Albany development code

A hearing on two doors: It wasn’t much

Written December 23rd, 2019 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 4 responses.

When the Albany Landmarks Commission convened last Wednesday night for two “quasi-judicial public hearings” about minor repairs to an old house, it was over pretty quick.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: 732 Fourth S.W., Albany development code, Albany Landmarks, historic houses

A new judge and, unrelated, an old debate

Written December 18th, 2019 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 6 responses.

Wednesday’s Albany City Council meeting, the last one of the year, featured someone new and something old. One was the next city judge. The other was a rerun of last year’s disagreement between the mayor and council majority over the size of accessory dwelling units.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: accessory dwelling units, Albany court, Albany development code, Forrest Reid, mayor's veto, Municipal court

Accessory unit: A family’s quest stymied

Written August 11th, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 16 responses.

When you see the spot where Marcie Howard and her husband, Gary, would like to build a small house on the property of their son, it’s hard to see why the city of Albany and Mayor Sharon Konopa won’t let them.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: accessory dwelling units, Albany development code

Accessory dwellings: A needless flap

Written July 23rd, 2018 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 5 responses.

The city council flap over accessory dwellings was not resolved on Monday, and a closer examination makes me wonder why there’s a flap in the first place. Fixing Albany’s development code to align with a new state law should have been no big deal.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Accessory dwellings, Albany development code, Albany mayor's veto

Parking and shrubs: Just wondering

Written November 30th, 2016 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 11 responses.

What were they thinking? It’s no big deal, but that’s what I was wondering when I looked at this bit of landscaping in the Albany Fred Meyer parking lot on Wednesday afternoon.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Albany development code, parking lot landscaping, planters in parking lots

Albany tries to cut red tape downtown

Written August 1st, 2016 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

Albany city officials want more building and business downtown. To that end they’re launching a review of the city development code, hoping to get rid of regulations that needlessly stymie developers and builders.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany development code, Angelo Planning Group, CARA, Central Albany, Scott Lepman

As if water was plentiful and cheap

Written August 17th, 2015 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 5 responses.

Drought or no drought, we keep adding lawns that need irrigation to look as lush as this one. Does that make any sense? So far the answer is both yes and no.

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: 2015 drought, Albany development code, irrigation, landscaping requirements