file is available for inspection at no cost at the Independence Civic Center. A staff report for the application will be available at least seven days prior to the hearing. Copies of the information may be obtained from the City for a minimal cost.

Submittal of Testimony: Anyone wishing to present written testimony may submit testimony up to and at the public hearing. Oral testimony may be provided at the public hearing.

Appeal Process: Individuals that would like to reserve their right to appeal the proposal should comment or submit a letter, along with any concerns, by the close of the hearing. Failure to raise an issue or to provide sufficient specificity to afford the decision-maker the opportunity to respond to the issue precludes the ability to raise the issue at a subsequent time on appeal before the Land Use Board of Appeals.

Any appeal of the decision must be filed with the Land Use Board of Appeals within 21 days of the final decision date.

Staff Contact: For further information or to request special accommodation for the hearing, please contact Fred Evander, Community Planner, at the Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main Street, Independence, 503-837-1168, or fevander@ci.independence.or.us.

 

PDF Document of Public Notice or Spanish Version

Proposed Project: The Independence City Council will hold a public hearing on April 8, 2025 (6:30 pm) to consider a
request to annex portions of Hoffman Road and Corvallis Road that are within the unincorporated Urban Growth Boundary
of Independence, but that are not yet within the City Limits. The proposal would also annex a portion of the old 6th Street
(portions of which have been vacated) that has never been annexed. The purpose of the annexation is to ensure that all
roadways within the Urban Growth Boundary are managed and built to City of Independence standards (and not a lesser
requirement) as the nearby lands are annexed and developed.

A map of the areas included in the proposal is attached.

Project Location: Portions of Hoffman Road, Corvallis Road, and the old 6th Street.

Application Criteria: The decision on the application will be based on the approval criteria in the Independence
Comprehensive Plan and Independence Development Code (IDC) Subchapter 10 (General Provisions), Subchapter 11
(Administrative Provisions), and Subchapter 14 (Annexation). The approval criteria are available for review at the
Independence Civic Center or online at: https://www.ci.independence.or.us/codes-plans-maps/.

Time and Place of Public Hearing: April 8th, 2025 (6:30 pm) at the Independence Civic Center (555 S. Main Street,
Independence). The meeting location is accessible to people with disabilities. Any requests for an interpreter for the
hearing impaired, or for other accommodations, should be made at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting to Myra
Russell, City Recorder, 503-838-1212 / TTY: 800-735-2900. The City is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

Information Available: The above noted file is available for inspection at no cost at the Independence Civic Center. A staff
report for the application will be available at least seven days prior to the hearing. Copies of the documents may be
obtained from the city for a minimal cost.

Submittal of Testimony: Anyone wishing to present written testimony may submit testimony prior to and at the public
hearing. Oral testimony may be provided at the public hearing.
Appeal Process: Individuals that would like to reserve their right to appeal the proposal should comment or submit a
letter, along with any concerns related to the application, by the close of the public hearing. Failure to raise an issue, or
failure to provide sufficient specificity to afford the decision-maker the opportunity to respond to the issue, precludes the
ability to raise the issue at a subsequent time on appeal before the Land Use Board of Appeals.
Any appeal of the decision must be filed with the Land Use Board of Appeals within 21 days of the final decision date.

Staff Contact: For further information, please contact Fred Evander, Community Planner, at the Independence Civic
Center, 555 S. Main Street, Independence, 503-837-1168, or fevander@ci.independence.or.us.

 

PDF Document of Public Notice or Spanish Version

Other Ongoing Projects

The Independence City Council adopted the Central Talmadge Plan by resolution on September 10, 2024. Several associated Comprehensive Plan and zoning changes were proposed as part of the document.

Proposed changes to the documents include:

  • Revisions to the Future Land Use Map to change a small area from the Residential to Mixed Use designation (see here – link to Attachment A).
  • Revisions to the Independence Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Transportation Elements to incorporate the plan (see here – link to Attachment B).
  • Amendments to the Independence Zoning Map to align the zoning designations for the area with the Central Talmadge Plan (see here – link to Attachment C).
  • Amendments to the Independence Development Code to incorporate the plan (see here – link to Attachment D).

The changes will continue to allow single-family homes within each of the proposed zones.

If you have questions about the changes, please contact Fred Evander at fevander@ci.independence.or.us or (503) 837-1168.

central_talmadge_atta_flu_2024 central_talmadge_attb_comp_plan_changes central_talmadge_attc_zoningmap_2024 central_talmadge_attd_code_changes

 

Station 203 (SDR 2021-01, CA 2021-07) – 203 Monmouth Street – Site Design Review and Certificate of Historic Appropriateness Approved.

478 S. Main Mixed-Use Building (SDR 2022-02, CA 2020-08) – 478 S. Main Street – Historic Preservation Commission Approved Site Design Approved.  Building Ongoing.

Brandy Meadows Phases 2 – 4 (SUB 2019-01) – Chestnut Avenue, West of 10th – Preliminary Subdivision Approved.

  • Phases 3 and 4 (32 Lots) – Public Improvements Installed. Final Plat Signed. Home Construction Ongoing.

Becken Road Subdivision (SUB 2019-02) – 219 Becken Road (Between 746 Maple and 820 Maple Street) – 6 Lots –  Plat Signed. Two Homes Constructed.

Habitat for Humanity Independence Subdivision (SUB 2020-01) – 940 S. 7th Street – 10 Townhouse Lots – Preliminary Subdivision and Middle Housing Division Approved.

Southwest Crossing Subdivision (SUB 2021-01) – 5995 13th Street S – 67 Lots – Preliminary Subdivision Approved. Engineering in Process of Review.

510 S. 7th Street Subdivision (SUB 2022-01) – 510 S. 7th Street – 5 Lots – Preliminary Subdivision Approved. Plat Signed. Home Construction Ongoing. 

West Coast Metals and Products (SDR 2024-02) – 601 Stryker Road – Site Design Review Approved. Engineering under Review.