CU26-012 Staff Decision - Laserfiche WebLink

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The proposed use by the applicant is the placement of a temporary dwelling during a medical hardship. Hardship dwellings have the potential to impact neighboring farming operations through increases in traffic and conflicts relating to the proximity of the dwelling to these farm uses. Expanding further, the spray, dust, and noise generated by the neighboring farm uses can bring conflict with residents who are not involved in these operations. The hardship dwelling will be located within 100 feet of the prim ary dwelling and will connect to the existing utilities serving the dwelling. As proposed on the site plan submitted with the application, the hardship dwelling will also be over 100 feet away from all neighboring properties in farm use. Both factors reduce the impact of the new hardship dwelling on neighboring farm uses; the location will concentrate the area of additional impact to a specific location and the distance to neighboring farm parcels acting as a buffer from the fields to the dwelling in particular. The hardship is also not anticipated to have a significant increase on traffic either, as it will be occupied by the equivalent of one household. The medical hardship dwelling is also a temporary use, and the impacts will not be experienced permanently, if they are even felt at all. Lastly, the applicants will be required to sign a farm/forest declaratory statement acknowledging the presence of agricultural operations in the area. With these different factors taken into account, the proposed hardship dwelling is unlikely to cause a significant change or greatly increase the cost of accepted agricultural practices in the area. The criterion is met. 2) Adequate fire protection and other rural services are, or will be, available when the use is established. The parcel is located within the Stayton Fire District and is within the response area of the Marion County Sheriff. The property already contains a well and septic that service the existing dwelling and the property has electrical connections. All other rural services necessary can be made available if required. The criterion is met. 3) The use will not have a significant adverse impact on watersheds, groundwater, fish and wildlife habitat, soil and slope stability, air and water quality. The subject parcel and more specifically the proposed location of the temporary dwelling are not located near any identified streams or drainage ways, reducing impacts on watersheds. The hardship dwelling (whether it’s an RV or manufactured home) will be required to get a permit to connect to the existing septic system on the property and there will be required re-authorizations of the connection required every 5 years, reducing the potential for groundwater contamination. The parcel is located in a flat area without any concern for slope destabilization or soil stability. The dwelling will also have a similar impact on air and water quality as a normal dwelling, which under normal circumstances is unlikely to rise to the level of being “significantly adverse” if all required building and septic permits are obtained. Therefore, the criterion is met. 4) Any noise associated with the use will not have a significant adverse impact on nearby land uses. The proposed hardship dwelling is unlikely to generate noise in excess of the existing dwelling on the property. The current agricultural land uses involve the growing of grass seed and hazelnuts, which are not farming uses impacted significantly by noise. Therefore, the criterion is met. 5) The use will not have a significant adverse impact on potential water impoundments identified in the Comprehensive Plan and not create significant conflicts with operations included in the Comprehensive Plan inventory of significant mineral and aggregate sites. There are no nearby water impoundments identified in the Marion County Comprehensive Plan that would be impacted by this proposal, as the closest is the North Santiam River over 4,000 feet away. Also, there are no nearby aggregate sites for the proposal to impact. The criterion is met. 10. Based on the above findings, it has been determined that the applicants’ request meets all applicable criteria for placing a temporary manufactured home/RV for medical hardship purposes and is, therefore, APPROVED. Brandon Reich Date: May 20th, 2026 Planning Director/Zoning Administrator If you have any questions regarding this decision contact Alexander Seifer at (503) 588-5038 Notice to Mortgagee, Lienholder, Vendor or Seller: ORS Chapter 215 requires that if you receive this Notice, it must promptly be forwarded to the purchaser.