Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 229 - Amend Title 17 for medical usesPLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 229 A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO TITLE 17 OF THE CENTRAL POINT MUNICIPAL CODE TO ALLOW CERTAIN MEDICAL OFFICE USES TO REVERT TO RESIDENTIAL USES AND TO SUBSEQUENTLY CONVERT TO MEDICAL USES WHEREAS, at its meeting on September 19, 1991, the Central Point City Council adopted Resolution No. B04 declaring intent to amend the text of the zoning ordinance to allow residential structures which had been previously converted to a medical office to revert back to residential use and then subsequently convert to medical uses, and, WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 1.24 of the Central Point Municipal Code, the Planning Commission is required to review and make recommendations to the City Council on zoning text amendments, and, WHEREAS, on November 12, 1991, the Planning Commission conducted a public meeting, during which the commission received a staff report dated October 24, 1.991, heard public testimony relating to the C-2{M) zone (Medical Office and Professional) and received a findings statement supporting the zoning text amendment dated November 7, 1931 prepared by Attorney Jerry Jacobson, o£ copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, now therefore, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CENTRAL POINT PLANNING COMMISSION FINDS THAT 1. The medical office commercial-professional zone (C-2M) was established to support atwenty-year City plan for effective and efficient medical office development. While that plan is still considered viable, the proposed zoning amendment, designed to allow zx~edical uses to revert to residential uses and subsequently convert to medical uses, provides all property owners within that zone with more flexibility to use their properties in ways which are consistent with market influences and transitional stages of development. Therefore, the proposed zoning amendment provides benefit and convenience to all property owners within the C - 2 (M) zone . RESOLUTION NO. 229 MEDICAL(C-2M} .ZONE 2. The proposed zoning amendment is not considered an illegitimate spot- zoning measure because the amendment: a. Would not allow uses which are more intensive than those non- conforming and conforming uses allowed on neighboring properties; b, Applies to all property owners within the C-~2(M) zone and would therefore not confer a special advantage to one land owner c . Still provides for the medical office development and is therefore consistent with the City's Comprehensive Land Use Plan 3. The proposed zoning amendment consists of a minor adjustment in the City's zoning regulations and would be considered a legislative action in nature . Processing and approving a variance to secure a deviation from a particular zoning regulation due to a bona fide hardship is classified as aquasi-judicial action. By definition, the proposed zoning text amendment does not constitute a variance which is, by definition, quasi-judicial. Passed and adapted by tl~e Planning Co sinn and signed by zne in authentication of its passage this _-~-_~`J~, day of 1991. Planning Comrr~ission Chairman ATTEST Planning mission cretary Approved by me this °S~~'day of ~,~,~+~~ 1991. '':~~ ~° ~ Planning Cornruission Ch ~~-- airman RESOLUTION NO. 229 MEDICAL(C-2M) . BONE JACOBSON, )EWETT & TH~EROLE, P.C. JERRY A. JACOBSON' MICHAEL JEWETT RICHARD F3. TNIEROLE, JR. nrrc)Rr~t.YS AT Lnw RO. 130X 46137, 426 Wf:ST MAlt~f STREET fvSEDFOR€7, OREGON 97501 'Iulmilied in Oregon and California November 7, 1991 George Rubaloff Administrative Assistant City of Central Point 1550 So. Second Street Central Point, Oregon 97502 Re: Zone Text Amendment - C-2 (M) Zane Dear Mr. Rubaloff: TELEPIIOhE: {i03) 773-1.727 IN REt'LY REEER TO 9 ~.-254 I trust that this letter will. serve as a findings statement to support the proposed amendment to the text of the City's zoning ordinance for the C~-2(M) Zone. Being general in scope, the amendment of the text of a zoning ordinance is legislative in nature, rather than quasi-- judicial in nature. By definition, then, the proposed text amendment does not constitute a variance, which would be a quasi~- judicial decision. Because of its general application to a number of parcels in the C-2 (M) Zone, Heather does the text amendment constitute or justify what is commonly called "spot zoning." It is well settled that changed conditions following the original enactment of a zoning ordinance may justify a change in the text of the zoning ordinance. Indeed, such changed conditions may well mandate such a change in order to serve and protect the health, safety, welfare and convenience of the public. In this instance, the primary change in condition is that Crater Hospital is no longer in existence. Much of the rationale for fostering development of a medical office park adjacent to the hospital, as recited in the Comprehensive Plan, is now obsolete. Some of the single-family homes in the area which were previously converted to use as medical offices are now no longer used as such. The benefits accruing to medical offices and to the community in general from the location of medical offices in close proximity to the hospital have vanished along with the hospital, and the need for hospital-related land uses simply no longer exists. George Rubaloff November 7, 1991 Page 2 The proposed text amendment is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Under the proposed text amendment, single-- family residences in the area can continue to be used as medical offices. The revision merely serves to increase the permissible options for use of single-family structures within the C-2(M) Zone. The health, safety, and welfare of the community are best served when houses and other structures in the community are occupied and used far constructive purposes. Under the current zoning text, single family residences in the C-2 (M) Zone which were constructed and intended for use as such, but which not now being used as medical offices, must remain vacant. such vacant structures invite vandalism and illegal use by transients, and provide a possibly unsafe attraction for children, a forum for criminal activity, and a foothold for the growth of unsanitary or unsightly conditions. Amending the text of the zoning ordinance, as proposed, is the simplest and best way to avoid these risks. Allowing existing single family structures in the zone to be used as either residences or medical offices will ensure that such structures will continue to be constructively used and occupied, for one purpose or the other. GOLF, P.C. JAJ/rlo