Planning

Beginning May 20th, 2022 the Community Development Center will be CLOSED TO PUBLIC ON FRIDAYS. 

The Planning Department guides public and private development through long-range planning and works to ensure that new development complies with State Land Use laws and City Land Use ordinances. 

HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT DEVELOPING SOME PROPERTY?

Zoning classifications in the Scappoose Land Use and Development Code determine how you can USE and DEVELOP property within the City of Scappoose. This code will determine the steps you take to have your building and land development plans reviewed and approved by the City.  Some applications may involve public notice and hearings by the Scappoose Planning Commission and City Council.

1. FIRST STEP IS TO KNOW THE PROPERTY ZONE, in order to know the Permitted & Conditional Uses for each property zoned within the city's jurisdiction. 
   • To find the property's zone, go to "CITY MAPS" (on the left menu bar), then select "ZONING MAP". The Zoning Map (pdf) has a key for each color zoning. The zone map will show street names and approx. locations of property lines but not situs addresses.  Otherwise you could use the county assessor's interactive on-line maps;  Columbia County Web Map (columbiacountymaps.com​​​​​​
   • If you already know the zone (or once you find the zone) go to the City's LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT CODE (on the left menu bar).  This page will list all Land Use and Development Codes by Chapter numbers.
     • For Example, if your property were Zone; R-1 then the relevant code language would be found within "Chapter 17.44  R-1 Low Density Residential". Just open/click on the hyperlink.  
2. INQUIRY MEETING ($260);
   • If you have several questions about developing property located inside the city's jurisdiction then we recommend the Inquiry Meeting.  This Inquiry Meeting will give you up to 1-hour with the City Planner and City Engineer to further discuss your preliminary plans. Please fill out the Inquiry Application within the 'FORMS PERMITS & APPLICATIONS' (in the blue menu bar to the left).  Once your completed application is submitted to our office with the $260 deposit, we will set up the appointment based on available staff time.  NOTE: This could be 10-15 days out.
     • The City Planner will review the relevant Land Use Development Codes base on your proposal.
     • The City Engineer will further discuss the Civil requirements (water, sewer, streets, storm) which are listed in our Public Works Design Standards (found on the Engineering page); https://www.scappoose.gov/publicworks/page/public-works-design-standards 

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, OUTLINES AND TIME LINES

See below files (pdf) below to help you understand development processes with outline and timelines.

COMMERCIAL SIGNS

A reminder when placing signs around the City

The following signs are prohibited:

Any signs attached to utility poles, streetlight poles, or traffic-control standard poles, street trees or otherwise located in the public right-of-way or city-maintained areas adjacent to the public right-of-way without written approval of the city manager.

More information can be found in the Scappoose Municipal Code 17.114.030 General sign regulations.

Commercial Signs require a sign permit and possibly a building permit. 

PLANNING COMMISSION HEARINGS

WANT TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT AT PLANNING COMMISSION?

We have a brochure below on providing written and verbal public comment. The most important thing to know and understand when preparing your public comment is that your testimony MUST speak to the relevant approval criteria; the brochure has detailed instructions for finding the relevant approval criteria of any application. Land use decisions are unique from other decisions that staff, Planning Commission, and City Council consider because there are incredibly specific standards that the City's decisions must be based on and a prescribed process and timeline that applies to every type of application. We encourage you to read the brochure in the attachments below and reach out to staff if you have any questions on providing written or verbal public comment. The document is intended to be printed as a tri-fold brochure so please excuse the formatting. 

CONTACT US

​Community Development Office Administrator

The CDC Office Administrator is available to answer development related questions regarding zoning, land use applications, required permits, and serves as a liaison to the Building Official, Planner and Engineer. Please call Elizabeth Happala at 503-543-7184 or email her at ehappala@scappoose.gov with questions.

Associate Planner

The Associate Planner is available to answer questions related to the Scappoose Land Use and Development regulations and the permissible use of property within City limits. Please call N.J. Johnson at 503-543-7184 or email him at njohnson@scappoose.gov with questions.

Community Development Director

To reach the Community Development Director, Laurie Oliver Joseph, please call 503-543-7184 or email loliver@scappoose.gov.