Fred Wilson, Hearings Official <br />July 8, 2016 <br />Page 5 <br />that apply to a particular devel0pIlnent permit, such as the Application. "`Standards and <br />criteria' is a statutory term; its meaning is a question of state law, and a local interpretation or <br />application of it does not bind [LUBA or the Courts]." Dwvloort, 121 Or App at 140. <br />The individual words "standards" and "criteria" do not have distinct meanings in the <br />context of the Goal Post Rule, nor do they generally. They are synonyms. Blaek'.s La)v <br />Dntiona~y, 7th Edition, defines "standard" as follows: "2. A criterion for measuring <br />acceptability, quality, or accuracy." Pgs. 1412-1413. lF ~h.~ter's TIVI-d. Ne;v International <br />Dictionary (1986) defines "criterion" as follows: "2 : a standard on which a decision or <br />judgement may be based." Pg. 538. lf•'eb.ster'.s defines "standard" as "3 a : something <br />established by authority, custom or general consent as a model or example : CRITERION, <br />TEST... svn STANDARD, CRITERION, GAUGE (or GAGE), YARDSTICK, <br />TOUCHTONE..." Pg. 2223. See Friends oj'Parjett tllt. i~ Northwest Gas Co.., 336 Or 93, 107 <br />(2003) (referencing BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY to define statutory terms). <br />In context, it is clear that the Goal Post Rule applies to all relevant standards and <br />criteria that goy=ern the development of land, including "development" standards, not merely <br />"approval" criteria for a use (as argued by the City). For example, ORS 227.173 requires <br />cities to base decisions of a discretionary pernit application to be based on "standards and <br />criteria" set forth in the development ordinance and the comprehensive plan. <br />ORS 227.173(1).-' Furthermore, a city must identify approval "criteria and standards" for <br />land use permits and expedited land divisions relevant to the decision and must explain its <br />decisions based upon the facts and how those facts relate to the "criteria and standards" <br />considered relevant to the decision. ORS 227.173(3); BCl 1'artrrer:rlu_p r.,. Cite of Portland, <br />130 Or App 271, 276 (1994). The Applicant is entitled to know what the standards and <br />criteria are prior to a decision being made, and those same standards and criteria remain <br />fixed. There is nothing in the text or context of the Goal Post Rule to suggest that there is a <br />meaningful difference between "standards" and "criteria" and to support the City's position <br />that "development standards" are somehow exempt from the Goal Post Rule. <br />Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 227.173 <br />(1) Approval or denial of a discretionary permit application shall be based on standards and criteria, <br />which shall be set forth in the development ordinance and which shall relate approval or denial of a <br />discretionary pernut application to the development ordinance and to the comprehensive plan for the area in <br />which the development would occur and to the development ordinance and comprehensive plan for the city <br />as a whole. <br />(2) When an ordinance establishing approval standards is required under ORS "197.307 to provide <br />only clear and objective standards, the standards must be clear and objective on the face of the ordinance. <br />(3) Approval or denial of a permit application or expedited land division shall be based upon and <br />accompanied by a brief statement that explains the criteria and standards considered relevant to the decision, <br />states the facts relied upon in rendering the decision and explains the justification for the decision based on <br />the criteria, standards and facts set forth. <br />(4) Written notice of the approval or denial shall be given to all parties to the proceeding. <br />