EIZER times
$1.00/ ISSUE
Vol. 43 • No. 22
MARCH 18, 2022
Council asks for community input on zoning changes
BY CHARLES GLENN
Of the Keizertimes
Keizer’s long-range planning task force
met March 14 to discuss wish-list items,
spending priorities, and updates to ongo-
ing city projects, including some debate
over the Oregon Legislature recently pass-
ing House Bill 2001, which allows property
owners to build duplex-style homes in all
Oregon cities with 10,000 people or more.
The statute stipulates duplexes must
be allowed “on each lot of parcel zoned for
residential use that allows for the develop-
ment of detached single family dwelling.”
Put simply, Oregon cities of 10,000 or
more can no longer prevent property own-
ers and developers from building duplexes
if the property is zoned for residential
use. Under the same statute, triplexes,
quadplexes, townhouses and cottage clus-
ter housing must be allowed in cities with
a population of 25,000 or more in areas
currently zoned for single-family housing.
How this will impact Keizer is still
being sorted out. A property on Sunset
Ave. North is already being developed
to include at least three connected
homes, but according to Public Works
Superintendent Bill Lawyer, there is not
yet any HB2001-related construction
happening yet.
“We’re holding a public hearing on
this issue before next month’s planning
commission meeting on April 13,” said
Shane Witham at Keizer Public Works. “This
law is one of those things that we’re kind of
being compelled to do by statute - it’s not by
choice – but we always want input from the
community and we’d love to hear from you.”
Keizer residents interested in having
some input on these decisions can attend
the planning commission meeting at 6 pm
on April 13 at Keizer City Hall.
Other issues discussed at last week’s
meeting included budget items identified
as priority including radios for the police
cadets, a code enforcement truck, hardware
and software for modernizing cybersecu-
rity and protecting infrastructure, a security
fence for the city hall parking lot, codification
of city ordinances in English and Spanish,
and the installation of the Meadows water
pump station.
Improvements to the city’s storm-
water drainage and water systems were
also discussed, including a $9 million
capital improvement plan to meet the city’s
demands over the next 20 years.
Last year, the council met at the request
of Marion County to discuss an American
Rescue Plan (ARPA) grant that would fund
the construction of two all-weather turf/soc-
cer football fields at Keizer Rapids Park. The
county offered to match funds for the proj-
ect, and the city has until March 31 to inform
the county if they plan to move forward.
Keizer residents may soon see more multifamily housing construction projects like this one on on Sunset Ave. North. City officials say this
project was already planned and is not part of the HB 2001 zoning changes.
Photo by CHARLES GLENN of Keizertimes
Oregon Symphony celebrating 125 years
NEWSTAND PRICE: $1.00/ ISSUE
BY CHARLES GLENN
Of the Keizertimes
The Oregon Symphony previewed
their upcoming concert plans at the
Roth’s event center in Salem on March
13. The theme for next month will be
“Austrian music through the ages,”
featuring Haydn’s “Surprise” symphony,
selections from Johann Strauss II, and
more.
David Danzmayr took over as music
director for the Oregon Symphony in
February of last year. The prize-winning
conductor has appeared with orchestras
SUBSCRIBER ADDRESS :
See SYMPHONY, page A2
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