Keep PowersRuralSafe
Media Attention
- Community speaks on North Albany church build appeal Corvallis Gazette-Times Read
- More time allowed on church land use request Hasso Hering Read
- Indivisible Benton County Newsletter Indivisible Benton County Read
Ricardo Small Photo Essay - August 4 Appeal Hearing
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Who We Are
A Community Standing United
We are the neighbors of 4500 NW Powers Ave, a rural residential community with a deep connection to the land. For decades, we have preserved this area as a sanctuary for our families and a vital corridor for local wildlife, including deer, eagles, hawks, and rabbits.
Why We Are Taking a Stand
Recently, a quiet pasture in our neighborhood was purchased with the intent to replace our rural character with a 28,557 square foot multi-use facility, large storage building, and paved parking lot with 286 spaces (nearly 4 acres of pavement). We are firmly opposed to this proposal.
This development is fundamentally incompatible with our residential zone. If allowed to proceed, it will:
- Irreparably alter the fabric of our community, trading rural tranquility for noise, light pollution, and traffic.
- Strain our existing infrastructure, pushing our rural roads and services well beyond their safe and intended limits.
- Destroy local ecosystems, endangering the wildlife that makes our neighborhood a special place to live.
Our Mission
We are not just residents; we are stewards of this land. We have united to hold developers and local officials accountable, ensuring that any use of this property respects the safety, peace, and environmental integrity of our home. We refuse to stand by while our community’s future is compromised.
We are organized, we are vigilant, and we are committed to protecting the character of 4500 NW Powers Ave.
Timeline of activities for 4500 Powers Ave
December 22, 2025 — Northside Christian Church (NS) applied for a Conditional Use Permit (LU-25-067) and a parking variance (LU-25-066). The County deemed the applications complete on January 21, 2026.
The original request was a two-phase campus:
- Phase 1: 18,902-square-foot gymnasium (to serve temporarily as the worship space for up to 500 attendees), a 2,160-square-foot storage building, and about 261 parking spaces.
- Phase 2: 54,709-square-foot main sanctuary (73,611 square feet total), plus playground, pickleball courts, and amphitheater.
- Parking variance: code required about 520 spaces at full buildout; NS proposed 269. A weekday daycare for up to 58 children was also included.
February 10, 2026 — Hearing notice mailed. Legal notice published February 17.
March 17, 2026 — Planning Commission public hearing. Comments from both sides. The record was left open under a 7-7-7 process.
March 31, 2026 — During that open-record period, NS dropped Phase 2 and the parking variance, and limited the request to Phase 1 only.
May 5, 2026 — Planning Commission denied the proposal 4–2.
- Commissioner Fulford — No
- Commissioner Lee — No
- Commissioner Struthers — No
- Commissioner Biscoe — No
- Commissioner Fowler — Yes
- Commissioner Hamann — Yes
May 7, 2026 — Notice of Decision mailed.
May 18, 2026 — NS appealed to the Board of Commissioners.
July 24–28, 2026 — Benton County issued the appeal staff report / Board packet. Staff still described the proposal as an 18,902-square-foot multi-purpose building, a 2,160-square-foot storage building, up to 500 attendees, and 261 parking spaces.
August 4, 2026 — Board of Commissioners public hearing. Both sides commented. Errors in the NS application were identified, including that the building’s gross floor area was nearly 10,000 square feet larger than the 18,902-square-foot figure used in the notices and staff report.
Beginning of the second 7-7-7 period:
- August 4–11 — NS provided new information. On August 11, NS disclosed 28,557 square feet of gross floor area (the 18,902 figure had been only the first-floor footprint) and 286 parking spaces, plus a preliminary occupant load of 1,419.
- August 11–18 — Saving Powers provided rebuttal to that new information.
- August 18–25 — NS provided final written argument. The record closed August 25.
September 1, 2026 — Board of Commissioners meeting (not the Planning Commission).
- Gabe Shepherd opposed the CUP.
- Pat Malone was in favor of the CUP.
- Nancy Wyse was absent (ill).
Deliberations were continued so all three commissioners could vote.
September 8, 2026 — Board of Commissioners vote. Tentative approval, 2–1, subject to written findings and revised conditions.
- Gabe Shepherd voted in opposition.
- Pat Malone voted in favor.
- Nancy Wyse voted in favor.
We are now waiting for the County to issue written findings. Once those findings are adopted, Saving Powers will have 21 days to appeal to LUBA (Land Use Board of Appeals).
Urgent Request for Donations
We urgently need your support. Legal costs to continue this fight and pursue our LUBA appeal are rising. Please donate what you can to help us protect our neighborhood.
Documents
Staff Report For Aug 4 Appeal
One document, split into 3 parts for download:
Hear From Northside
How to Help
Visible Solidarity
We would love for you to put a sign in your yard to help spread awareness. Contact SavingPowersAvenue@gmail.com to find out more.
Social Media
Stay connected and help spread the word.
Donate
We are raising funds for legal support to oppose this construction and protect our community. Please contribute what you can to ensure that our children and grandchildren enjoy the same peaceful environment we do today. Let us preserve a place where deer run, and eagles can nest and thrive in peace.
Contact
If you want to get involved, get a yard sign to show your support, or have any other questions or concerns, contact SavingPowersAvenue@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram @SAVEPOWERS