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The role of the Land Use Coordinator is to be the contact person for the city Planning Department for all land use applications including Pre-Application conferences and Residential Infill Development (RID) variance applications.
The Coordinator assembles a team of volunteer Pre-Application conference representatives who will become trained to attend the Pre-App conferences as neutral representatives of the Palisades Neighborhood Association.
The Coordinator will either attend the Pre-App conference, or arrange for a member of the team to attend. For some projects, the Coordinator may arrange for up to 2 people from the team to attend.
If appropriate, the Coordinator notifies the PNA Chair, Vice Chair, and Area Representative regarding the proposed project and discusses whether or not to escalate it to the full PNA board.
The conference representative(s) will follow up the conference with a brief report to the Coordinator and Area Representative with any observations and concerns.
Volunteers can be “certified” to attend Pre-Application conferences by participating in a one hour +/- training session (soon to be available on-line) provided by the Planning Department. To get scheduled for training, contact Kat Kluge kkluge@ci.oswego.or.us, or the Land Use Coordinator.
Here is an overview from the Planning Department regarding Pre-Application conferences and the role of representatives from a neighborhood association:
What is a Pre-Application conference?
The pre-application conference provides an opportunity for an individual seeking a development permit to learn about the zoning, development ordinances and procedures required to complete a land use/development application. These conferences are required of all minor and major development proposals. The conference occurs, at a cost to the applicant, prior to submission of a formal development application. Neighborhood participation in these meetings will help inform the applicant of potential issues they may encounter working in your neighborhood. Because your association is better positioned to share that information than anyone else, your participation is particularly important.
Who from the neighborhood associations can attend pre-application conferences?
Each neighborhood association delegates up to two members to attend pre-application meetings for sites located in that neighborhood association’s boundaries and then report back to the larger group. Before they can attend, your representatives must complete a pre-application training session by the City, usually offered in the spring and fall each year [soon to be available on line]. The training will help them understand the purpose of a pre-application conference and their role in the process. There is no limitation on how many members of your association complete the pre-app training session, but attendance at an actual pre-application conference is limited to two association representatives.
Your association can choose how many delegates to send to the City training, but there are a few things you should keep in mind when selecting representatives:
- Availability: Pre-application conferences are held on Thursdays at 1:15 pm, 2:30 pm or 3:45 pm. Your representative should be available to attend meetings during these hours.
- Understanding of land use issues: An understanding of land use issues and the development process would be useful. Your representative should be capable of understanding the application process and able to learn about how developments are regulated by the City.
- Ability to represent the neighborhood: Your representative should be someone who understands the common concerns of your neighborhood and can speak for the majority as well as minority points of view.
- Capacity for clear communication: A pre-application conference is an informational meeting held for the benefit of the person applying for a Development permit. Your representative should be someone who can diplomatically and clearly communicate to others about the issues without being confrontational.
