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An RV is parked in a church parking lot

June 26, 2024 in News

Vehicle Camping at Religious Institutions

Fast Facts about Housing and Homelessness in Benton County

  • The number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Benton County has increased more than 95% since 2015.
  • The 2022 Point in Time count report* estimates that there are over 700 unhoused people in the Linn, Benton and Lincoln tri-county region with about 300 unhoused people in Benton County.
  • Some members of our rural communities use vehicles as their primary shelter, but have no fixed place to safely and legally park them.

How does Benton County Code Chapter 40 help?

  • Enables Religious Institutions within the unincorporated areas of Benton County to provide safe and legal places for people to sleep in vehicles, campers, trailers, or micro-shelters.
  • Establishes minimum standards including provision of basic sanitary facilities for guests and onsite parking and siting standards to reduce impacts to adjacent properties and uses.
  • Provides an additional tool for rural communities to provide a safe and stable means to shelter for those experiencing crises.
Fast Facts Sheet
Resource Manual
Vehicle Camping Application

June 14, 2024 in Alsea CACCitizen Advisory Committee

Alsea CAC – Minutes & Agendas

Citizen Advisory Committees
Alsea Citizen Advisory Committee
Alsea CAC Members
Deb Coddington
Gary Strom
Janet Hendrix
Mimi Stout, Chair

Meetings Every First Monday at 6:00PM

Future Committee Meetings

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpce6opjIpGtUF-Jv_gLTVdCwkHBP7sfyr
Passcode: 4966933

Minutes & Agendas

All Materials

June 14, 2024 in Alsea CACCitizen Advisory CommitteeNews

Alsea CAC – Overview

The Alsea Citizen Advisory Committee is looking for volunteers!

Become a member of the Alsea Citizen Advisory Committee, a group of citizens and business owners that examine community issues and provide recommendations to the Benton County Board of Commissioners.

3 voting member positions and 2 alternate (non-voting) positions are available.

Apply Today

Contact Sarah Cash

Applications are due by 12:00pm, June 24, 2024

Map of Benton County Citizen Advisory Committee Areas (active and inactive)
Citizen Advisory Committees
Agendas & Minutes
Alsea CAC Members
Deb Coddington
Gary Strom
Janet Hendrix
Mimi Stout, Chair

Meetings Every First Monday at 6:00PM

Future Committee Meetings

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpce6opjIpGtUF-Jv_gLTVdCwkHBP7sfyr
Passcode: 496693

Background Documents

Projects (Upcoming)

  • Community Health Clinic Service
  • Safe Routes to School Sidewalks
  • Sewer Upgrade
  • Benton County Comprehensive Plan Update
  • Benton County Development Code Update
Community Links

June 14, 2024 in Citizen Advisory Committee

Benton County CACs

Early in 2024, the greater Alsea Community reinstituted their Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC)

Read More about Alsea CAC
Overview
  • Each CAC holds meetings as needed
  • CAC Membership consists of 5 Executive Board Members and 2 Alternate Members
  • Members serve 3-year terms

Active Benton County CACs Operate With the Following Functions and Duties

Citizen Advisory Committees:
  • Involve residents in all aspects of the land-use planning and associated processes of County government that relate to the CAC-Area.
  • Ensure effective communication between Area residents and County Officials.
  • Obtain resident input and perspectives on matters brought before the CAC and convey this input to the Board of Commissioners, the County Planning Commission, and other County Officials.
  • Assist the Board of Commissioners, the County Planning Commission, and County Staff with communicating the technical and legal aspects of land-use planning to Area residents.

The addition of members to an active CAC is determined by the existing members.
Please contact Community Development at (541) 766-6819 if you are interested in re-activating a CAC.3

CAC Documents

May 16, 2024 in News

Commissions & Committees

Conference table, meeting

The following Commissions and Committees are integral to the successful functioning of the Planning Division. The Planning Commission prepares recommendations for the Board of Commissioners regarding proposed amendments to the County’s land-use and development regulations; makes decisions on quasi-judicial land use matters; and, in its capacity as the Committee for Citizen Involvement (CCI), assists the Board of Commissioners with development and evaluation of the County’s Citizen Involvement Program related primarily to land-use planning (ORS 215.020). The Historic Resources Commission was created to implement a county-wide historic preservation program. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee provides an opportunity for community members of each CAC area to be involved in all phases of the land-use planning process and other aspects of County government that relate to their area.

Planning Commission
Disposal Site Advisory Committee
Historic Resource Commission
Citizen Advisory Committees
Solid Waste Advisory Council

May 14, 2024 in Floodplain

Floodplain Information

Floodplain Management in Benton County

Muddy Creek 2012 Flood

Benton County has approximately 57,000 acres of land located within its floodplains and nearly 3,200 individual parcels that are partially or entirely located within a floodplain. This page contains information and links about floodplain development, local requirements as well as flood hazard and safety information, real-time river gage information, and more.

As a result of Benton County’s efforts, county property owners have been receiving a discounted rate on their flood insurance premiums for the past 20 years.

Benton County Floodplain Program

Benton County’s floodplain program is designed to help ensure decreased flood hazard risk to county residents and structures, improved communication regarding flood risks and natural beneficial floodplain functions, and continued provision of flood data.  As a result of Benton County’s efforts, county property owners have been receiving a discounted rate on their flood insurance premiums for the past 20 years.  The following are a few of the services Benton County provides with regard to floodplain records and information:

  • Maintain records of all development activity approved in the floodplain.  Benton County does this through approval of Floodplain Development Permits.  These records document the county’s commitment to responsible floodplain management.
  • Provide floodplain and flood hazard related information.  Typical types of information available at the Benton County Community Development office include:
    • The location of a property in relation to the floodplain shown on the current and historic Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for the county;
    • Additional flood insurance data for a site, such as the flood zone designation shown on the FIRM panel and, if available, an approximate base flood elevation;
    • Land use and building code regulations that apply to properties in a floodplain;
    • A copy of FIRMs showing flood hazard boundaries and, when available, mapped floodway locations;
  • Maintain a record of all elevation certificates submitted to the Community Development office.  Elevation certificates are required for all new construction and are typically available for structures constructed or improved since 2002.  Additional floodplain worksheets are sometimes available for structures constructed as early as the late 1980s.
  • Provide outreach information to property owners whose land is in or near a floodplain.  The county sends out a yearly Flood Facts mailing identifying high flood risk areas and providing reminders about development requirements in floodplains, information about how to prepare for and respond to flood events, helpful contact information, significant flood events that have occurred in the past, benefits of floodplain functions, and actions that help reduce damage caused by flooding.
  • Provide information regarding flood mitigation options.  The county Floodplain Manager can provide information about possible retrofitting options that can be helpful to reduce the risk of structural damage from flood events and potentially reduce flood insurance premiums.
Helpful Floodplain Resources
Floodplain Development Permit Information

May 13, 2024 in DSAC MeetingsNews

Disposal Site Advisory Committee (DSAC)

Disposal Site Management

The Disposal Site Advisory Committee (DSAC) assists the Benton County Board of Commissioners in the planning and implementation of disposal site management, including the following:

  • Review with the permittee the regional disposal site’s siting, operation, closure, and long-range monitoring of the site;
  • Provide a forum for citizen comments, questions and concerns about the regional disposal site and promote a dialog between the community and the owner or operator of the site; and
  • Prepare an annual written report summarizing the local citizens’ concerns and the manner in which the owner or operator is addressing those concerns

View DSAC Bylaws (PDF)

Participation on county boards and commissions involves citizens directly in local government in an impactful way and provides the Board of Commissioners with timely input on important issues. Members of Benton County’s various advisory boards and committees are unpaid volunteers who devote numerous hours of their time to these community activities. In all there are 26 advisory boards, commissions and committees and members may serve up to two consecutive terms. Members are appointed by the Board of Commissioners to fill vacancies, which have set terms.

The Board of Commissioners office is currently conducting interviews to fill positions for DSAC. New member information will be posted here when it becomes available.

MEMBERTERM OF SERVICE
Ken Eklund, ChairTerm began 01.01.22 – Term expires 12.31.24
Deborah GileTerm began 01.01.19 – Term expires 12.31.24
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
VACANT
Ian McNabDesignated Permittee – Republic Services (Coffin Butte Landfill)

NEXT DSAC MEETING

Coming soon

DSAC Minutes – January 26, 2022DSAC Minutes – April 27, 2022DSAC Minutes – 2021DSAC Minutes 2020
DSAC Minutes – 2019DSAC Minutes – 2018DSAC Minutes – 2017DSAC Minutes – 2016
DSAC Minutes – 2015DSAC Minutes – 2014DSAC Minutes – 2013DSAC Minutes – 2012

May 6, 2024 in Planning Commission

Planning Commission

The Commission shall prepare recommendations for the Board of Commissioners regarding proposed amendments to the County’s land-use and development regulations; make decisions on quasi-judicial land use matters; and, in its capacity as the Committee for Citizen Involvement (CCI), assist the Board of Commissioners with development and evaluation of the County’s Citizen Involvement Program related primarily to land-use planning (ORS 215.020).

There are no vacant positions on our Planning Commission at this time.  If you are interested in serving in the future, please contact Teresa Farley, teresa.larson@bentoncountyor.gov at the Board of Commissioners office for more information.  

Meets: Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month (as needed) 

Members:

Nicholas Fowler, Chair
Albany area		Greg Hamann, Vice Chair
Albany area		Evelyn Lee
Monroe area
Elizabeth Irish
Corvallis area		Catherine Biscoe
Philomath area		Ed Fulford
Corvallis area
Andrew Struthers
Corvallis area		John Wilson
Adair Village area		Sara Cash
Alsea area

2024 meetings

Next Planning commission meeting is August 13th, 2024 at 6:00 pm. You can find the event information here.

DATERECORDINGAGENDAMINUTES
January 16, 2024Recording
Passcode: n@6JMr#&		AgendaMinutes
March 5, 2024Recording
Passcode: Dzepc88!		AgendaMinutes
April 30, 2024Recording
Passcode: 8x&vG%*z		AgendaMinutes
May 7, 2024Recording
Passcode: EuP6!#xC		 Agenda Minutes
June 6, 2024Recording
Passcode: iD160e@6		Agenda

Prior to 2023, virtual meetings were hosted by GoToMeeting, a virtual meeting platform that is no longer supported by the county. Meeting minutes for meetings prior to 2023 are available at the links above.

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