Tillamook’s Board of County Commissioners approved an ordinance update to allow accessory dwelling units in the county’s rural residential zones on May 8.
Commissioners also entered the county into the Tillamook Bay Trails Coalition and approved an increase in solid waste disposal rates in Oceanside and unincorporated central Tillamook County.
The approval of accessory dwelling units (ADU) came a week after the commissioners held a first public hearing on the ordinance update and signaled their intention to approve it.
Allowing ADUs on properties between two and ten acres in rural residential zones was made possible by by Oregon Senate Bill 644, which removed certain wildfire requirements for ADUs in those zones.
The proposed update was put forward by the Tillamook County planning commission, which supported the measure at its April meeting.
Property owners in the rural residential zone can now build ADUs within 100 feet of the property’s primary dwelling and they may be up to 900 square feet. Each property can only house one ADU and it must be connected to the same septic system as the main dwelling.
Properties with ADUs will not be eligible for participation in the county’s short-term rental license program, although either or both dwellings on the property can be rented on a long-term basis.
Commissioners unanimously voted to pass the ordinance update and approved an emergency declaration that allowed it to take effect immediately.
A further update to allow for recreational vehicles to be sited as dwellings on rural properties was set aside at the public hearing on May 1, with commissioners asking for more regulations to be added before reconsideration.
The Tillamook Bay Trails Coalition consists of cities, special districts and non-profit organizations that are beginning to coordinate their efforts at trail construction around the bay.
Dan Haag, director of trails, outdoor recreation and accessibility at the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association is leading the effort and said that the coalition would help to secure funding for trail projects around the bay. Haag said that by forming the coalition, the various governments and non-profits would be able to apply for available grant funding more effectively by avoiding competing against each other.
Haag said that with the county’s inclusion he hoped to coordinate efforts with staff at Tillamook County Wellness and the parks and recreation department.
Currently, the coalition’s membership includes the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association, the City of Rockaway Beach, the Port of Garibaldi, the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, the City of Bay City, the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum and the Port of Tillamook Bay.
Haag said that in the future he hoped to invite the Salmonberry Trail Foundation and the Trailkeepers of Oregon to join, though for the first year he would be prioritizing organizing the local entities.
Solid waste disposal rates will be rising by 5% in Oceanside and the unincorporated parts of Tillamook County between Juno Hill and Green Timber Road. In Oceanside, that means the price of once weekly removal of one can of waste will increase from $29.45 to $30.95 and in the unincorporated parts of central county it will increase from $23.15 to $24.45. The increase is principally in response to a 3% increase in dump fees.
Most Popular
Comments / 0