The authority to create a Planning Commission is established by Oregon Revised Statutes 215.020.  

The Planning Commission meets the fourth Monday of the month, unless there is a holiday or there is no business to discuss, at 7:00 p.m.  Meetings are open to the public. Five members of the commission constitute a quorum and must be at a meeting in order to take 

The Planning Commission is charged with implementation and maintenance of the Zoning, Partition, and Subdivision Ordinance (UCZPSO). They accomplish implementation through the process of making quasi-judicial decisions. Within the UCZPSO this might include approving conditional use permits, variances, subdivisions, and land partitions.

The Commission also conducts public hearings and advises the Union County Board of Commissioners on Comprehensive Plan and UCZPSO amendments.  Maintenance of the documents are done by legislative action, which is first reviewed by the Planning Commission with a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners to adopt, deny or modify.

They are also the hearing body for those appealing a decision of the Planning Director.

The nine-member commission is made up of residents who live in various locations throughout the county. Terms are four years and are staggered to allow for adequate transitioning.  No more than two voting members can be real estate professionals or associated with selling or developing real estate for profit. No more than two members can be engaged in the same kind of business, trade or profession.

The following table identifies the Planning Commission members and their terms.