Union County BOC to Consider Amended Zoning Ordinance at Feb. 18 Hearing

The Union County Board of Commissioners will open a public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 18, to consider edits to the county zoning code that would add temporary workforce housing as a conditional use on industrial land. The proposed ordinance would revise Articles 12, 13 and 21 of the Union County Zoning, Partition, and Subdivision Ordinance to clarify standards and explicitly permit temporary workforce housing in I-1 and I-2 zones.

The meeting notice states: "The meeting, which includes the public hearing, begins at 9 a.m. in the Joseph Building Annex Conference Room, 1106 K Ave. in La Grande." The public hearing sequence is laid out in the agenda: "The public hearing will open with a staff report. There will then be an opportunity for public comment followed by commissioner discussion and action." The first reading of the ordinance starts at 9:30 a.m., and an earlier hearing that morning will address vacating an abandoned portion of Palmer Junction Road, beginning at 9:15 a.m.

The ordinance text frames the action in formal terms: "IN THE MATTER OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE UNION COUNTY ZONING, PARTITION, AND SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE TO REVISE ARTICLES 12, 13, AND 21 TO PROVIDE CLARIFICATION AND TO INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF A TEMPORARY WORKFORCE HOUSING CONDITIONAL USE." County documents say commissioners R. Matthew Scarfo, Paul Anderes and Jake Seavert presided over proceedings that reference Feb. 18 and a subsequent date of March 4, suggesting a first reading and a possible follow up or adoption hearing.

Planning department staff notified affected property owners and the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development at least 35 days before the first evidentiary hearing. The county notes that "the Union County Planning Commission recommended approval of the amendment during a public hearing on January 26, 2026." County materials also state that "county commissioners directed staff to proceed with submitting and processing a land use application to allow for temporary workforce housing on industrial land." The formal ordinance language indicates Articles 12.00 I-1 Light Industrial Use Zone and Article 13.00 I-2 Heavy Industrial will be replaced with the attached versions showing deletions and additions.

Board business on Feb. 18 includes routine administrative matters and department updates. Public Works Director Doug Wright will present two quotes "The first for hot mix asphalt and the second for gravel and rock." Commissioners will also discuss a wolf depredation grant application. For those who cannot attend in person, the meeting "can also be accessed via Zoom." Participants also can call 253-215-8782 or 301-715-8592 to listen to the meeting or provide public comment. Enter the meeting number: 814 2000 6863. "If you do not get through the first time, try again."

For Union County residents, the amendment could open industrial parcels to temporary worker housing that supports local employers while raising questions about siting, duration, occupancy limits and services. The ordinance materials refer to attachments that show exact revisions by strikeout and underline; those details will determine how flexible the county becomes in permitting modular units, RV parks, dormitory-style housing or other temporary accommodations. The Feb. 18 hearing is the first public opportunity to weigh in; the county’s inclusion of a March 4 proceeding indicates a likely next step for final action or a second reading.