Development Process Overview

Typical Land Use Planning process:

1. Initial Contact – An applicant brings a proposal or idea to the Planning Division for discussion and initial feedback. The applicant is given appropriate pre-application requirements and application form.
2. Pre-Application Conference – Applicant submits pre-application materials and a meeting is scheduled with the appropriate city departments and affected agencies (this may include the Sandy Fire Marshall and Oregon Department of Transportation).
3. Application – The applicant makes revisions to the proposal based on feedback received at the pre-application conference and submits a Land Use Application, application fee, and applicable materials as specified in the Development Code as detailed at the pre-application meeting.
4. Completeness Check – The application is then checked for completeness to determine that all required materials have been submitted. A letter is then sent to the applicant either deeming the application complete or incomplete.
   1. If deemed complete the application review process begins. If deemed incomplete, the applicant has 180 days to submit missing information or submit a letter stating that all of the information, some of the information, or none of the information will be provided (the application becomes void on the 181st day after being deemed incomplete if this step is not completed).
5. Application Review – Once the application is deemed complete the review process begins according to the appropriate review process.
6. Decision – The conclusion of the review process is the issuance of a Final Order specifying whether the application is approved, approved with conditions, or denied.
7. Appeal Process – An applicant who is not satisfied with the issued Final Order may appeal the decision as specified in the Development Code.

Types of Procedures

Type I – Administrative Review: Type I decisions are made by the Development Services Director or his/her designee for applications not requiring the use of discretion, and do not require notice to neighbors or a public hearing.

Type II – Noticed Administrative Review: Type II decisions are made by the Development Services Director or his/her designee with public notice.

Type III – Quasi-Judicial: Type III decisions generally use discretionary approval criteria and are made by the Planning Commission after a public hearing.

Type IV – Type IV decisions are usually legislative but may involve quasi-judicial criteria. Type IV applications are generally considered initially by the Planning Commission with a final decision made by the City Council.

Applications and Requirements

Below are links to the most commonly requested land use applications with applicable requirements explained.