PAGE A8, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 1, 2019
On current path, new Keizer families will have limited space
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
If Keizer attempted to ab-
sorb all of its projected growth
within the existing city
boundaries, the next 3,800
families moving into new,
single family homes would
be placed on one-tenth of
an acre each , roughly 5,100
square feet.
Bob Parker, a projector di-
rector at ECONorthwest, a
consulting fi rm assisting the
city in a housing needs and
buildable lands analysis, told
members of the committee
reviewing the data that Keizer
has only 450 acres of vacant
and partially vacant land. Even
that is a generous estimate be-
cause it takes into account
privately-owned large lots
that could be subdivided fur-
ther. Reaching the 450-acre
capacity would require moti-
vating the owners to develop
their property to the maxi-
mum possible extent.
However, it’s not time to
sound the alarm, yet.
“The important part of
this process is strategies to ac-
commodate housing for the
next 20 years. It’s pretty clear
that the city will have unmet
housing needs,” Parker said.
That means the Housing
Needs and Buildable Lands
Inventory Task Force will
be doing some heavy lifting
in the months to come. The
group met most recently on
Feb. 21.
Topping the list of needs
is accommodation for fami-
lies making less than $35,000
per year. Keizer was recently
designated as rent-burdened
by state offi cials. About 54
percent of renters in Keizer
are paying more than a third
of their monthly income on
rent, and 25 percent of home-
owners are in the same situ-
ation when it comes to their
mortgage.
“The city is not producing
enough housing to accom-
modate those making less
“business need” for the city
to grow has not yet been
identifi ed. He said the task
force needs to help determine
whether such a need actual-
ly exists and how to balance
growth with sustaining ser-
vices for existing residents.
“Can we continue to meet
our needs [such as adequate
funding for public safety ser-
vices] while investing in new
infrastructure for expansion?
Developers will only pay for
their share for constructing
new homes, not expansion of
capacity,” Brown said.
A public input session
following the meeting and
recapping prior work only
drew a handful of residents
and stakeholders.
Parker said the current
market isn’t forcing redevel-
opment at this point, but that
some space could be recouped
by changing some commer-
cially-zoned land to mixed
use, given that the need for
commercial land needed in
the past might not be as great
in the present.
Rick Kuehn, another
member of the committee,
said the city is between the
proverbial rock and hard place.
“From a business perspec-
tive, Keizer needs to grow.
From a residential perspec-
tive, I want it to stay as we
are,” Kuehn said.
Brown countered that a
than $35,000. We need to fi nd
a way to work with the mar-
ket and encourage the market
to address those needs,” Parker
said.
Community Development
Director Nate Brown said
the city has run out of “green
fi eld” development spaces that
attracted developers looking
to capitalize on Keizer’s low
property taxes and equally low
system development charges.
“I think we need to fi ll in
the gaps. If we zone it they
will come. I feel like we need
to be picky and get what we
need out of it,” said Nick Ste-
phenson, a member of the
committee.
obituaries
Submit an obituary through our website at keizertimes.com or send an email to: editor@keizertimes.com
Ruby Brock
February 15, 1924 – February 14, 2019
Ruby Brock was born on
February 15, 1924 in For-
est City, Iowa to Bertha and
Rudolph Strand. Her fami-
ly immigrated to the Unit-
ed States from Norway. She
grew up in Iowa and Min-
nesota during
the Depres-
sion and en-
joyed
the
closeness she
felt in those
small, rural
communities.
Ruby
was
an excellent student with a
keen intellect and a supe-
rior memory for detail. As
a young adult in the early
1940s, Ruby moved with her
family to Oregon to fi nd em-
ployment. She lived in west
Salem and worked in Sch-
reiner’s fi elds, the Del Monte
cannery, as a cashier and later
assistant manager for Warner
Brothers that owned the El-
sinore and Capitol theaters,
and for the telephone com-
pany.
Ruby met her husband
Howard on a blind date to an
Oregon State University ball.
They were married in 1951,
living briefl y in Medford and
then moving to Grants Pass
where Howard worked in
the state and federal forests.
Two daughters, Janet and
Barb, were born there. As a
homemaker,
R u b y
excelled at
canning,
cooking,
sewing, and
knitting.
She
even
R. Brock
upholstered
the
living
room furniture, at least twice.
In 1965, the family moved
to Astoria where Howard
taught forestry at Clatsop
Community College. There
Ruby had the opportunity to
begin to pursue her dream to
graduate from college. In late
1969, when the family moved
to the Salem-Keizer area, she
enrolled at Oregon College
of Education (now WOU)
and graduated with a degree
in Humanities in 1975. She
attended Willamette Law
School and was offered a
position as Title Examiner
at Willamette Valley Title
Company, where she worked
until her retirement.
After retirement, Ruby
traveled around the west-
ern United States and Can-
ada with Howard in what
she called the “tin tent” and
enjoyed spending time with
family. She was married for
54 years until Howard’s pass-
ing in 2005. In 2008, Ruby
suffered a stroke and moved
to Orchard Heights where
she lived for the past ten
years. She endured many
health limitations but con-
tinued to offer kindness to
all around her and was much
loved by the residents and
staff.
Ruby
was
preceded
in death by her husband
Howard,
sister
Sylvia,
brother Raymond, and
son-in-law Nick. She is
survived by her daughters:
Janet (Dee) Carlson and
Barb Jones; along with
six grandchildren: Erika
(Keith) McCauley, Justin
(Jessica) Carlson, Christian
Carlson, Rick Jones, Kim
(Frank) Gorgei, and Torrey
(Audra) Jones; plus ten great
grandchildren.
Ruby was one of the
Greatest Generation – a
strong and independent
woman with high ideals
who valued honesty, loyalty
and work. She sacrifi ced her
entire lifetime for her family
and will be greatly missed.
The family expresses
appreciation to the staff at
Willamette Valley Hospice
and
Prestige
Orchard
Heights for their loving care,
and to Virgil T. Golden and
Belcrest Memorial Park for
the funeral arrangements.
A celebration of life will
be held at Prestige Orchard
Heights, 695 NW Orchard
Heights Road, Salem, on
Saturday, March 9, at 2 p.m.
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WorshipDirectory
These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051
KEIZER CLEAR LAKE
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
a member of Open Door
Churches of Salem-Keizer
REV. ALYSSA BAKER, Lead Pastor
Services are Sunday at 10 am
(Nursery & Sunday School for Children)
7920 Wheatland Rd N • 503-393-2402 • www.kclumc.org
PEOPLESCHURCH
4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM
503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com
Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor
Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m.
Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
SERVICES
4505 River Road N, Keizer • 503-393-4507
www.FLCkeizer.org
Sunday School - 9:00 am
Worship Service -10:00 am
452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404
8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm
Faith Lutheran Church , ELCA
Pastor Linda Matz Easterling
John Knox Presbyterian Church
JOIN US FOR
SUNDAY WORSHIP
9:00 am
Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries
1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer
503-390-3900
www.dayspringfellowship.com
and
10:45 am
www.KeizerChristian.org
Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor
Worship - 10:30 a.m.
Education Hour - 9:15 a.m.
Nursery Care Available
www.keizerjkpres.org