INDEPENDENCE PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS MASTER
PLAN
PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS
April 23, 2015
This document describes proposed amendments to goals and policies of the Independence
Comprehensive Plan. Proposed amendments are intended to achieve the following:
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Incorporate the Vision and Goals developed as part of the Parks and Natural Areas Master
Planning effort which were reviewed, refined and affirmed by the Parks Advisory Board and
other community members as part of the planning process.
Recognize the updated Parks and Natural Areas Master Plan as a supporting and implementing
document of the Comprehensive Plan.
Eliminate or replace outdated policies with new or updated policy language which reflects
current planning practices and recommendations from the updated Parks and Natural Areas
Master Plan.
Proposed amendments are shown in underline and strikethrough format with proposed new language
underlined and proposed text to be deleted shown as strikethrough. An explanation for each change is
shown in italics.
RECREATION
GOAL: To provide adequate recreation opportunities for all citizens of Independence and visitors from
surrounding areas To address the evolving recreational needs of the City’s diverse population,
ensure that parks and recreational facilities reflect current and future recreational trends, and
promote community livability and life-long physical health for Independence residents and
visitors.
Policies
Policy
Comment
1. Independence shall meet its current and future
recreational needs through implementation of the 2015
Parks and Natural Areas Master Plan as a supporting
document of the Comprehensive Plan.
New policy to reference the Parks
Master Plan as a supporting document
of the Comprehensive Plan.
2. Independence shall seek available funding or assistance to
evaluate the condition, usage and adequacy of the park
Revised to reflect updated Parks
Master Plan goals.
Policy
Comment
system establish a set of funding mechanisms that will help
pay for the development and maintenance of parks and
recreation facilities in a cost-effective, financially feasible
manner.
2. Independence shall assist in maintaining programs of
leisure time activities for senior citizens and youths.
Replaced with other, more specific
policies that reflect updated Parks
Master Plan goals.
3. Independence shall encourage acquisition of land to the
north of Riverview Park (formerly Polk Marine Park) when
funding becomes available.
Action has been completed.
4. Independence shall encourage usage of public parks and
other recreational facilities.
Replaced with other, more specific
policies that reflect updated Parks
Master Plan goals.
3. Independence shall realize the incredible potential of the
Willamette Riverfront by enhancing existing facilities and
creating new ones along the river.
New policy from Parks and Natural
Areas Plan Vision and Goals.
4. Independence shall create recreational opportunities for
visitors that can enhance the City’s economic vitality.
New policy from Parks and Natural
Areas Plan Vision and Goals.
5. Independence shall plan for development of new parks in
future growth areas and new developments.
New policy from Parks and Natural
Areas Plan Vision and Goals.
6. Independence shall partner with community groups to
continue to help maintain and enhance parks and recreation
facilities and programs.
New policy from Parks and Natural
Areas Plan Vision and Goals.
7. Independence shall provide facilities for people to walk
and bicycle for recreation, travel, health and fitness; and
create connections to travel between different parks and
recreation areas by walking, bicycling and other forms of
active travel.
New policy from Parks and Natural
Areas Plan Vision and Goals.
8. Independence shall provide gathering spaces and related
facilities for community and family gatherings in all
neighborhood and community parks.
New policy from Parks and Natural
Areas Plan Vision and Goals.
9. Independence shall prioritize provision and adequate
maintenance of soccer fields, while also providing facilities
for other sports, both formal and informal, including
baseball/softball, volleyball, basketball, tennis and lawn
games.
New policy from Parks and Natural
Areas Plan Vision and Goals.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Goal: To preserve and encourage wise use of available natural resources.
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In order to preserve and encourage wise use of available natural resources, all development within the
City of Independence shall comply with applicable state environmental rules, regulations and standards.
Zoning ordinance regulations will be coordinated with state environmental regulations.
Policies
Open Spaces
Policy
Comment
1. Independence shall develop and implement an
amendment to the subdivision ordinance requiring
parkland dedication or payment in lieu of dedication.
Action has been completed.
2. Independence shall encourage a buffer of open space
where feasible between Monmouth city limits and shall
encourage and coordinate with Monmouth to do the same.
Not consistent with current policy or
planning practice.
13. Independence shall maintain the Ash Creek and
Willamette River floodway as open space.
No change recommended. Still relevant
and consistent with current practice.
2. Independence shall encourage protection of natural
areas and open spaces to enhance the livability of
Independence.
New policy from Parks and Natural
Areas Plan Vision and Goals.
2. Independence shall seek opportunities to provide access
to and associated interpretive facilities and information
within natural areas, while also balancing these objectives
with protection of ecological values.
New policy aimed at ensuring people
can experience natural areas which also
protecting their natural resource
values.
Scenic Resources
Policy
Comment
1. Independence shall encourage preservation of scenic
views through building height limitations along the
Willamette River by siting development in a way that
maintains view corridors and establishing trails and
overlook areas that provide access to views of the river.
Revised policy to be consistent with
current practices and recent proposed
projects along the Willamette River.
2. Priority areas for maintaining unobstructed views of the
river will be areas south of the urban core and/or within
parks or recreation areas sited along the river.
New policy to be consistent with
current practices and character of
riverfront areas.
Fish and Wildlife
Policy
Comment
1. Independence shall preserve the riparian vegetation
along the Willamette River and Ash Creek. In doing so, the
City shall use or retain native species while eliminating or
curtailing invasive species.
Still relevant and consistent with
current practice; revised to reflect
emphasis on using native plant species
and limiting invasive species.
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2. Independence shall seek available funding to study the
feasibility of development of the Ash Creek floodplain as a
nature center, park and wildlife sanctuary.
Not consistent with current policy or
planning practice.
32. Independence shall maintain the sewage treatment
lagoons as a defacto waterfowl sanctuary by limiting
impacts associated with physical public access while
creating opportunities for bird-watching or similar
activities.
Revised to reflect economic
opportunities associated with limited
access for bird-watching, etc.
4. Independence shall consider any proposed development
that would have a negative impact on sewage lagoons, as a
waterfowl sanctuary, as a conditional uses.
Represents a regulatory (development
code) provision; to specific for policy
language.
53. Independence shall encourage other agencies and
responsible private groups in any effort to improve wildlife
habitat along the Willamette River and Ash Creek.
No change recommended. Still
relevant and consistent with current
practice.
Waterfront Area
Policy
Comment
1. Independence shall encourage use and development of
existing and future waterfront activities and facilities that
retain the characteristics of provide interpretive or other
information to inform residents and visitors about previous
uses of the river and its ecological value and function.
Revised policy to be consistent with the
Parks Master Plan.
2. Independence shall preserve present riparian vegetation
along the Willamette River through setback requirements.
Eliminated as duplicative of Greenway
and Fish and Wildlife policies.
Note: No changes proposed to policies associated with Historic Areas or Water Resources.
GREENWAY POLICIES
Goal: To protect, conserve, enhance and maintain the scenic, historical, agricultural, economic and
recreational quality of land along the Willamette River.
Policy
Comment
1. Independence shall cooperate with governmental
agencies and special districts to protect all Willamette
Greenway lands and resources.
No change recommended.
2. Independence encourages agricultural uses within the
Willamette River Greenway.
No change recommended.
3. Independence considers existing aggregate operations as
conforming Greenway uses.
Eliminated given changes at Valley
Concrete site and lack of other
aggregate sites within the City.
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43. Independence considers publicly owned land in the
Greenway to have recreational values and will encourage its
use as such through implementation of the Independence
Parks and Natural Areas Master Plan.
Revised to reference the Parks Master
Plan as a tool for implementing this
policy.
54. Independence recognizes the confluence of Ash Creek as
an archeologically significant area, as wildlife, habitat, as a
potential park expansion area, as a scenic area, as a flood
prone area and shall protect it with Greenway Development
Code requirements and other implementation tools.
Revised policy to reflect current
practices.
65. Independence recognizes the importance of vegetation
to the resource quality along the river and will encourage
the preservation of it within the Greenway.
No change recommended.
76. Independence shall implement Greenway policies
through application of the Willamette River Greenway
District provisions of the City’s Development Code will
develop a Greenway implementation tool that includes the
following:
Revised to reflect previous adoption of
Greenway code provisions which
address all of the items covered by the
earlier policy language.
a. Compatibility review boundaries.
b. Review mechanism.
c. Hearings procedure.
d. Notification of hearing procedures.
e. Mechanism of imposing conditions to carry out the
purpose and intent of the Greenway statutes.
ECONOMY
Goal: To provide for and maintain a viable and diverse economy while preserving the present sense of
community and high level of environmental quality.
Policy
Comment
14. Independence recognizes that well-planned and welldesigned parks and recreation facilities and programs have
the potential to attract visitors to Independence and
improve the community’s economic vitality.
New policy to reflect the impact of
park and recreational opportunities on
the city’s economy.
15. Independence recognizes that organized sports activities
and competitions can provide economic benefits to local
businesses and residents.
New policy to reflect the potential
economic benefits of organized
recreational activities such as soccer
tournaments, running races, etc..
Note: No changes proposed to other Economy policies.
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