Two hearings are coming up on the city of Lebanon's new development code. The first will be at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 19 before the Planning Commission. The second is at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 before the City Council, with a work session on the new code at 5:30 p.m. the same day. The meetings will be held at the Santiam Travel Station, 750 S. Third St.

The development code, comprising zoning and subdivision ordinances, was rewritten over the past three and one-half years because it was no longer consistent with the city's revised comprehensive plan, approved in 2004.

In addition, a lot of changes have taken place since the original development code was written in 1980. Families are smaller and more diverse. Building codes and techniques have been revised. Employment patterns and the education needed to get a job are different. Technology had advanced. The demand for energy efficiency has increased.

In addition to combining the zoning and subdivision ordinances the new development regulations replace historical preservation and flood damage prevention sections of the municipal code. The Planning Commission will be designated as the Historic Landmark Commission.

The new code was prepared by technical advisory committee made up of builders, city councilors, planning commission members, and representatives of the fire district, state transportation and development agencies and city planning and engineering staff. It was reviewed in a legal audit by the land use law firm of Beery, Elsner and Hammond LLP to make the city less vulnerable to legal actions coming out of land use decisions.