On April 24, 2017 the Planning Department welcomed our newest member, Emily Meharg. Emily is filling the vacant position of associate planner and learning quickly. Our department is very happy to have Emily, not only for her glowing personality, but to assist with the high volume of pre-application meetings and what sounds like a multitude of land use applications for apartments and subdivisions coming our way. There are also a handful of excited property owners waiting for the anticipated UGB Expansion so they may request annexation.

Speaking of the anticipated UGB expansion. Also on April 24, 2017 we received confirmation from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) that the Sandy UGB Expansion is being processed. DLCD staff states they hope to have a decision regarding the expansion in the next few months.

The month of April included the issuance of 10 permits for new houses. This brings the total of new houses permitted in Sandy to 18 for the first four months of the year. The building department has also been busy with the conversion of the Pioneer Building to the new Cedar Ridge Middle School and with other commercial property upgrades and conversions.

Just as a reminder we are launching our new permitting software, Energov, on June 6th. This permitting software will eliminate the need for Microsoft Access (building permits) and Excel (planning applications) tracking lists for our departments. The permitting software will enable all permits, land use applications, and code enforcement cases to be linked to ArcGIS by address. The ArcGIS mapping system will also enable staff to link important deadlines, documents, and agreements to individual properties, thus assisting the reliance on institutional knowledge. In the future this permitting software will also feature a ‘citizen access portal’ that will allow contractors and developers to submit permits/applications on-line, request inspections on-line, and tract their submittal items.

A few of the projects using facade grant money are now nearly complete, including the La Bamba restaurant on Pleasant Street and the Timberline Meats Market at Proctor Blvd. and Beers Ave. Both of these projects are looking fantastic and once again prove the value of a successful urban renewal facade program. The Shell gas station at the west end of the couplet also received facade grant money as is evident from the application of the stone base being applied to the building. Other projects receiving funding that are welcomed additions to the Sandy Style color palette include Scooter’s Bar & Grill, and the soon to be upgraded Muff multi-tenant building (i.e. the location formally housing the Tamale Factory and Tovar’s Automotive). The fire station also received facade grant money.

The ad hoc facade grant review committee that will review all projects exceeding a project cost of $50k has been formed. Members include Bill King, Ron Lesowski, Khrys Jones, David Snider, and myself. This committee consists of two business owners, a business liaison, and two staff members.