Why Does the City Keep Approving Development Permits?

ANSWER: If a development meets the criteria, it must be approved

Oregon Senate Bills 100 and 101, also known as the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Act of 1973, were landmark bills passed by the Oregon State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Tom McCall. The bills established a framework for land use planning in Oregon, requiring cities and counties to develop comprehensive plans for land use. The City of Dallas has a Comprehensive Plan (see volumes I and II), and updates are made to this plan on a regular basis. This plan is the City's general vision for growth over the next 20 years.

The City's Developmental Code, implements the vision and policies outlined in the Comprehensive Plan. Development Permits and Land Use Actions, such as subdivisions, conditional use permits and zone changes are reviewed for compliance with the City's Development Code criteria and standards prior to a decision on the permit application. The development code standards and criteria are required to be clear and objective, meaning they are not discretionary. Either the application meets the criteria or standard or it does not.

When an applicant or developer proposes a development project such as a subdivision, the City determines if the proposal complies with the developmental code criteria and standards. If the proposal complies with every criteria and standard, the City MUST approve the application. If the proposal does not comply with every criteria and standard, the City MUST deny the application.

Public engagement is highly encouraged and appreciated for land use applications and development permits reviews. You can subscribe on our website to receive notifications for the Planning Commission and City Council Agendas to stay up to date with the latest projects in the Dallas community.