Durham has an open seat on its seven-member Planning Commission, and the city wants a resident to fill it.

The City of Durham posted the vacancy announcement on Wednesday, July 16, inviting qualified residents to submit a Citizen Interest application form.

The commission is Durham's sole land-use decision-making body, responsible for reviewing development applications, tree removal permits, and zoning matters.

Six commissioners remain on the panel: Chair Susan Deeming, a food scientist from the Afton Commons neighborhood whose term expires in December 2027; Krista Bailey, a developer from Ellman Lane (December 2026); Patricia Saab, an educator and jewelry designer from Afton Commons (December 2028); Matt Winkler, a construction project manager from Kingsgate (December 2027); Cheri Frazell, who works in accounting from Kingsgate (December 2026); and Andrew Mast, who works in insurance from Kingsgate (December 2028).

The city did not specify which neighborhood the vacant seat represents or when the term expires.

What the job involves

Commissioners serve unpaid four-year terms.

The City Council appoints members to reflect Durham's geographic areas and limits the number of commissioners who share the same profession.

The commission meets monthly on the second Tuesday at 7 p.m. Residents can attend remotely by requesting a Zoom link from City Hall by the day before each meeting.

Of the six current members, four represent Kingsgate and two represent Afton Commons. No sitting commissioner is listed from other Durham neighborhoods.

Other openings

Two commissioners, Bailey and Frazell, have terms expiring in December 2026.

Durham is also accepting candidates for two City Council seats on the Tuesday, November 3, ballot. The city posted that notice on June 10.

How to apply

Residents interested in the Planning Commission seat can download the Citizen Interest application from the city's website or contact City Hall at 17160 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd., Durham, OR 97224, or by phone at 503-639-6851. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

City Planner Alice Cannon and City Administrator Jordan Parente are available for questions.

The city has not published an application deadline. The commission's August 11 meeting has been canceled; its next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, September 8.