The City policy shall be to:

2. Continue a viable planning process to ensure that citizens can continue to be involved in the land use decision-making process and to allow for plan changes according to public opinion and changing circumstances.

3.  Publicize the opportunities for citizen involvement by the following methods:

b.  When appropriate, the City shall publish notices in a local newspaper. One newspaper of general distribution in the area is The Chronicle. The paper has indicated a willingness to publish articles announcing meetings and general discussions of Planning Commission topics, including any decisions that are rendered.

c.  The City mails a City newsletter every month. Opportunities for citizen involvement will be included in the newsletter whenever possible.

d.  The City posts information on its website and e-mails updates to a list of interested citizens.

4.  Provide technical assistance to the Planning Commission by a planning consultant retained by the City. In addition, technical assistance is available from the City Recorder's office. The Columbia County Planning Department has also indicated a willingness to assist in the planning process and to provide assistance to interested citizens.

B.  LAND USE PLANNING

The goal of the City is to establish a land use planning process and policy framework document (comprehensive plan) as a basis for all decisions and actions related to use of land and to ensure an adequate factual base for such decisions and actions.

The policies of the City shall be:

1. To update the comprehensive plan at least every ten years to ensure that it remains consistent with local issues and concerns. The City may also make amendments, as needed, to remain consistent with state and federal laws and administrative rules.

2. Involve citizens and affected local, state, and federal agencies in the comprehensive plan update process.

3. Coordinate with Columbia County to monitor population growth as compared to official county and state estimates and allocations.

5. Modify existing ordinance and/or draft new ordinances, guidelines and other measures as needed to implement the provisions of the comprehensive plan.

6. Adopt procedures and criteria for reviewing applications for plan amendments which are submitted for adoption between major plan updates. Any adopted procedures and criteria will be in compliance with all applicable local and state requirements.

7. Continue to seek funding to support increased City participation in coordinated planning efforts with Columbia County, the City of St. Helens and affected state agencies.

C.  OPEN SPACES, SCENIC AND HISTORIC AREAS, AND NATURAL RESOURCES

a. Protect the scenic views through enforcement of the Columbia City Development Code

c.  Coordinate and cooperate with state and county agencies and other historical organizations providing funding for a continuing program of inventorying, cataloging, and preserving historic structures and sites in Columbia City, including the Lewis and Clark Trail.

a.  Review residential, commercial, and industrial proposals for potential impacts on the water quality and fish resources which exist in McBride Creek and the Columbia River and require mitigation consistent with state statute.

b.  Cooperate with the Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in minimizing the impacts of any development along McBride Creek.

D.  AIR, WATER, AND LAND RESOURCES QUALITY

The policy of the City shall be to:

2.  Establish a planting program to help reduce levels of noise and air pollution, protect drainageways, and provide cover for wildlife populations.

3.  Cooperate with county, state, and federal agencies in environmental efforts.

4.  Review residential, commercial, and industrial proposals for potential degradation of air, land, and water quality.

5.  Ensure that future developments possess adequate on-site and off-site storm water drainage.

6.  Support recycling.

E.  AREAS SUBJECT TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND HAZARDS

The policy of the City shall be to:

2.  Require engineering studies for development proposed in any slope hazard area. Slope hazard area shall be as defined in the Columbia City Development Code. [Amended by Ordinance No. 06-620-O, 7/2/06].

3.  Require compliance with FEMA flood plain construction requirements.

F.  RECREATIONAL NEEDS

The policy of the City shall be to:

2.  Acquire sites for needed future parks as far in advance as possible to avoid rising land costs and risks of having the land put to some other use.

3.  Cooperatively involve private parties, the City, school district, and state and federal agencies in the development of local recreational resources.

4.  Develop public access to the Columbia River at "H" Street .

5.  Pursue the implementation of the bike plan, specifically attempting to loop the path at the north end of the City into the residential area on the west side of the highway (shown as Appendix B).

G.  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The policy of the City shall be to:

2.  Goal and Policies for Commercial (C-1) Designation:

The commercial category includes a somewhat limited range of retail and service businesses. The goal of the City is to establish commercial areas which would provide a service to Columbia City residents and are properly integrated into the physical pattern of the City.

The policy of the City for the C-1 designation shall be to:

b.  Discourage "strip" commercial development.

c.  Ensure that commercial enterprises maintain sufficient off-street parking to accommodate their customers, workers, and loading requirements.

3.  Goal and Policy for Commercial/Recreational (C-R) Designation:

There is one area zoned commercial/recreational. The purpose of the commercial/recreational category is to provide convenient recreational and personal development/service establishments with a minimum impact upon surrounding residential development. The goal of the City is to establish commercial/recreational areas which would provide a service to the local area and are properly integrated into the physical pattern of the City.

The policy of the City for the C-R designation shall be to:

b.  Recognize the existing commercial/recreational use of property located adjacent to the commercial zone at Columbia River Highway and "A" Street.

4.  Goal and Policies for the Industrial (I) Designation:

There are approximately 93 acres in the industrial zone, located along the Columbia River. The property is presently owned by the Port of St. Helens. The goal of the City is to provide a place for light industrial activities and marine related tourism with minimal impacts on the community where service and transportation requirements can be met.

The policy of the City for the Industrial designation shall be to:

a.  Ensure safe, environmentally-sound development that does not conflict with adjacent uses.

c.  Encourage low impact, light industrial development where such development will diversify the tax base of the City.

d.  Encourage development of the marine recreation and tourism industry and provision of amenities to support this industry.

B.  HOUSING

1.  The general housing policy of the City shall be to:

a.  Maintain adequate zoning, land division, and building codes to help achieve the City's housing goals.

b.  Encourage and cooperate with interested agencies to improve substandard dwellings and cooperate with all efforts to provide an adequate economic mix of housing.

c.  Strive to provide services sufficient to meet the demand for housing so the City will not have to impose building moratoriums or impose other constraints which drive up building costs.

d.  Require developers to provide adequate public services with land division approvals.

The land designated single-family residential (R-1) is shown on the Comprehensive Plan map. The goal of the City for the R-1 designation is to establish conditions which will maintain attractive and convenient residential living typical of a single-family district.

The policy of the City for the R-1 designation shall be to:

b.  Require developers to construct adequate public services before final land division approval is given.

3.  Goal and Policies for the Moderate Density Residential (R-2) Designation

Duplexes and single-family dwellings are appropriate in this area. The land designated general residential (R-2) is shown on the Comprehensive Plan map. The goal of the City for the R-2 designation is to create conditions suitable for higher concentrations of people.

b.  Require developers to construct adequate public services before final land division approval is given.

Previously, the multi-family land use designation applied to approximately 13.5 acres, 10 of which were committed to single-family dwellings. These lands are not available for multi family development. This designation will be used to provide for a wider range of housing types at a maximum density of 10 dwelling units per acre. The goal of the City is to create conditions suitable for higher concentrations of people in close proximity to public services, transportation, and other conveniences.

The policy of the City for the R-3 designation shall be to:

1.  Ensure sunlight and view for adjacent single-family homes is not blocked.

2.  Ensure ample open space for residents, ample off-street parking, and adequate access.

3.  Ensure the traffic carrying capacity of surrounding streets or the capabilities of other public services and utilities is adequate.

4.  Ensure sites are landscaped and outdoor storage is screened from dwelling units.

5.  Goal and Policies for the Manufactured Home Park (MHP) Designation

The manufactured home park land use designation is intended to allow a manufactured home park in the City near the intersection of the Columbia River Highway and Pacific Street as shown on the Comp Plan map. The goal of the City is to provide for a manufactured home park and comply with state legislation (ORS 197).

The policy of the City for the MHP designation shall be to:

b.  Ensure sufficient traffic-carrying capacity of surrounding streets and capabilities of other public services and utilities.

c.  Locate dwellings where undue noise or other factors will not interfere with residential living.

d.  Screen and landscape the perimeter of the manufactured home park from other adjacent dwellings.

e.  Ensure local ordinances comply with ORS 446.095 on manufactured home park standards.

I.  Goal and Policies for Public Lands (PL)

The purpose of the public lands zone is to delineate lands that are owned by public or semi-public entities and that are used, or have the potential to be used, for public or semi-public purposes such as schools, parks, and playgrounds. Land owned by the city, state, and county shall also be included in this designation. The goal of the City is to encourage dedication of lands for public use.

The policy of the City for the PL designation shall be to:

1.  Recognize lands that are set aside for public use and encourage the maintenance and continuation of such uses.

a.  Neighborhood parks on the west side of the City and public access to the Columbia River on the east side.

b.  A looped bike path from the existing northern bike path into the northwest residential zone--along Pacific Street and as far north as possible.

c.  Use of volunteer labor, as much as possible, for land clearing and park development work.

J.  PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES

The policy of the City for public facilities and services shall be to:

2.  Cooperate with other area jurisdictions to improve public facilities as the need arises, including solid waste disposal and sanitary sewage treatment.

3.  Require developers provide on site storm drainage.

K.  TRANSPORTATION

The goal of the City is to implement the adopted transportation system plan in order to manage future transportation needs and prolong the useful life of the existing transportation system.

The policy of the City for transportation shall be to:

2.  Overlay presently unpaved local and collector streets either through public funding (where possible) or through the formation of local improvement districts.

3.  Minimize or eliminate rail and automobile conflicts.

4.  Promote activities furthering traffic and pedestrian safety (such as signalized intersections and crosswalks), especially along the Columbia River Highway.

5.  Require new development to plan, design, and develop street systems in accordance with the anticipated future land use and activity patterns in the area and the City, connecting new streets to existing streets by creating loops and eliminating dead-end streets whenever possible. Prohibit the creation of private streets and discourage creation of alleys. Future developments of Fifth and Lincoln Streets have been specifically identified as streets which need to be connected to existing streets.

6.  Seek funding to construct the truck route shown in Figure 7-4 of the Transportation System Plan to minimize the impacts of heavy truck traffic which would harm the roadbed and surface of neighborhood streets and bridges. In the interim, establish a truck route, to be marked on "E" Street from Second Street to the Columbia River Highway.

7.  Cooperate with regional and county plans to improve the transportation network in the southeast county area.

8.  Continue to support the efforts of COLCO Transportation to supply public transit to the citizens of Columbia City.

9.  Special attention will be given to the needs of the handicapped and other transportation disadvantaged individuals whenever the City considers a proposal for the provision of public transit.

10.  Encourage the use and improvement of bike and walking paths.

11.  Require cement concrete sidewalks in all new developments.

12.  Seek funding and construct projects identified in the Transportation System Plan, Section 8-1, Project Improvement Plan.

K.  ENERGY CONSERVATION

The policy of the City for the energy conservation shall be to:

2.  Encourage car and van pooling programs.

3.  Promote pedestrian and bicycle transportation within the City.

L.  URBANIZATION

2.  Update the Urban Growth Management Agreement with Columbia County including the following conditions for development within the UGB:

a.  Municipal review of all requests for development within the urban growth boundary.

b.  Require annexation before City services are expanded or extended to properties currently outside the City limits.

c.  Review development plans in the urban growth boundary to ensure the development of a safe road system and orderly and economic provision of future public services and facilities.

3.  Limit expansion of urban growth boundaries to areas the City can cost effectively provide with public facilities.

4.  Facilitate orderly and efficient transition from urbanizable land to urban land uses within the City's urban growth boundary boundary.

5.  Require findings satisfying the following criteria for approval of amendments to the urban growth boundary:

b.  The proposed expansion maintains or enhances the community’s livability.

c.  The proposed expansion provides for an orderly and economic provision for public facilities and services.

d.  The proposed expansion considers environmental, energy, economic, and social consequences.

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