South Albany Area Plan
(formerly Oak Creek Refinement Plan)

Project Status

In anticipation of new development in the South Albany area it is important to identify and evaluate natural resources and potential natural hazards. The South Albany area is rich with natural resources, including Oak Creek, the riparian corridor adjacent to the creek, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. The specific location of the boundary of the Oak Creek 100-year floodplain is an important component in preparing for, and lessening the impacts of, potential flooding in the area.

There are two activities underway that will impact development patterns in the South Albany area. Once these activities are close to completion, the South Albany Area planning process will proceed:

  1. The State’s planning program requires the City to identify “significant”* natural resources inside the City’s urban growth boundary (UGB) and to take measures to protect them. Inventories of wetlands and riparian corridors were completed, and a wildlife habitat inventory and assessment will begin in the Fall of 2008. The outcome of this activity will be the identification of “significant” wetlands, riparian corridors, and wildlife habitat inside Albany’s UGB, including the South Albany area.
     
    *There is not a specific definition of “significant” natural resources that can be applied broadly across all types of natural resources. But it can generally be thought of as a resource that is of particularly high quality or is essential to the functioning of the ecosystem. NOTE: There are many wetlands in the Albany UGB, but few are classified as “significant wetlands.”
     
  2. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in the process of updating their floodplain boundary maps for the more populated areas of the State. A draft of the Linn County portion is scheduled to be available for review in February 2009, and the Benton County portion in October 2008. The current FEMA maps that identify the floodplain boundary in South Albany are not sufficiently accurate to enable site-specific planning. The new maps will be based on much more accurate and recent topographic data and aerial photos.

Next Steps

We expect that the first public hearings related to the City's natural resource policies will take place in the Winter of 2009. The public hearings will to lead to an updated Natural Resources section of the Albany Comprehensive Plan, and revisions to the Albany Development Code that address development in and around floodplains, riparian corridors, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. Public hearings on the South Albany Area Plan will not take place until this process is close to completion.

Work Completed

Draft Concept Diagram: Since The October 2006 meeting, staff have been in touch with a number of property owners. The draft concept diagram was updated to address public input, including discussions with property owners. Download the Draft Concept Diagram (1.74MB jpg)

conceptual photoOak Creek Open Space Boundary Review: Property owners in the area have been commenting that the Open Space boundary on their properties does not seem to follow natural contours.  Property zoned as Open Space has limited development potential, therefore knowing the extent and location of the boundary will impact the development patterns in the area.  Tim Brooks, a landscape architect and principal at Winterbrook Planning, reviewed the Open Space boundary and made a recommendation on potential revisions to the boundary.

Updated Economic Opportunities Analysis: To get a better sense of the commercial and industrial land needs in the South Albany, as well as citywide, Greg Winterowd, a planner and principal at Winterbrook Planning, with the assistance of ECONorthwest, a planning and economic consulting firm, reviewed and updated the City’s 2000 Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA). The EOA was adopted by the City Council in 2008 and became a supporting document to the City’s Comprehensive Plan.

Project Overview

The South Albany area contains most of the remaining large tracts of largely undeveloped property inside the city's urban growth boundary. Planning for the eventual development of the area will ensure that a great neighborhood will emerge in South Albany. The South Albany Area Plan relates to several other comprehensive planning efforts Albany has done over the past several years. These include Great Neighborhoods, Balanced Development Patterns (BDP), and Goal 10 Housing. The South Albany Area Plan, when adopted, will be used as the basis for future changes to the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Map, and Development Code. It will also help inform what should be included in future annexation agreements.

Work began on this project in early 2006. Planning staff met with property owners in the area to explain the purpose of the plan and to gather their ideas. In October of 2006 about 75 citizens attended an open house in the Council Chambers. Staff, and landscape architect John Stewart, presented a draft concept plan for how the area might develop.

 

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