Team:
This pre-app may be the first of two or more pre-app meetings. The applicant is a new company planning to relocate to Molalla from Milwaukie. The company -- ICL America/Scandia Midwest LLC -- initially planned to relocate into an existing warehouse at 535 W. Main. The property is one of Bill Avison’s former mill sites. The site contains old development that is very substandard and is ripe for redevelopment. The property owner and company have both hired attorneys in an attempt to help clarify the requirements the City will be allowed to impose at time of redevelopment. Of course, both parties would prefer to keep any new investment into the property to a minimum. We understand that ODOT does not have any access permits on file for this property. Since this is a new use – because all previous uses were never approved through a City process and therefore were never legally established -- we expect ODOT will require the applicant to apply for an access permit. Marah or Maryana or Loretta: We should discuss this before the meeting so we can try to understand our respective positions before we meet with the applicant.
It is the City’s belief that a Site Design Review process will be required, as outlined in the Molalla Municipal Code below. We think the process be Type III (requiring a public hearing). We expect the applicant may spend part of the meeting continuing to question the City’s code interpretation that a Site Design Review is required. Their preference would be to locate their business on the site without any development requirements. You will notice that the applicant didn’t provide any of the typical narratives or plans – mainly because they don’t yet believe they need to go through a City Development process. Therefore, I will summarize some background information for you in a second email. Expect to receive this in a few minutes!
Julie Larson on behalf of Alice Cannon
City of Molalla | Office Specialist IV
117 N Molalla Ave. | Molalla, OR 97038
Direct: 503-759-0243 | Office: 503-829-6855
Business Hours: M-F 8:30-4:30
