Development Services – Monthly Report – September 2023


Planning Department items: 

DLCD Housing Assistance Grant:  The City of Sandy was awarded a $50,000 housing assistance grant from DLCD. This grant will be used to fulfill our House Bill 2003 obligation to complete a housing production strategy by the end of 2025. The City will be matching with approximately $20,000 as included in the budget. Executive Assistant Rebecca Casey was instrumental in the City being awarded this grant.

Mass Timber Code-Up Grant:  The City of Sandy was awarded a mass timber code-up grant from DLCD. This grant will provide technical assistance to local jurisdictions for updating planning and development codes to allow and encourage the development of mass timber modular housing in communities that could be impacted by wildfire. There are no matching grant money obligations from the City.

Sandy Community Campus Park (23-020 DR/CUP/VAR/FSH/TREE):On September 25, 2023, the Planning Commission approved the Sandy Community Campus Park land use application, including a conditional use permit and four special variances. The final order was issued on October 2. Development Services Department staff is looking forward to working with the Parks and Recreation Department and their contractor on moving forward with the development of the park. More information can be found, here: https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/planning/project/sandy-community-campus-park

37220 Dubarko Roadhouse Addition (23-031 DR/FSH):  The property owners desire to construct a two-story addition within 80 feet of the top of bank of Tickle Creek. According to the applicant, the entire subject property is located within the Flood Slope Hazard (FSH) Overlay and the majority of the property is located within the 80-foot restricted development area to the top of bank of Tickle Creek. City staff will also be evaluating the encroachments (shed, retaining wall, and synthetic turf) that was installed on City property to the west of 37220 Dubarko Road in a location that is planned for the Tickle Creek Trail. More information can be found, here: https://www.ci.sandy.or.us/planning/project/37220-dubarko-addition

Timber Grove Job Site Trailer – Holt Homes (23-035 TEMP):  A temporary sales/contractor’s trailer was approved by staff on September 22nd for 12 months for the Timber Grove subdivision, located between Hwy 26 and SE Vista Loop Drive.  The trailer will serve to help the developer coordinate the sales of lots and the construction of new single family homes in the northwest section of town. 

39600 Evans Street Duplex (23-037 DR):  In February 2023, a single-family dwelling at this address sustained structural damage due to a fire and has since been demolished.  In June of 2023, the property owners started the process of rebuilding and with a zoning designation of R-3 (High Density Residential), they decided to increase the density.  Staff will be completing a conditional approval in the first half of October for two separate duplexes totaling four dwelling units, two to be built now and two to be built at a later date when the moratorium is lifted. 

Code enforcement items

Development Services’ new Code Enforcement Specialist has hit the ground running and is currently assisting our Community Service Officer with the backlog of code enforcement items around the City.  Going forward, Mr. Relyea will be responsible for addressing the following code enforcement issues in Sandy:

  • Weeds & junk accumulation
  • Mud & debris on city streets
  • Residential property issues
  • Street and hazard trees
  • Land use violations
  • Commercial business/property issues
  • Dangerous & derelict buildings
  • Street, sidewalk and public property issues
  • Signs & sign code

For now, both positions are working diligently on eliminating the backlog while addressing new items that staff has not had the capacity to address until now due to understaffing.  In addition, Mr. Relyea has been focusing on a couple of specific areas including the Sandy Marketplace, and visible items (street trees, junk accumulation, weeds and noxious vegetation) in residential areas.  Going forward, this section of the department report will include monthly statistics showing how many code issues have been addressed and completed by type, as well as an occasional brief narrative to describe commercial issues and larger enforcement actions taken.