The Philomath Planning Commission plans to meet at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall with an agenda that includes a review of a proposal to replace two culverts along Newton Creek in Philomath City Park with bridges.
The Marys River Watershed Council is leading the project, which aims to improve fish passage, increase the creek’s flow capacity and address flooding concerns. The council secured funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the work as part of a broader set of similar projects.
Plans call for replacing the north culvert with a bridge about 50 feet long and the south culvert with one about 30 feet long. Each would be about 16 feet wide, with 12 feet for vehicles and 4 feet for pedestrians. The existing pedestrian bridge near the north crossing would be removed, and the dips in the roadway at both crossings would be eliminated.
Rachael Rosenstein, the watershed council’s restoration project manager, presented the project to the city’s Park Advisory Board on Sept. 1, telling the board both culverts are undersized and send water through so fast that fish can’t get through. She said the setup has also caused flooding problems and contributed to at least one incident in which a dog was swept away and died in one of the culverts.
Construction is planned for summer 2027 within the state’s in-water work window of July 1 to Oct. 15, with crews expected to work on both bridges at the same time over one to two months. The project also includes artistic railings for the new bridges, with Rosenstein coordinating with a Philomath High School art teacher on possible student involvement in the design.
A project representative is scheduled to present the proposal Monday and answer commissioners’ questions.
The Planning Commission won’t approve the project or authorize construction but will discuss the proposal and direct staff to prepare a written report of its comments and recommendations for the City Council.
According to a staff memo, commissioners could weigh in on how the bridges would fit with park uses, pedestrian and vehicle access, and temporary impacts during construction. Development reviews and permits required for the project will be handled separately, with the city coordinating those before any final decision on location or design.
Also on the agenda, the commission will discuss small lot development standards, hear a presentation on the city’s commercial and industrial code, review a public engagement overview and assignments, and talk about its remaining meetings for 2026.
The meeting will be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel.