CU25-046 Staff Decision - Laserfiche WebLink

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County Planning Division, 5155 Silverton Rd. NE, Salem, by 5:00 p.m. on December 11th, 2025. If you have questions about this decision, contact the Planning Division at (503) 588-5038 or at the office. This decision is effective December 12th, 2025, unless further consideration is requested. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Findings and conclusions on which the decision was based are noted below. l. The subject property is designated Forest in the Marion County Comprehensive Plan and zoned TC (Timber Conservation). The purpose of the TC zone is to conserve forest lands by maintaining the forest land base and to protect the forest economy by making possible economically efficient forest practices that assure the continuous growing and harvesting of forest tree species as the leading use of forest land consistent with sound management of soil, air, water, as well as fish and wildlife resources, and to provide for recreational opportunities and agriculture. 2. The subject parcel is located approximately 6 miles north of Mill City, Oregon off of VK Road which branches off of House Mountain Road. This is an area considered the top of House Mountain and is near the headwaters of North Fork of Silver Creek and Canyon Creek. The parcel is 13,304.66 acres of forested timber land and zoned Timber Conservation (TC). This parcel has had two land use cases in the past to establish wireless communications facilities as public utility facility. CU92-033 from 1992 that established an 86-foot tower, generator and equipment building. CU02-054 from 2002 allowed the expansion of the facility and the construction of a 60-foot-tall communications tower. Staff found a 2022 deed (Reel 4582, Page 86) that matches the perimeter descriptions recorded in a 1949 deed (Volume 410, Page 477) which was used in the 2002 land use decision. Therefore, the parcel is considered legal for land use purposes. 3. Surrounding land comprises of similarly zoned TC land in use as timber production and is also in an area affected by the 2020 Beachie Creek Fires. 4. Soil Survey of Marion County, Oregon indicates: Soil Name Total Acreage CU.FT/AC/YR Total CU.FT/AC/YR Henline extremely stony sandy loam, 6 to 80 percent slopes 4,063.30 138 560,735.40 Highcamp-Rock outcrop complex, 50 to 90 percent slopes 9.9 No Data 0 Horeb loam, 2 to 20 percent slopes 1,111.0 207 229,977.00 Kinney cobbly loam, 2 to 50 percent slopes 4,204.1 182 765,146.20 Minniece silty clay loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes 228.0 158 36,024.00 Whetstone stony loam, 3 to 75 percent slopes 3,507.40 214 750,583.60 Wilhoit-Zygore gravelly loams, 5 to 30 percent slopes 37.6 No Data 0 Total 2,342,466.20