DIR1990-00002 DATE: 5/21/1990 C n 0
CODE SECTIONS: 18.42.020.C.24
- TOPIC: Use Classification: Construction Management Services in the C -P Zone
INTERPRETATION: This interpretation is based upon our understanding of the following facts obtained from
your letter:
1. W.L. McCormack & Co. is a general contractor providing construction management
services;
2. McCormack's proposed Tigard operations would include administrative, financial,
engineering, clerical, and light equipment storage operations;
3. Employees at the Tigard site are anticipated to include the company president, five
engineers, three clerical and three accounting support personnel, and one storage and
supply person;
4. One company truck and miscellaneous small tools would be stored inside at the site.
Off -site employees would not come to the site to obtain tools or assemble work crews.
Storage would be anticipated to occupy approximately 40 percent of the total floor area
occupied by McCormack's operations.
The question before us is whether McCormack's proposed Tigard operations should be
classified as "construction sales and service" because of the company's overall functions
of general contracting and construction services provision or whether the operations can
be classified as "professional and administrative service" because of the types of activities
that will occur on the site rather than overall function of the business.
We find that the functions to be performed by McCormack at this location are
predominately administrative in nature and bear little resemblance to the functions
described by the Code's definition for "construction sales and service." The operations
that would occur at the site are closely related, both functionally and with regard to the
personnel involved, to an architectural or engineering firm and thus fit within the use
classification of professional and administrative service as defined in the Code.
Construction offices, as contemplated by the Code, typically would involve completely
different functions than McCormack intends including a significant amount of outdoor
equipment and material storage as well as truck and work crew traffic. McCormack's
storage would be inside the building and would apparently be limited to the type of
equipment utilized by an engineering, architectural, or surveying firm. Traffic from
McCormack's intended use would be predominately passenger car traffic similar in amount
to that generated by other offices in the C -P zone. Some minimal equipment hauling from
the site in a small truck would also occur.
The W.L. McCormack Co. operations as described above, therefore, are considered by
the Planning Division to be professional and administrative uses and would be permitted
uses in the City of Tigard's C -P zoning district.