CU25-048 Staff Decision - Laserfiche WebLink

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A public hearing is held on appeals subject to the appellant paying a $250.00 fee. Requests for reconsideration, or consideration by a hearings officer, must be in writing (form available from the Planning Division) and received in the Marion County Planning Division, 5155 Silverton Rd. NE, Salem, by 5:00 p.m. on December 26th, 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 29th, 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 Public in the Marion County Comprehensive Plan. The major purpose of this designation and the corresponding P (Public) zone is to provide regulations governing the development of lands appropriate for specific public and semi-public uses and to ensure their compatibility with adjacent uses. 2. The property is located at 15775 Grange Rd SE, approximately 1,000 feet west of the intersection with Grange Rd Se and Union Hill Rd SE, and almost a half-mile northwest of where Union Hill Rd SE intersects with Hwy 214. The parcel consists of one acre of land which houses a grange hall, a couple accessory structures, and a fenced off RV parking spot where the caretaker is currently parked. The subject parcel was described in its current configuration in a deed recorded on February 10th, 1930, on Reel: 217 Page 33 in the Book of Land Records for Marion County, Oregon. The subject area is therefore legal for land use purposes. 3. The subject parcel is approximately 3.5-miles northeast of Sublimity, and 8-miles south of Silverton. This area North of Sublimity and Hwy 22, south of Silverton, west of Silver Falls and the Cascade foothills, and east of Salem is almost entirely zoned Exclusive Farm use and primarily in use for commercial agriculture. Throughout this area there are associated farm dwellings, and sporadic non-farm rural residential uses occurring on small EFU zoned parcels. 4. The applicants are requesting a conditional use permit for an established caretaker dwelling inhabited by the caretaker and watchman of the Union Hill Grange Hall. 5. Soil Survey of Marion County Oregon indicates that the parcel is composed of 100% high-value farm soils. 6. Various agencies were contacted about the proposal and given an opportunity to comment. Code Enforcement commented that they would recommend a caretaker for this property. They are concerned that the remote location of the property could attract criminals, squatters, and homeless people, all of whom could damage this historic building. The loss of the building would be detrimental to the community the Grange Hall serves. Marion County Septic commented: “Conditions of approval: An authorization or Site Evaluation is required. Note: Marion County has no record of an existing septic system serving the property. If a system is present and connection to the existing system is proposed, an authorization will be required and a completed 8-page existing system evaluation must be submitted with the authorization application. If there is no current septic on the property, a Site Evaluation is required to determine septic viability and minimum system requirements.” Marion County Building Inspection commented: “No Building Inspection concerns. Permit(s) are required to be obtained prior to installation of utilities that would serve the proposed recreational vehicle.” All other commenting agencies either did not respond or stated no objection to the proposal. 7. Conditional use applications in the rural zones require compliance with MCC 17.119.070: 17.119.070 Findings of the director, planning commission or hearings officer. Before granting a conditional use, the director, planning commission or hearings officer shall determine: A. That it has the power to grant the conditional use;