Joe Benetti

The meeting agenda included the Call to Order, Public Comment period, and the Election of a Planning Commission Chair and Vice Chair for the 2026 term, as mandated by municipal code. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a Public Hearing concerning the continuance of consideration for Type IV Land Use Application #187-25-000115-PLNG, which addresses a Self-Storage Unit Moratorium. This application involves prohibiting 'mini storage' facilities in several zone districts to protect commercial and industrial lands, promote higher-employment opportunities, and support economic development plans. Staff presented alternative regulatory pathways, including restricting the use to the Industrial-Commercial (I-C) zone district, requiring a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in the Commercial (C) zone, imposing a cap on the number of facilities, or establishing a proximity buffer between facilities. The Commission was set to make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the application's approval, denial, or continuance.

The proceedings of the regular meeting of the Planning Commission included the standard Roll Call and Public Comments segments. The main focus of the meeting was a Presentation regarding a Joint City of Coos Bay and Coos County Planning Commission Work Session concerning the Shared Urban Growth Boundary Work.

The regular City Council meeting included the flag salute, public comments, and approval of the consent calendar, which covered the acceptance of grants awarded to the Coos Bay Public Library and the acceptance of the December 2025 Financial Reports and Check Register. Presentations included an update from the Coos Bay School District and the presentation of the Audit for Fiscal Year 2024-25, which was subsequently approved. Action items involved the appointment of four members to the Design Assistance Team for a four-year term. Public hearings were held concerning the vacation of South 15th Street Right-of-Way and the Englewood Housing Development Land Use Application, both of which resulted in enacted ordinances contingent on specified conditions. The Council also enacted an ordinance to modify Coos Bay Municipal Code Title 15 (Buildings and Construction), approved the Urban Renewal Agency Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, and initiated the process to vacate a portion of South 1st Street.

The Planning Commission meeting involved the election of officers for the term January 2026 through December 2026, resulting in Commissioner Josh Stevens being appointed Chair and Commissioner Patrick Terry as Vice-Chair. A key public hearing concerned the Type IV Land Use Application #187-25-000115-PLNG regarding a Self-Storage Unit Moratorium. The Commission recommended that the City Council approve the application with specific modifications, including prohibiting new development of storage unit facilities in the Empire area district, excluding the Waterfront Heritage District, and adopting a new definition for storage unit facilities based on the Oregon Structural Specialty Code.

The regular meeting commenced with the Public Comments section. The Consent Calendar was approved, which included the acceptance of the December 2025 Financial Reports and Check Register. The primary Action Item involved the presentation of the Audit for Fiscal Year 2024-25, which the Board subsequently voted to accept.