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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2016)
8 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2016 Local Planning Commission approves Idaho Power permit BY TODD ARRIOLA Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com The Baker County Plan- ning Commission held a public hearing on Thurs- day, April 28, 2016, 6 p.m., in the matter of Condi- tional Use Permit CU-16- 004, for the development of three duplexes, and a recreational vehicle storage area, in the Hells Canyon area, from applicant Idaho Power Company. Present from the Com- mission were Chair Alice Trindle, and members Jim Grove, Randy Joseph, Thomas Van Diepen, and Kasey Wright. Present Baker County Planning Department staff included Planning Direc- tor Holly Kerns, Planners Kara Harris and Carson Quam, and Planning As- sistant Kevin Berryman. Attendance also included representatives for the ap- plicant, Idaho Power Com- pany Real Estate Portfolio Manager Laura Bishop, and Project Manager/Engi- neer Tim Ferguson. Trindle called the meet- ing to order, followed by roll call, with the noted absence of Commission Vice Chair Lauri Hoopes, Commission member Su- zan Ellis Jones, and Senior Planner Eva Ceder. The minutes from the Thursday, March 24, 2016 meeting were reviewed, and approved, with a mo- tion from Van Diepen, and a second from Wright. Trindle opened the hear- ing, followed by recitation of the standard hearing statement. She asked if there were any chal- lenges to the jurisdiction of the Commission to hear the matter; if there were any conflicts of interest, or personal biases to be declared by a Commission member; and if there have been any ex-parte contacts, regarding the matter, to be declared by a Commission member, and each answer was singly answered in the negative. Harris presented the staff report for CU-16-004, using the County’s Smart Board interactive display, to aid in the explanation. Idaho Power Company, Inc. (the applicant) has requested approval for a Planned Unit Development (PUD), which includes three duplex units (six residential dwellings), intended to be used for em- ployee housing, and a 28- unit capacity recreational vehicle (RV) storage area, on property owned by the applicant, located in the Eagle Island Loop area, in Hells Canyon, eight miles south of Copperfield Park. The proposal is in support of ongoing hydro-power operations (Idaho Power currently operates the Brownlee, Oxbow, and Hells Canyon Dams). The properties are identi- fied as Tax Lots 200 and 300, in Township 8 South, Range 48 East, W.M. (Wil- lamette Meridian), Baker County, OR (References 14772, 12373, 900584, and 900799). Tax Lot 200, parcel 1, around 29 acres (Reference 14772), is zoned RR-5 (Rural Resi- dential), and Tax Lot 300, parcel 2, around 125 acres (Reference 12373, 900584, and 900799), is split-zoned RR-5, and EFU (Exclusive Farm Use). The PUD will be located on Tax Lot 200, and the RV storage area will be located on Tax Lot 300. Joseph interjected with a question about whether the applicant could sub-divide, and sell some of parcel 2 at some point in the future, which he said is a conflict with the idea of a PUD (The PUD is proposed for parcel 1). Parcel 2 includes four, double-wide manufactured homes, each with an outbuilding; one, single family residential home, with a detached garage, and an outbuild- ing; and, two manufactured homes, with accessory storage buildings. Harris responded that the appli- cant would need to reapply for anything like that, and be heard again by the Commission, and she also stated later during her pre- sentation, that Idaho Power intends to remain the sole property owner. Trindle asked whether the RV storage area would be for employee storage use, and Harris responded that it would be, and that there is no intended com- mercial use, or intention to use it for residential stay. Trindle called upon the applicant to testify, and Bishop spoke solo first, with the Commission. She said that Harris had covered the subject very well so far, and Bishop elaborated on the proposed residences, facilitating em- ployee travel from and to Boise, and the landscaping, speaking about the concept of the Wildland Urban In- terface, which is where de- veloped areas intermingle with undeveloped areas, and it includes actions taken to prevent damage, or loss from wildfire. She said that Idaho Power is interested in reducing fuel Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press L-R: Tim Ferguson, Laura Bishop, Randy Joseph, Jim Grove, Alice Trindle, Tom Van Diepen and Kasey Wright. loads for potential wild- fires, and in maintaining the scenic quality. Joseph asked how the term “landscape” was de- fined, and Bishop respond- ed that it would include preserving the natural state, including maintain- ing (or replacing) native grasses, and not installing any additional potential fuels, such as shrubs, for wildfire. The discussion contin- ued, including Ferguson, during which, Bishop men- tioned that Idaho Power is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year, and she emphasized the impor- tance of the hydro-power operational efforts. After speaking about other details, Trindle closed the hearing, and the Commission members began a discussion regard- ing the proposal. Joseph voiced concerns about the lack of deed restrictions mentioned in the condi- tions of approval, and he said the zoning ordinance requires them, whether they’re included or not, and this topic caused some confusion, and significant further discussion, first be- tween Joseph, and Grove, who went over details of future expansion potential, what percentage of area exactly is developed, and what is undeveloped, open space, etc. Kerns read statements by Idaho Power, that the ap- plicant acknowledges that the Planning Commission could require open space, and Joseph said that, ac- cording to the zoning ordi- nance, it’s required, there’s no choice, and the amount of that space should already be specified, and be part of the deed restric- tions, rather than the ap- plicant reapplying later, to address this issue. Joseph said he was confused, be- cause the applicant stated there would be no issue with the deed restrictions, including minimum open space standards, and he didn’t understand why the Commission may not even include those requirements, since they would be easily met. The Commission and Kerns discussed includ- ing these details in the conditions of approval, and Trindle reopened the hearing, in order to speak with Bishop and Fergu- son. Trindle asked for more clarity, and Bishop elaborated, and stated she has no issue with the deed restrictions. Trindle once again closed the hearing, and Kerns suggested some lan- guage, to be added to the Conditions of Approval. She read the suggested addition, which included meeting open space requirements. CU-16-004 was approved, noting the addition as Conditions of Approval #12, with a motion from Grove, and a second from Van Diepen. Trindle read a hearing process statement, and then, Kerns provided the Commission with a Direc- tor’s Report. During the report, Grove asked whether the Com- mission will conclude efforts regarding Goal #5 issues soon, voicing his frustration, along with Joseph (Goal #5 is one of the Statewide Planning Goals & Guidelines, “To protect natural resources, and conserve scenic, and historic areas, and open spaces”). Trindle said she wants to get something completed, and something to the Commission, and Joseph said that he didn’t get that impression, during the last discussion on the topic. Grove said he’s willing to discuss it at one more work session, Joseph said that there needs to be improved criteria, and Trindle said she intends to discuss it at the next work session, scheduled for Monday, May 9, 2016, 5 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 26, 2016, 6 p.m. OTEC places first for NWPPA safety award Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative placed 1st in the 2016 Northwest Public Power Administration (NWPPA) Safety Awards competition held at the En- gineering and Operations Conference in Spokane, Wash., on April 14, 2016. “It is a great honor to be recognized,” said Jeff An- derson, OTEC’s Manager of Safety and Loss Control. “This award acknowledges that OTEC’s safety record is well above average and that is attributed to the culture of care we have for one another and a healthy respect we have for the incredible power of elec- tricity. We are committed to safety. It is constantly at the forefront of all of our operations - whether our crews are working out in the field on top of a power pole or processing documents in the district offices.” Utilities from across the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and California compete in this annual safety contest. NWPPA safety contest awards are based upon a review of each utility’s number of recordable injury/illness cases (the incident rate) and the lost work days (the severity rate). In 2015, between the 150,001-500,000 hour category, OTEC had no lost time accidents. This paired with the lack of injury cases is what put OTEC in the lead for the recognition. “Electricity is great stuff – but, it is easy to forget how dangerous it can be,” said OTEC’s Board President George Galloway. “Our employees are not only consistently dealing with high-voltage electricity, they are operat- ing heavy equipment and often working high in the air, around the clock, in less than favorable weather conditions. This past summer, they also found themselves dealing with wildfires of historic proportion. This award ac- knowledges our continued perseverance and commit- ment to safety.” Galloway added, “OTEC’s safety record is the result of having extraordinary employees who make safety a priority. The icing on the cake is that our strong safety re- cord substantially reduces insurance premiums, helps us control our rates to our members and allow us to remain in good standing with the Occupational Safety and Health Admin- istration. All good things.”
