National Scenic Area Land Use and Development Ordinance Update

The Columbia River Gorge Commission has transmitted revisions to the Management Plan for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area that are required to be adopted into the Wasco County National Scenic Area Land Use and Development Ordinance. These changes were the result of the previous Management Plan update and were approved by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on August 4, 2016. These changes clarify requirements for cumulative effects reviews for all development in the General Management Area (GMA).

Planning staff will be incorporating the required changes into a draft ordinance that will be presented to the Wasco County Planning Commission and the public on October 19, 2017. Once recommended for approval by the Planning Commission, the amendments will be presented to the Board of Commissioners for approval. We anticipate a Board hearing in November or December of this year.

Following Board approval, the amended ordinance must be presented to the Columbia River Gorge Commission for approval and acknowledgement, and must also be provided to the Secretary of Agriculture for concurrence. We anticipate a Gorge Commission hearing in February of 2018. The Secretary of Agriculture has 90 days to review the materials once we have provided it.

In addition to these required changes, staff will be proposing additional formatting, reference, and amendments to add clarity and make the NSA LUDO easier to use.  The Planning Commission approved changes in October, and staff is presenting those updates to the Wasco County Board of Commissioners at a public meeting on December 6th at 6PM at the Tygh Valley Community Center.  The Gorge Commission is tentatively scheduled to hear the Ordinance update in January 2018.

Will Smith, Associate Planner 
Planning Department
wills@co.wasco.or.us  
541-506-2560 | Fax 541-506-2561
2705 East Second Street | The Dalles, OR 97058 

Riley Marcus, Assistant Planner
Planning Department
rileym@co.waco.or.us
541-506-2560 | Fax 541-506-2561
2705 East Second Street | The Dalles, OR 97058