Linn County’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 17 approved its consent agenda and three final plats after staff presentations and limited public comment.

The consent agenda—which included multiple final plats and parcel splits—was approved by a single motion and roll-call vote. Planning staff then presented three regular agenda plat cases: PF25-0017 (Hogan’s Fifth Edition), PF25-0015 (Banowitz Addition) and PF25-0019 (Arbor Masters Plat 1). Staff recommended approval for each case, noting each met MLS and LISA review standards and that conditions in the staff reports would apply.

PF25-0017 (Hogan’s Fifth Edition), an approximately 32-acre three-lot final plat at 5013 Millard Lane, was presented by Mike Tertinger, who said required road agreements and hard surfacing have been completed and recommended approval subject to conditions. The commission voted to approve the plat.

PF25-0015 (Banowitz Addition), a three-lot final plat for a roughly 35.7-acre property at 4348 Boy Scouts Road, prompted public comment from neighbor Greg Monternock, who said he is ‘‘not in favor of this parcel split’’ and raised questions about whether an existing house falls within the proposed 120-foot access easement and about the impacts of road construction, fill and runoff on his property and on wildlife. Planning staff and the applicant’s land surveyor defended the configuration as a way to place buildable areas nearer the road and explained the Board of Adjustment granted a special exception to the county’s 4-to-1 lot-shape ratio. Staff said any development within 50 feet of steep slopes or that removes a significant number of trees would require a mitigation plan, NRCS review, engineered drainage measures and erosion-control measures intended to limit impacts on neighbors and the river. The commission approved PF25-0015.

PF25-0019 (Arbor Masters Plat 1), a two-lot final plat for about 4.5 acres at 2226 Springville Road, was approved with staff noting a related conditional-use permit for a tree-trimming business will be processed concurrently next month; conditions include necessary permits (for fuel storage/electrical) and discussion of vegetative screening for outdoor storage.

Each motion carried on roll-call votes recorded in the meeting transcript. Several neighbors pressed staff for specifics about easement lines and the extent of mitigation; staff responded that mitigation plans, NRCS conditions and drainage requirements would be required as part of development approvals where steep slopes and ravines are involved. The commission also heard staff updates on the county comprehensive plan and an anticipated draft data center ordinance to be provided to the commission roughly a week before the December meeting for public review.