ReVision Florence

The City is working with local organizations and businesses to develop alternate parking options for businesses that solely rely on the on-street parking. Stay tuned as this will be announced when it is available for use. 

During construction, some streets may say "Road Closed to Thru Traffic." These streets can still be used to access the businesses along the streets, but are closed at the highway. Drivers will not be able to enter or exit the highway from these streets, but can use for business access. 

Yes, the City of Florence City Council approved Resolution No. 6, Series 2020, on Monday, March 23rd during a Special City Council meeting. The declaration was effective upon adoption through at least June 30, 2020, and can be extended as needed. 

CITY OF FLORENCE RESOLUTION NO. 6, SERIES 2020:
A Resolution Declaring a Temporary State of Emergency within the Boundaries of the City and Delegating Authority to the City Manager. 

Yes! The City has created a Business Toolkit with printable brochures and flyers. The City also has several items available to businesses that can be requested. 

Visit the Business Toolkit at www.ci.florence.or.us/urbanrenewal/revision-florence-business-toolkit.

The Rhododendron Festival has been incorporated into the ReVision Florence project timeline. The contractor will not be performing work Thursday, May 16th through Sunday, May 19th. Prior to that time, the construction area will be cleaned up for the festival activities. 

For full details, visit www.ci.florence.or.us/citymanager/revision-florence-construction-impacts-rhody-days. 

For more information on the Rhododendron Festival florencechamber.com/annual-events/rhody-festival-2. 

The blue traffic cones indicate business access in the corridor during construction. Blue signs are also in place that state "Business Access" where the driveway access points are lined in blue cones in order to provide easier visibility. 

Alex Hodge Construction (AHC) out of Bend, Oregon, is performing the work. ODOT is managing the construction contract with AHC. 

The contractor has placed cones indicating where there are travel lane and parking closures. The corridor is an active construction site. The cones and barricades indicate areas where the public is not able to be during construction, whether the contractor is on site or not. There may be hazards in the coned off area for vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians. It would also be hazardous to have cars merging between one and two lanes along the corridor if the cones did not run the length of the project area. 

They have also established temporary pedestrian access throughout the project area with cones and barricades. These will remain in place as long as they are working in those area. During the project, the contractor has to maintain ADA accessible pedestrian access. It would greatly delay the project to take these down and set them up in areas where it may be possible. In general, the pedestrian access would not be ADA compliant due to the construction if they removed the temporary access. 

The original concept was to perform the construction work at night to reduce the need to close lanes on the highways. When the project went to bid the first time these restrictions on daytime work and lane closures, among other items, resulted in construction bids that were approximately $2 million above the available funds.

The City and ODOT worked to re-scope the requirements on the contractor regarding when and how the work was to be completed. In addition to the construction logistics update, the City and ODOT also combined the streetscape and paving with the hopes of achieving economies of scale between the two projects, and updated some of the project elements. With these updates, the second round of bidding resulted in the bid from Alex Hodge Construction that was within our combined project budget for the streetscape and paving. 

Allowing the contractor to close lanes during the day has reduced the cost of construction by eliminating several logistic items that would be needed to perform the work at night when it is dark. 

Throughout the project design, the landscape architect has worked to balance the visual needs of businesses with the height requirements from the Oregon Department of Transportation for clearance. The architect has driven the corridor many times to do site visits and see how the landscaping may impact the the visual clearance from the highway.

Part of the landscaping requirements outline the placement of plants to be reviewed onsite with the landscaper and landscape architect prior to actual planting. This will allow them to see the individual plants and trees in context to ensure the needs are being met.

If your have a business that has a specific concern, please contact Project Manager Megan Messmer at megan.messmer@ci.florence.or.us. 

Accessory Dwelling Units may be a minimum of 201 sq. ft. and a maximum of 1,000 sq. ft. or 75%  of the primary dwellings size, whichever is less.

Owners of small primary dwellings (500 square feet or less) can construct or place an ADU of equal size.

For example:

• The owner of a 1,200 – sq. ft. home could build up to a 900 square foot ADU
  • 75% of 1,200 sq. ft. = 900 sq. ft.
• The Owner of an 1,800 sq. ft. home could build up to a 1,000 square foot ADU.
  • 75% of 1,800 sq. ft. = 1350 and the maximum sq. ft. of an ADU is 1,000 sq. ft.

• The owner of a 480 sq. ft. home could place an ADU up to 480 sq. ft. in area.

Annexation is the legal process by which properties become part of a city. After annexation, a property will be inside the city limits and thereafter subject to City jurisdiction. Annexation to the City is required before land can be developed at urban density with Florence zoning, receive City police services, hook up to Florence utilities, and receive other services provided by the City. If a property is eligible for annexation, the City is legally obligated to consider the request and make a decision based on specific legal criteria within 120 days.

The Rolling Dunes Park Improvement project is an ambitious endeavor aimed at enhancing the park's amenities and accessibility. Here's an in-depth explanation of what the project entails:

• Pickleball Court Expansion: The project includes expanding the existing tennis court area to accommodate new pickleball courts. This expansion aims to cater to the growing popularity of pickleball, providing more recreational opportunities.
• Accessible Pathway: To ensure inclusivity, an accessible pathway will be added, allowing visitors, including those with disabilities, to easily access the tennis and pickleball courts. This pathway will comply with ADA accessibility standards.
• Restroom Facilities: The project involves the construction of new restrooms at Rolling Dunes Park. These restrooms will be fully ADA accessible, providing improved facilities for park visitors.
• Picnic Shelter: A new picnic shelter will be built, enhancing the park's amenities. This shelter will provide a shaded area for picnics and gatherings, making the park more inviting for families and groups.
• Heavy Timber Pavilion: A heavy timber pavilion will be constructed, offering a versatile space for various activities, events, and gatherings. This pavilion will contribute to the park's aesthetics and functionality.
• Accessible Picnic Tables: The addition of accessible picnic tables will ensure that everyone can enjoy outdoor meals comfortably. These concrete tables are durable and designed to meet ADA standards.
• Other Enhancements: The project will also involve resurfacing the existing tennis courts, installing windscreens for improved playing conditions, adding fencing for security, and making parking lot improvements.

A City business license is required prior to opening a business within the City limits, or before doing business within the City. Here are some checkpoints to see if your business would require a City of Florence Business license.

1. Is your business's physical address located within Florence City Limits (i. e. is your office located in Florence)
2. Does your business come into Florence City limits to do work. (examples include contractors, traveling salesman, and consultants)
3. Do you advertise your business within the Florence City limits, with the intent to sell your products or services to Florence City residents

If you said yes to any of the above, then your business is likely required to obtain a Florence business license. The City of Florence regulates all kinds of businesses from bakeries, contractors, specialized consultants, retail establishments, and everything in between. More information on the business license requirements can be found in Florence City Code Title 3 Chapter 1 located on the City of Florence website or by contacting the City Recorder’s office.

Yes, if the structure is made permanent through the payment of Systems Development Charges (when required) and it meets all the requirements of state Building and Fire Codes and architectural standards for the underlying zoning district (FCC 10-10).

ADUs built on an axel frame may be considered a permanent dwelling through the removal of tongue and running gear, addition of blocking, and the addition of skirting.

Please consult with the Building Official for more information regarding these structures.

The project started March 11^th 2024 and is expected to last till December of 2025. If it is done sooner, we could have a parade that much earlier! There will be a lot of over lapping in the 3 different phases of the project. There might even be a time when all three work phases are happening at once.  

• We are collaborating and coordinating with our partners in Florence, the Siuslaw Region, and at the County through the West Lane Emergency Operations Group (WLEOG) to identify community needs and address them as quickly as possible.
• We are making sure our first responders and personnel stay healthy and are prepared to continue serving the community.
• We are suspending meetings, temporarily closing facilities, and modifying some face-to-face services to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Florence and Lane County. See below for specific information.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of:

• Race
• Color
• National Origin
• Religion
• Sex
• Familial Status
• Disability

The City’s current policy is not to force annexation, meaning a property owner has to request annexation for their property and go through the process.

The amount of fees that you pay depends on the type of business license that you need, depending on the work you will be doing and how long you plan to work in the City.

1. Permanent Business License fees are $84 per year, which is prorated for the second half of the year at $42. The fee is waived for non-profits with a valid 501(c)3. This means that if you apply from January 1st through June 30th your business license fee will be $84 for that calendar year. If you apply from July 1st through December 31st your business license fee will be $42 for that calendar year.
2. Temporary Business License fees are $45 for a one time job, or for six months. Food vendors, contractors, or any business that does not plan to operate for more than six months would qualify.
3. Home Occupation fees are $47 per year, which is prorated for the second half of the year at $23.50 (see Permanent Business Licenses). To qualify for a home occupation license you must operate your business from within your permanent residence, and fill out an additional “Home Occupation Form”.
4. Master Vendor/Vendors fees are $22 per vendor, with one person/organization applying for a master vendor’s license. These license types are specific to special and seasonal events such as the Rhododendron Festival.
5. All business licenses are subject to a $10 application fee

The Fair Housing Act covers most housing. In very limited circumstances, the Act exempts owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single-family houses sold or rented by the owner without the use of an agent, and housing operated by religious organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members.

• All of these efforts help slow the spread of COVID-19.
• By slowing the spread, it is the goal to preserve our health care capacity which will be critical in the coming weeks.
• These actions also help protect people who may be at higher risk - people over 60 and those with pre-existing respiratory, cardiac conditions, or who are immunocompromised. 
• We can all help reduce the impact of COVID-19 in our community.

No. The City only taxes and provides City services to property within City limits, even if you are along a street that has been annexed.

Executive Order: Stay Home Except for Essential Needs

On March 23, Gov. Kate Brown issued Executive Order 20-12, effective immediately until further notice. This is a statewide order. Failure to comply with the order will be considered an immediate danger to public health. For more information, read the latest press release. 

If you’re not sure about an activity, skip it. Staying at home as much as possible during this time will save lives.

• Follow the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the Oregon Health Authority, and Lane County Public Health regarding healthy behaviors and social distancing.  
• Help each other through checking on your neighbors, reducing stigma, supporting local organization and businesses.
• Educate yourself through trusted and official resources to reduce the spread of misinformation.

More information at https://govstatus.egov.com/or-covid-19. 

In the Sale and Rental of Housing:

It is illegal discrimination to take any of the following actions because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin:

• Refuse to rent or sell housing
• Refuse to negotiate for housing
• Otherwise make housing unavailable
• Set different terms, conditions or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
• Provide a person different housing services or facilities
• Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale or rental
• Make, print or publish any notice, statement or advertisement with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation or discrimination
• Impose different sales prices or rental charges for the sale or rental of a dwelling
• Use different qualification criteria or applications, or sale or rental standards or procedures, such as income standards, application requirements, application fees, credit analyses, sale or rental approval procedures or other requirements
• Evict a tenant or a tenant’s guest
• Harass a person
• Fail or delay performance of maintenance or repairs
• Limit privileges, services or facilities of a dwelling
• Discourage the purchase or rental of a dwelling
• Assign a person to a particular building or neighborhood or section of a building or neighborhood
• For profit, persuade, or try to persuade, homeowners to sell their homes by suggesting that people of a particular protected characteristic are about to move into the neighborhood (blockbusting)
• Refuse to provide or discriminate in the terms or conditions of homeowners insurance because of the race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin of the owner and/or occupants of a dwelling
• Deny access to or membership in any multiple listing service or real estate brokers’ organization

For more information and examples, visit Examples of Housing Discrimination.

In Mortgage Lending:

It is illegal discrimination to take any of the following actions based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin:

• Refuse to make a mortgage loan or provide other financial assistance for a dwelling
• Refuse to provide information regarding loans
• Impose different terms or conditions on a loan, such as different interest rates, points, or fees
• Discriminate in appraising a dwelling
• Condition the availability of a loan on a person’s response to harassment
• Refuse to purchase a loan

For more information about discrimination in mortgage lending, visit Fair Lending.

Harassment:

The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to harass persons because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. Among other things, this forbids sexual harassment. Learn more about sexual harassment here.

Other Prohibitions:

In addition, it is illegal discrimination to:

• Threaten, coerce, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others who exercise the right
• Retaliate against a person who has filed a fair housing complaint or assisted in a fair housing investigation

Advertising:

For more information about advertising and the Fair Housing Act, visit Advertising and Marketing.

Additional Protections For Persons With Disabilities:

Housing providers must make reasonable accommodations and allow reasonable modifications that may be necessary to allow persons with disabilities to enjoy their housing. Get more information about reasonable accommodation here.

Certain multifamily housing must be accessible to persons with disabilities. Get more information here.

• Examples of Housing Discrimination
• Fair Housing and Related Laws
• Report Housing Discrimination
• Fair Housing Council of Oregon

You may apply for a city business license at Florence City Hall, 250 Hwy 101 during regular business hours (Monday – Friday 8-12 & 1-5). You may also obtain a business license application on the City of Florence website and mail or fax your completed form and licensing fee information.

Each Oregon city is surrounded by an urban growth boundary (UGB); a line drawn on planning maps to designate where a city expects to grow over a 20-year period. This growth can occur with new houses, industrial facilities, businesses, or public facilities such as parks and utilities. Restrictions in areas outside of a UGB protect farm and forest resource land and prohibit urban development. Generally speaking, it’s where the city ends and the farms and forests begin.

A UGB is expanded through a joint effort involving the city and county, in coordination with special districts that provide important services in the urban area. Once land is included in a UGB, it is eligible for annexation to a city.

The City of Florence last adjusted the Florence UGB in 2002. In 2017-2018, the City of Florence underwent a Housing Needs and Economic Opportunities Analysis. These analyses contributed towards the update of the Buildable Lands Inventory which looks at the land availability to accommodate projected demand for housing and economic needs for the next 20 years of growth. These studies demonstrated that the current land available within the UGB is adequate to address the projected growth needs for the next 20 years.

View the full sized City of Florence Zoning Map here. The UGB is outlined on the map in red. 

The application process can take up to 30 days from the date you apply, but will often be completed in 1-2 weeks. If the application indicates any problem areas, the city department concerned will contact the business owner/applicant for more information.

The Florence City Council must approve all annexations in Florence. Applications for annexation are submitted by property owners to the City of Florence’s Community Development Department. Staff review applications per the Florence City Code and present the applications to the Florence Planning Commission. After a public hearing, the Planning Commission deliberates and makes their recommendation to the Florence City Council based on the findings of facts. The City Council then makes a final decision after another public hearing. 

Yes, the contractor has coordinated with the Siuslaw School District to ensure that school bus access remains available. They will work to ensure the busses can make it through the project area in an efficient and timely manner. 

All permanent business licensees are valid through the end of the calendar year from the application date. In November of every year the City Recorder’s office will issue business license renewals for each permanent business within the City of Florence. These business license renewals are due by January 1st of each year in order to maintain your legal business status and not incur any penalty fees. These renewals will be issued via the mailing address on file with the City Recorder’s office so please be sure to keep the City updated on any changes to your mailing address.

Properties in the City’s jurisdiction are eligible to propose development under the City’s codes. A property owner can only propose development to the City after the land has been brought into the City’s jurisdiction. Determining whether a proposed development complies with City regulations is done through a different process from annexation, however, and annexation does not represent approval for development. Just like properties that are already in the City, a property proposed for annexation will have to file new applications and go through development review before anything can be built. Proposals such as subdivisions or non-residential development can expect new public hearings, design review, and other consideration.

Annexation is ultimately a legal change involving redrawing maps and handing off responsibility for services and regulation between public agencies. On its own, annexation does not represent an approval for development. When a property owner proposes development that could impact the transportation system, the City’s transportation codes will be applied; when a proposal could impact stormwater runoff, the City’s stormwater codes will be applied, etc.

No. The City does not require connection to sanitary sewer upon annexation. Reasons for this include the lack of gravity sewers in the area; direct connection to a pressure sewer main which requires the home service line to be pressurized, and individual sewer connections are not practical because of the need for a sewer pump within the home. If a request to annex into the City is approved by the City Council and the desire is to connect to City sewer, coordination with the City’s Public Works Department will occur to develop a plan to for connection.

Every effort is made to pose questions as neutrally as possible. The team of survey scientists put a tremendous amount of thought into this when developing the main survey. Because all opinions are welcome, the questions need to be a blend of easy to understand, simple to respond to, and neutral in the way they are asked. There are many methods with which this is accomplished, but one of the more noticeable ones are questions with "if at all" contained in the question.

For example: "How much of a priority, if at all, should it be for Exampleville to focus on the following initiatives?" is a neutral way of presenting the question, making it as easy to answer positively as it is negatively.

No. The City does not require connection to water service upon annexation. Properties that are currently served by Heceta Water People’s Utility District (PUD) will continue that service after annexation. The City and Heceta Water PUD work together to ensure that properties are provided with appropriate domestic water and fire service within our two service area boundaries.

Properties that are annexed and are within the Heceta Water PUD service area, but do not currently have service or service infrastructure to the property, will remain within the Heceta Water PUD service area. Those property owners will need to work with Heceta Water PUD to determine service to their property. Properties owners that annex into the City of Florence that are currently outside both the City’s and Heceta Water PUD’s service districts will need to work with the City of Florence Public Works Department to determine how and when water service can be provided to those properties.

The project includes improvements to the parking lot, ensuring better access for visitors. The exact number of additional parking spaces will be determined as part of the project.

The Florence Community Survey results will be used to assist the Florence City Council and staff in developing policy, strategic, budgetary, and  operational decisions in our continuous effort to improve the quality of life in the Florence community. 

City of Florence Utilities (Water & Wastewater): We recognize the economic hardship that will impact our community during the current public health emergency due to the COVID-19 virus. 

The City has Utility Billing Assistance Programs administered by Siuslaw Outreach Services. For information on these programs, please visit https://www.ci.florence.or.us/administrative-services/utility-billing-assistance-programs.

Information on our utility billing policies are available at https://www.ci.florence.or.us/administrative-services/city-services-utility-billing. 

Central Lincoln PUD Information: https://clpud.org/

Heceta Water PUD Information: http://hwpud.com/

For other utility information, please contact that utility provider. 

We find that there are a few reasons why a link may not be working. First, when you are typing the URL into your address bar, make sure that it is typed exactly the same as how it appears on the invitation you received. Even one wrong character can make the URL unsearchable.

Second, ensure that you are typing the URL into the address bar not the search bar. The survey links are not accessible through most search engines because we only want people from our community to participate.

• Your address will not change.
  The United States Postal Service does not change your zip (or the city or county name associated with your zip code) as a result of annexation.
   
• Your property will be incorporated into the City and assigned a City zoning designation.
   
• Some of the tax rates on your annual property tax statement will change.
   
• Some services, such as police and code enforcement, will be provided by the City. Other services will continue to be provided by the same service districts (e.g. Library, Fire, & Ambulance.) and private and customer owned companies (e.g. Charter, Century Link, Central Lincoln PUD, Heceta Water PUD, etc.) that are currently serving your property.
   
• The City will notify all existing service providers of your property's annexation into the City.
   
• Some of the uses or structures on the property may not conform to the City's  code. This is okay and not unusual. Having a nonconforming use or structure will not prevent you from annexing or continuing to use your property.
  For example, structures on your property may be larger or closer to your property line than what the City's code allows. Uses and structures that were legal when established, but that do not conform to the City's current zoning code are considered nonconforming. Nonconforming uses are allowed to continue and nonconforming structures are allowed to be maintained in reasonable repair. However, neither is allowed to expand or be significantly altered without City review and approval.
   
• Future development on a property, such as a home remodel or new driveway, will be subject to the City's permitting requirements and zoning code.
  For example, a home remodel or new deck may require a building permit and new driveway may require an erosion control and/or right-of-way permit. Please check with the City before making these kinds of changes on your property.

For questions on the survey, please contact the City of Florence at 541-997-3437. 

For other information about Polco, visit https://info.polco.us/. 

Yes

​​​​​​Unfortunately, no. Due to the nature of the high voltage power lines, the amount of insulation and size of conduit, it is not economically feasible to underground the overhead high voltage electrical lines.

We will keep the existing water main active until the new water main has been pressure tested and chlorinated, bacteriological tested and is ready to be placed into service. When we cut over the new water system there will be a temporary shut off. We will notify all effected residences and businesses beforehand. Usually, we target a 9am until 2pm shut down period and we usually have the work completed in two hours or less. We always provide a little extra time just in case something unforeseen comes up.

For the electrical system, we are working with primary power. Central Lincon PUD will be installing new power lines on new poles and then transferring that power over, once the new poles are installed. During the transfer of power from the old to new, there may be power interruptions. Central Lincoln PUD will communicate with their affected customers.

Lane County is contributing $338,000 towards the project. That is the total of the costs for redoing new Hope Lane. This will include making sure the approach of the road is wide enough to accommodate the semi-trucks. The last thing we want is an 18-wheeler running over our new stormwater facility and multi-use path.

​​​​​​While we will not install additional speed feedback radar) signs, we will post additional speed signage within the Rhododendron Drive corridor.

​​​​​​Currently the travel lanes are 11 feet in width. We are maintaining that 11-foot travel lanes with this design. It gives not only a visual clue to slow down, it makes it feel tighter so people naturally will slow down. It is another traffic calming protocol that we have in the toolbox.

We do not have plans to do any additional rip rap work. That would be whole different project involving the US Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service, US EPA, Oregon Department of State Lands, Oregon DEQ, Oregon Heritage State Historic Preservation Office and other permitting aspects that could take several years to even place rip rap in the river.

No, this project does not include adding public restrooms at the pullout along the Siuslaw River. 

​​​​​​The separated multi-use path will be 10 feet wide.

​​​​​​Yes. The multi-use path is in this project from the south end at Wildwinds, north all the way to 35^th.

Bicyclists do not have to use the multi-use path. It will be the safest route, but bicyclists can choose to ride in the travel lane. There will also be a 2-foot shoulder along the roadway.

​​​​​​Bicyclists should transition to the correct side of the street at the ends of the multi-use path at the intersections. Bicyclists will need to use caution and may need to travel a short distance on the wrong side in order to have enough vision clearances to safely cross to the correct side of the street.

There is no plan for bike racks in the current project. This does not mean that there will be no amenities in the future for this site. It is just not in the current plan.

There is an opportunity for art, but that would be after the current project is completed. Art, just like our benches, garbage cans, and bike racks, is outside the contract and can be looked into after the project is completed.  

We have not selected the trees yet, but will make sure that they are slow growing trees that will not block the view and can withstand the high winds that we see in this area.