Union County approves first reading of Ordinance 2026-01 adding temporary workforce housing

The Union County Board of Commissioners opened and approved the first reading of Ordinance 2026-01 during their Feb. 18, 2026 regular meeting in the Joseph Building Annex Conference Room at 1106 K Avenue in La Grande. The board moved the amendment forward after a staff report and public hearing procedure set out on the county agenda.

The ordinance, published in the meeting materials under the full title "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," revises Articles 12, 13 and 21 of the UCZPSO to add temporary workforce housing as a conditional use. The county agenda lists the ordinance text and places the public hearing for the first reading on the Feb. 18 agenda.

Union County’s agenda scheduled the Feb. 18 regular meeting to convene at 9:00 a.m., with the public hearing and first reading of Ordinance 2026-01 listed for 9:30 a.m.; the agenda also placed an earlier 9:15 a.m. public hearing on vacating an abandoned portion of Palmer Junction Road tied to Resolution 2026-02. The La Grande Observer noted the hearing format, writing that "the public hearing will open with a staff report. There will then be an opportunity for public comment followed by commissioner discussion and action."

Commissioners Matt Scarfo, Paul Anderes and Jake Seavert presided at the meeting; a file photo by Isabella Crowley dated Feb. 19, 2025 shows the three commissioners listening to a presentation in the Joseph Building Annex Conference Room. Administrative Officer Shelley Burgess appears on the county agenda as staff support, and Public Works Director Doug Wright was listed on the Feb. 18 agenda to present two bids for hot mix asphalt and gravel and rock for board approval.

Following the first reading, commissioners scheduled the second reading for the next regular meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The Union County agenda lists the March 4 meeting start time as 9:00 a.m., while local reporting from Elkhorn Media Group specifies the second reading time as 9:20 a.m.; commissioners also agreed to leave public comment open at that second reading.

Elkhorn Media Group’s Facebook post summarizing the ordinance stated, "The general intention would be to allow for the temporary influx of workers and contractors during major construction projects, refurbishments, overhauls, expansions, etc." That post drew 23 reactions, 11 comments and 3 shares, including sample remarks such as Kevin Lee Kerl’s "How about fixing our roads or something" and Lori Bomberger’s "Time to move out of Oregon!!!"

Residents who want to attend the March 4 meeting in person can go to the Joseph Building Annex Conference Room, 1106 K Avenue, La Grande; remote participation is available via Zoom or by phone using meeting number 814 2000 6863 and call-in numbers 253-215-8782 or 301-715-8592. For accommodations or interpreter requests, the county directs people to contact Allison Moore at (541) 963-1001 at least 48 hours before the meeting. The board will return to the March 4 agenda to complete the ordinance’s second reading before any final action.