Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan (CBEMP)

Empire Area Blueprint

Coos County Shared Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) Work

Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan (CBEMP)

Coos County, City of Coos Bay, and City of North Bend have been working on updates to the Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan (CBEMP) (project AM-22-005)

(CBEMP map viewer)

• Phase 1 Revision, Open House Presentation May 10, 2023
  The CBEMP Phase 1 revision represents Coos County’s first step towards improving the plan’s ability to meet the needs of the communities and local governments encompassed by the plan. CBEMP Phase 1 revisions are intended to: 1) improve plan usability, 2) update some maps and inventory data, 3) improve coordination between jurisdictions, and 4) update the 40-year-old plan with current agency names, laws and regulations. CBEMP Phase 1 revisions do not include any changes to zoning or management unit designations—those will be addressed in subsequent phases.
• Type IV Land Use Application (CBEMP Phase I Update) Documents
  • 1 - Type IV_Land Use Application (CBEMP Phase I Updates)
  • 2 - Application Attachment_Proposed Amendments & Recommended Findings
  • 3 - Application Attachment_CBEMP Revisions Memo (5.31.23)
  • 4 - Application Attachment_CBEMP Revisions Memo_A (5.31.23)
  • 5 - Application Attachment_CBEMP Revisions Memo_B (5.31.23)
  • 6 - Application Attachment_CBEMP Revisions Memo_C (5.31.23)
  • 7 - Application Attachment_CBEMP Revisions Memo_D (5.31.23)
  • 8 - Application Attachment_CBEMP_Part 1 (5.30.23)
  • 9 - Application Attachment_CBEMP_Part 2 (5.30.23)
  • 10 - Application Attachment_Matrix A - Goal 16 Linkage Matrix (acf) - Factual Resource
  • 10 - Application Attachment_Matrix A - Goal 16 Linkage Matrix (acf) - Other Considerations
  • 10 - Application Attachment_Matrix B - Aquatic Uses and Activities Matrix (acf) - Activities
  • 10 - Application Attachment_Matrix B - Aquatic Uses and Activities Matrix (acf) - Uses
  • 10 - Application Attachment_Matrix C - Goal 17 & 18 Linkage Matrix (acf) - Factual Resources
  • 11 - Application Attachment_Data Source_Coos Bay Area, Oregon (8.2015)
  • 12 - Application Attachment_Coos Estuary and Shoreland Atlas (6.2019)
• Planning Commission Public Hearing, Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers
  • Notice of Public Hearing
  • The applicant is requesting authorization to amend the Comprehensive Plan and Development Code as part of the multi-jurisdictional Phase I update to the CBEMP.
  • Planning Commission Staff Report (7/11/23)
  • Written Testimony (7/11/23)
  • Planning Commission closed the public hearing, leaving the record open to July 25, 2023 for the submittal of additional evidence and testimony, and continued the matter to their August 8th, 2023 regularly scheduled meeting, when they will make a recommendation on the matter to the City Council.
  • Planning Commission Recommended the City Council: 1) APPROVE and ADOPT by ordinance Land Use Application #187-23-000165-PLNG based on the information presented by the applicant and recommended findings of approval as presented in Exhibit 3 of Attachment A as presented to the Planning Commission on July 11, 2023; and, 2) ADOPT a Resolution as outlined in University of Oregon Memo dated July 10, 2023 to evidence the City’s commitment to complete a comprehensive update of the CBEMP including an inclusive public engagement process.
• Coos County Planning Commission Recommendation
• City Council Work Session scheduled for Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers
  • City Council Staff Report (10/24/23)
  • City Council moved unanimously to postpone the public hearing on this matter scheduled for November 7, 2023, to the next regularly scheduled meeting on November 21, 2023; and, also, to conduct a Joint Work Session with the North Bend City Council and the Coos County Board of Commissioners at Coos Bay City Hall on November 9, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
• City Council Public Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, 2023, has been POSTPONED to Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers
  • Notice of Public Hearing
• Joint Work Session including Coos Bay City Council, North Bend City Council, and the Coos County Board of Commissioners scheduled for Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers
  • Staff Report (11/9/23)
• City Council Public Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, November 21, 2023, has been POSTPONED to Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers
  • Notice of Public Hearing – Updated
  • Written Testimony (11/21/23)
• Joint Work Session including Coos Bay City Council, North Bend City Council, and the Coos County Board of Commissioners scheduled for Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. in the Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers
  • Staff Report (12/7/23)
  • Notice of Public Hearing – Updated
• City Council Public Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, January 2, 2024, has been POSTPONED to Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers
  • Notice of Public Hearing – Updated
• Joint Work Session including Coos Bay City Council, North Bend City Council, and the Coos County Board of Commissioners scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers
  • Staff Report (1/10/24) (revised)
  • Draft CBEMP Part 1 (revised)
  • Draft Resolution
• City Council Public Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, 2024, immediately following the scheduled Joint Work Session in the Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers
  • Draft Resolution City
  • Record Outline
  • Draft Recommended Findings of Fact
  • Comments and Staff Responses
  • Ordinance No. 572, Comprehensive Plan Amendments
  • Ordinance No. 573, Development Code Amendments
  • Resolution 24-01, Joint Resolution re. CBEMP
  • Notice of City Council Decision (1/16/24)

Empire Area Blueprint

The Empire District is a historic area on the far west side of the City. Founded in 1853, Empire was once an independent city and was the county seat, poised to become the economic and governmental center of the region. Commerce then shifted farther east towards the more protected bay and the City of Empire voted to consolidate with Coos Bay in 1965. The historic buildings and varied businesses still show the pride of the area and tie the area to the working waterfront.

The City of Coos Bay adopted the Empire Urban Renewal Plan and District to improve the function, condition, and appearance of the Empire Area and to strengthen the district’s economy. Additionally, the City adopted the Empire Waterfront Settlement Design Review Area, which requires private and public development to evoke the architectural styles which existed in Empire from the mid-to-late 1800s. In 2008, the City adopted the Hollering Place Master Plan after a citizen-led effort convinced the City to purchase the 3.68-acre property for purposes of redeveloping the waterfront. This property is located at the west end of Newmark, north of the Empire Boat Ramp.

The City recently completed the June 21, 2022 Front Street Blueprint for the Front Street Area located near the City’s downtown corridor to address objectives for development of a cohesive, multimodal transportation loop that will enhance the economic development potential, and safety of the area. The Mayor and City Council would like to see the same efforts done for the Empire Area. In February 2023, Council awarded a contract to David Evans and Associates to be the City’s consultant and lead the efforts for a Blueprint of the Empire Area. The Blueprint will consider the need for new policies, code amendments, and funding tools necessary to fulfill the Urban Renewal Area goals and objectives. It is anticipated this effort will take 12 months to complete. Volunteers interested in working with the City and their consultant to create, shape, and provide input on the Blueprint can email their letter of interest to the City’s Planning Administrator Chelsea Schnabel at cschnabel@coosbayor.gov.

Details are on the Empire Area Blueprint project website.

• Type IV Land Use Application (Empire Area Blueprint) Documents
  • 1-Application_Empire Area Blueprint re. Text Amendments
• Planning Commission Public Hearing, Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers
  • Notice of Public Hearing
  • Staff Report with Attachments SR24-174 (10/8/24)
  • Testimony and Evidence presented to Planning Commission (10/8/24)
• City Council Public Hearing tentatively scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers
  • Notice of City Council Public Hearing and Planning Commission Recommendation (10/11/24)
  • Notice of City Council Public Hearing - POSTPONED

Coos County Shared Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) Work

The City of Coos Bay (“City”), in coordination with Coos County, seeks to contract for consultant services to undertake technical analysis of long-range planning options available for regulatory management of the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and the Urban Unincorporated Communities of Charleston, Barview, Bay Park/Bunker Hill, Libby, and Millington. The technical analysis will be the basis of findings for ORS 197.652 Regional problem-solving process.

Coos County and its incorporated cities first collaborated on the establishment of local Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs) and Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) in the late 1970s after the initial adoption of Oregon Statewide Planning Goal 14 in 1974. The City of Coos Bay and Coos County first formalized their shared commitment to the orderly and sustainable development of these areas in 1981. In 1987, a new joint management agreement covering the multiple UGBs/UGAs was adopted to replace the original 1981 intergovernmental agreement. The 1987 agreement remains in full force to this day. Coos County maintains the official UGB/UGA map. The UGBs/UGAs include Urban Unincorporated Communities (UUCs) that are planned for urban uses, treated as urbanizable lands reserved for the growth of the City of Coos Bay, and serviced with public sewer, water, and transportation facilities.

The City of Coos Bay and Coos County now desire to amend the shared UGB pursuant to the 1987 joint-management agreement. However, there are many questions and uncertainties in doing so. Over the years State laws have changed and, while City of Coos Bay and Coos County comprehensive plan policies have been updated consistent with periodic review requirements, with the exception of the Urban Growth Boundary and Urban Growth Areas that were reserved for Coos Bay to expand, there remains a knowledge gap related to how these areas and the joint-management agreement were intended to be implemented. Through this project, the City and the County will embark on a regional problem-solving process. This project is Phase 1 of the regional-problem solving effort, and the result will be a set of long range planning options for the City and the County to consider for coordination of further planning and provision of water, sewer, and transportation facilities with the intent of meeting other regional goals for housing and economic development in the region.

The primary goals for this project are:

• to complete an audit of City and County comprehensive plans and implementing codes that are applicable to the urban growth area boundaries for Charleston, Barview, Bay Park/Bunker Hill, Libby, and Millington;
• to gain a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities of- shared UGBs/UGAs for the project areas with input from the Project Advisory Committee and inclusive community engagement efforts; and
• to provide long-range planning options and outline steps needed for the County and the City to complete, and to take action on, a UGB amendment; and to complete an audit of City and County comprehensive plans and implementing codes that will result in the amendments necessary to ensure project success.

This project is funded by Oregon general fund dollars through the Department of Land Conservation and Development. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the State of Oregon.

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