APRIL 22, 2022, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3
City completes updates to housing code
BY CHARLES GLENN
Of the Keizertimes
A much-publicized hearing drew only one
Keizer resident with questions for the Keizer
Planning Commission about the upcoming
changes to the local housing code as a result of
recent legislation.
Rhonda Rich, recently appointed as the
West Keizer Neighborhood Association pres-
ident, appeared at the public hearing to ask
questions about lot sizes and development
restrictions.
The April 13 session opened with an
updated presentation from Brandon Crawford,
representing Angelo Planning Group (APG)
– a firm hired by the city to help get Keizer’s
housing code into compliance with HB2001.
The house bill, along with the state Senate’s
SB458, effectively ends the ability of cities over
a certain size to zone exclusively for single-fam-
ily homes. Keizer has until the end of June to
approve or modify APG’s recommendations.
“I’m not totally understanding what this
middle housing is and I don’t know what
the average lot size is in Keizer – I was won-
dering, are townhouses a possibility in our
neighborhood?” asked Rich.
of lots were developed to be in excess of 7,000
Shane Witham, Keizer City Planner, con- square feet.”
firmed that townhomes would be allowed
Rich also asked if the city was zoned for sin-
under the new
gle-fam-
laws and that
i l y
such develop-
housing
ments count as
at all, or if
"To put it simply, we're
middle housing.
that was a
essentially redefining
Witham
thing of
said lot sizes in
the past.
what a single family
Keizer vary to
“The
home is."
such a degree
zoning
that getting a
for Keizer
firm number
is primar-
for the aver-
ily sin-
— SHANE WITHAM
age lot size is
gle-fam-
Director of Planning, City of Keizer
problematic.
ily – more
“I can’t
than 70
really give
percent
you average lot
of the res-
sizes in Keizer
idences
because it really does vary – some lots are in the are zoned for single-family development – that’s
quarter-acre and even up to the half-acre range,” just the way it was when we became a city in the
said Witham. “But in what I would call the more '80s,” said Witham. "A simple way to explain it
established neighborhoods, those lots were is that we’re essentially redefining what a sin-
developed at a time where the vast majority gle-family home is,” said Witham. “So up to a
WHEATLAND PUBLISHING CORP.
142 Chemawa Road N, Keizer, Oregon 97303
Phone: 503.390.1051 • www.keizertimes.com
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Lyndon Zaitz
publisher@keizertimes.com
ADVERTISING
Robin Barney
advertising@keizertimes.com
REPORTER
Charles Glenn
editor@keizertimes.com
PRODUCTION MANAGER
& GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Logan Turbes
graphics@keizertimes.com
SPORTS/SCHOOLS REPORTER
Joshua Manes
news@keizertimes.com
COMMUNITY REPORTER
Bee Flint
reporter@keizertimes.com
LEGAL NOTICES
legals@keizertimes.com
BUSINESS DESK
Christine Baker
billing@keizertimes.com
four-plex, we treat it the same as we would a sin-
gle-family home.”
The key reason Witham and others have
been seeking public input is because if the city
doesn’t complete and approve an amended
zoning plan by June, the state has a model plan
which will supersede the city’s policies. The
model plan, according to Witham, would be
more disruptive to the future of Keizer residen-
tial land development than any plan the com-
mission produces or amends.
Matt Lawyer, who chaired the planning
commission meeting, thanked APG and oth-
ers who contributed to the completed set of
recommended changes, and expressed some
frustration over the way the city was forced into
compliance.
“We’ve had a lot of discussion – some dis-
agreements – but really I think we’ve made the
best out of a situation that we have no control
over,” said Lawyer. “This is a big ask for a city
that’s already constrained.”
A motion was made and passed at the end
of the hearing approving most of the recent
changes.
Give generously to the
Keizer Community Food Bank
RECEPTION/
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Michelle Litsey
subs@keizertimes.com
FOLLOW US
ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
NEW DIGITAL
SUBSCRIPTION PRICING:
$5 per month, $60 per year
YEARLY PRINT
SUBSCRIPTION PRICING:
$35 inside Marion County
$43 outside Marion County
$55 outside Oregon
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
Publication No: USPS 679-430
POSTMASTER
Send address changes to:
Keizertimes Circulation
142 Chemawa Road N.
Keizer, OR 97303
Periodical postage paid
at Salem, Oregon