HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-01 K & S Conrad - Letter re Public CommentJuly 1, 2021
Deschutes County Community Development
Attn: Kyle Collins, Associate Planner
RE: File Numbers 247-21-000616-PA, 21-617-ZC
Situs Address: 63350 Abbey Road, Bend, OR 97701
We are opposed to the above-referenced land use application. Listed below are our reasons broken down
into collective and personal:
Collective: Zoning change request
When Don and Carolyn Swisher purchased this land, they did so with the knowledge it could not be
developed for residential use. The LCDC laws had been in place for 15 years at that time.
This attempt to develop the properties has been requested only after the passing of Mr. and Mrs. Swisher.
And coincidentally, (?) when there is little to no available land to develop in the appropriate zoning. The
current applicant is a well-established local developer.
The land use laws that were in place at the time were designed by a group of citizens and elected officials
who genuinely love Oregon for the greater good of all citizens. To quote Tom McCall in 1973, it was to
prevent the “unfettered despoiling of the land. sagebrush subdivisions, coastal condomania, and the
ravenous rampage of suburbia in the Willamette Valley all threaten to mock Oregon's status as the
environmental model for the nation”.
This proposal would be breaking the protective laws in place for the singular purpose of personal gain.
Changing from EFU to RREA/MUA10 will set a precedent that will be the ruin of our lovely area, County
and State. Just like Covenants, Codes and Restrictions in a neighborhood, once they are broken and not
rectified they are no longer enforceable. Others in the State will use this as a reason they, too, will be
able to develop subdivisions wherever they please.
End Game of Part One – arbitrary development and subdivision
We who live here purchased this property in good faith that multi-home developments would not be
allowable in the remaining vacant lands. We are a reasonable distance from the UGB/reserve to believe
we were protected from subdivisions – even ten-acre lot ones.
How will the lack of irrigation rights be handled? Are xeriscaped properties required, or will homeowners
be using potable water for their lawns? Or, will water be sucked directly from the aquafer for landscaping
aesthetic purposes when natural supplies are dwindling? What about the additional fire risk 8 more
properties will bring? Will fire hydrants be a requirement now that excessive heat and red flag warnings
are a concern?
Ten acres per home may sound large, but 8 homes clustered together is a significant change for the worse.
We moved out to the country for quiet enjoyment of our homes and yards. We all have numerous pets
and animals used to the peaceful country sounds who be affected by the constant noise.
Since there is rock at the surface of our 2-1/2 acres in many places, this will most likely involve extreme
measures for the foundation. All this chaos will go on for years.
There is abundant wildlife in these two parcels. It is their home and who knows where they would be
forced to retreat. We see them regularly.
In finishing, I circle back to the “why” of this zoning change. The general public will not reap the greater
good, just a developer and 8 additional high-end homebuyers in Central Oregon.
LCDC’s far-ranging planning prohibited endless building during the frenzy in the early 2000’s. They also
enabled us to come back stronger. We must stay the course. This is not the time to be changing our
structured laws in place. It is a time for honoring what we have here in extraordinary Oregon.
Sincerely,
Kurt and Sue Conrad
22220 Parker Lane
Bend, OR 97701
541-480-6621 – Sue 541-419-3262 – Kurt