County to consider changing development code

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, May 5th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners holds its regular meeting at 9 a.m. today (Wednesday). A public hearing to change the county’s development code will be held at the start of the meeting.

Property owners Alan and Nan Heilman want to change the development code to allow the creation of parcels smaller than 160 acres on grazing farmland. They want the zoning change to allow for the creation of parcels between two to five acres in size, each containing an existing dwelling.

The board will also consider extending its COVID-19 emergency declaration to July 7. It is set to expire today.

Other items on the agenda include the vacation of Schmitz Road, as well as a request from the sheriff’s office that it be allowed to bring in a new deputy in July so he or she can be trained to replace a senior deputy who is retiring at the end of October.

The meeting is streamed live on the county’s website. People may also call 541-728-0275 to listen.