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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober Open House PostersWELCOME Project Timeline What challenges do you see? What opportunities do you see? Getting Around Deschutes County regularly updates its Transportation System Plan, which serves as the component of the Comprehensive Plan addressing walking, rolling, driving, and other forms of transportation in the County. The majority of roadways within the County are owned and operated by the County, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), or ODOT. As of March 2021, the County maintained approximately 41% of the lane miles of roadways within the unincorporated areas, ODOT maintained approximately 10%, and the US Forest Service/BLM maintained approximately 12%. The County is currently updating the Transportation System Plan, and more information is available at the Transportation System Plan Update website and Virtual Open House 1. Key Issues for the Comprehensive Plan Update: • Topics surrounding transportation are being reviewed and addressed through current Transportation System Plan (TSP) Update. The TSP will be adopted as the Transportation component of the Comprehensive Plan. H:\24\24964 - Deschutes County TSP\gis\Roadway Jurisdictions.mxd Date: 3/11/2021 BEARWALLOW RD PINE ST COFFEY RD S E SHERMANRD GLASS BUTTE RD GRINSTEAD RD F O X B U T T E R D MERRILL RD BARR RD C A M P C R E E K R D S I S E M O R E R D MONTGOMERY RD FORD RD S U G A R PIN E B U T T E R D FREDERICK BUTTE RD MOFFITTRD PINE MOUNTAIN RD NERSHALL RD TO D D LAKE R D S C H R A E DER RD vÍÎ31 vÍÎ126vÍÎ242 ß/97 ß/20 PO W ELL B U T T E H W Y S C E N T U R Y D R DAY RD W ARDRD FRYREAR R D THREECREEKS RD M ASTENRD W ILT RD RICKARD RD CLINEFALLSRD SKYLINER S R D DODDS RD HUNTINGTONRD NW LOWER BRIDGE WAY HOLMESRD FS22 ALFALFA MARKET RD BURGES S R D FS 15 FS 41 R IV E R S U M M IT DR FS 40 FS44 PAU L INA LAKE RD FS4606 FS 23 CHINAHATRD BendUGB La PineUGB RedmondUGB SistersUGB State Roads County Roads BLM/Forest Service Local Access Road Private Unknown Parks Water Data Source: Deschutes County Figure 2 Functional Roadway ClassificationsDeschutes County, Oregon [0 8 Miles What challenges do you see? What opportunities do you see? Housing is a foundational issue for Deschutes County and its residents. The County plays a variety of roles to help meet housing needs, as follows: • The County partners with incorporated communities to coordinate land in the vicinity of Urban Growth Boundaries • Rural Residential developments in Resort communities such as Sunriver and Black Butte are under the jurisdiction of the County. • Deschutes County provides building permit services for some jurisdictions • Deschutes County partners with NeighborImpact, Housing Works, Veterans village, and other organizations to address affordable housing. New housing in Oregon is generally limited to areas within Urban Growth Boundaries. In Deschutes County, this means the cities of Bend, Redmond, La Pine, and Sisters. Other “Rural Residential” areas outside of Urban Growth Boundaries face strict limitations - therefore most growth in the County is expected to occur within its Urban Growth Boundaries. Housing 23,100 30,442 62,142 74,958 115,367 157,211 187,621 199,793 244,018 289,225 334,042 385,803 432,930 - 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 350,000 400,000 450,000 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2018 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2068 Key Issues for the Comprehensive Plan Update: • Continued strong overall population growth, coupled with significant rural residential development is creating rural residential growth pressures and concerns about impacts on County character and resources • Increased growth and development in cities likely will continue to lead to urban/rural conflicts and pressures on rural facilities • Relationship to wildfire risk and impacts (see natural hazards) • Increased growth may impact wildlife and their habitat Historical and Forecast Population for Deschutes County What challenges do you see? What opportunities do you see? Informed by an understanding of natural hazards, Deschutes County can reduce the risks to property, environmental quality, and human safety by planning for land use patterns and site- specific development. The County’s policies provide the framework for evaluating land use actions for their exposure to potential harm from natural hazards. Deschutes County, along with regional partners, developed a Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan in 2021. Wildfire The last 10 years have seen a dramatic increase in homes and communities building farther into the “Wildland Urban Interface” (WUI) throughout the West, and Deschutes County is no exception. While Oregon’s land use and zoning laws limit WUI building more than most Western states, the County has still seen a significant increase in building and population growth – statistically increasing the chance of property damage and/or loss of life due to wildfire. Drought and Water Use Recent years have seen “exceptional drought” levels which have led to irrigation shutoffs especially in the less senior North Irrigation district. Increasing temperatures, longer growing seasons, and earlier snowmelt peak are all likely to exacerbate this problem. Deschutes County is in collaboration with Oregon Water Resources Department staff to better understand and address this issue. These measures include capping and piping irrigation canals in the Central Oregon Irrigation District and transferring rights between the districts while maintaining delivered volumes. Winter Storms Deschutes County is susceptible to extreme winter storms and rainfall. High rainfall accumulation in a short period of time increases the probability of landslides. Models predict that the changing climate will result in more extreme winter storms and rainfall in the Pacific Northwest. However, many of the climatic factors that drive those extreme storms are confined to the west side of the Cascades. Natural Hazards Key Issues for the Comprehensive Plan Update: • Most significant hazards: winter storms, wildfires, windstorms, drought • Significant attention on wildfire prevention and mitigation strategies, given increasing prevalence and impacts; exacerbated by rising temperatures and water supply impacts • Strong relationship between water supply, water infrastructure, and wildfire- related impacts • Increasing growth in rural development and housing leading to increasing risk and proximity to wildfires (wildfire urban interface) • Winter storms are most significant hazard identified in county; policies needed to address • Continued increases in temperature likely to lead to decreasing snowpack • Hydrologic conditions in most of County indicate continued adequate supply of water (some debate) • Availability and access of well water for residential uses. • Interest in incentives and policies surrounding water conservation for all users. What challenges do you see? What opportunities do you see? Deschutes County does not directly provide parks and recreation services. The County partners with local parks and recreation districts (such as the Bend Parks and Recreation District, La Pine Parks and Recreation District, Redmond Area Parks and Recreation District, and Sisters Parks and Recreation District), as well as the federal Bureau of Land Management to provide recreation opportunities. The only public parks the County maintains are a section of the County Fairgrounds and the Worrell Wayside in downtown Bend. However, although there is no County parks department, there are County-owned properties which are designated as park lands. Starting in 1994 the County began to designate certain sensitive properties along rivers, creeks or streams or with wildlife, wetlands or other values, as open space. Destination resorts are another important recreational asset in Deschutes County. The County administers land use regulations governing the siting and other aspects of destination resorts to balance their economic benefit with natural resources, scenic views, safety, and other issues. Recreation Key Issues for the Comprehensive Plan Update: • Access to recreation a defining characteristic and economic driver in County • Most recreational opportunities and resources managed by other agencies and operators • County not a significant parks provider but does own property throughout the county, many of which are designated for natural resource/open space protection • Recreation in the future is expected to be impacted by increased wildfire and smoke, water quality issues, drought, and increased human activity; managing these conditions in coordination with the County’s partners will be a key challenge for the future • Conflicts between different types of recreational users are important to address What challenges do you see? What opportunities do you see? Deschutes County has 13 nationally registered historic and cultural sites and 35 locally significant historic sites. The County currently administers grant programs and zoning requirements to preserve and restore these sites. In 2022, the County’s Historic Landmarks Commission identified three key goals: • Collaborate: Strengthen the network of historic preservation and community partners through collaboration. • Coordinate: Facilitate program administration and special projects that provide opportunities to expand the scope and benefits of the historic preservation. • Educate: Promote educational opportunities highlight the value, benefits, responsibilities, and requirements of historic preservation. Historic & Cultural Resources What challenges do you see? What opportunities do you see? Farming in Deschutes County According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, Deschutes County has 134,600 acres in farms, of which 36,000 (about 27%) is irrigated. The 2017 Census of Agriculture profiles Deschutes County as primarily consisting of small acreage, hobby farms and other relatively small agricultural operations. As of 2017, there are approximately 1,484 farms, an increase of 16% from 2012. The average size of a farm in Deschutes County is 91 acres (a decrease of 11% from 2012). Lands engaged in farming activities total 134,600 acres, a minor 3% increase from 2012. Only 27% (26,029 acres) of land engaged in farm activities are irrigated. The majority of farm related operations are permitted outright in the Exclusive Farm Use Zone. The largest trend in non-residential approvals on farmland between 2018 and 2019 were for marijuana production followed by processing of farm crops, and accessory uses related to other activities on the property. Water usage in the county is strictly regulated and dependent on precipitation in the Cascades. The total water available for human use, including municipal and irrigation uses, is fixed. No additional water rights can be issued without the decommissioning of a previous claim. Therefore, there is little opportunity to expand irrigated farming in the county. Existing farms, however, have relatively generous irrigation rights, which have rarely been fully utilized, and are expected to have sufficient water to cope with increasing temperatures. Forest Land in Deschutes County Approximately 1,032,436 acres of Deschutes County area zoned for Forest Use. A third of these are on public lands, in which the County has no planning authority. Historically, forestry on public and private land was a primary industry in Central Oregon with key mill sites along the Deschutes River in Bend. Over time, species protections, international competition, and new technologies have reduced the overall footprint of the timber industry in Central Oregon. Recently, land uses are shifting toward recreation and residential development in these natural resource areas. Farms & Forests Key Issues for the Comprehensive Plan Update: • Prevalence of small “hobby farms” with low farm income • Increased desire/need for agri-tourism activities to supplement farm land • Preservation and support of high quality farm land • Declining timber production, particularly on public land • Prevalence of non-farm dwellings in resource zones in comparison to other counties; due in part to less productive soils and irrigation constraints • Challenges with irrigation piping projects • Changes in water supply and growing season likely to impact future agricultural production • Interest in opportunities to improve on- farm water efficiencies, including off- stream water storage What challenges do you see? What opportunities do you see? Deschutes County’s economy was initially built around farming and logging. As those sectors declined, recreation and tourism increased as people were drawn to the beauty and opportunities to recreate on public lands. The high quality of life became a draw for employers and employees alike. Deschutes County partners with Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) to meet the needs of current and future businesses in the County. EDCO has identified the following key industries for the County: • Bioscience • Specialty Food & Beverage • Advanced Manufacturing • Outdoor • High Technology (software and hardware) • Aviation and Aerospace • Agriculture • Brewing & Distilling COVID-19 Impacts Deschutes County’s economy was impacted by the impacts of COVID-19. The State of Oregon Governor’s Regional Solutions Team for Central Oregon has identified the following priorities as emerging issues impacting Deschutes County and its cities in a post-COVID-19 world. • Grow Oregon State University – Cascades campus and programming • Increase workforce housing • Increase supply of qualified workers • Funding and completion of significant infrastructure projects • Childcare • Small business recovery • Encourage water conservation/restoration, improve availability • Resilience/emergency preparedness Jobs & Economy Photo Credit: Bend Research Photo Credit: Tim Park Key Issues for the Comprehensive Plan Update: • Continued strong economic growth, including in trade and transportation, education and health care, tourism, and agriculture/forestry (at a somewhat declining rate) • EDCO is the County’s economic development agency; continued strong coordination with them is essential • Increased pressure to rezone or expand property already in Rural Commercial and Rural Industrial zoned properties due to limited economic potential in other zones. • Increased economic activity in unincorporated communities (Tumalo, Terrebonne, Sunriver). • Economic opportunities and challenges from destination resort development. • Potential for new or innovate economic activities What challenges do you see? What opportunities do you see? Deschutes County is home to many natural resources, which form the basis for the County’s vibrant outdoor recreation opportunities. Natural resources in Deschutes County are abundant. Wildlife, scenic views of forests and peaks, and open spaces to preserve habitat and native vegetation are among the County’s top assets. Oregon Statewide Planning Goal 5 governs Natural Resources, Scenic and Historic Areas, and Open Spaces. Through this goal, the County maintains an inventory of protected resources in order to preserve them for future generations. Protected Wildlife Resources Deschutes County has some of the broadest and most robust wildlife protections in the State of Oregon, covering a variety of species. Some of these protections include mapped habitats such as Deer Winter Range, Deer Migration Range, Antelope Habitat, Golden Eagle – Sensitive Bird Habitat, and Elk Habitat. Other species are commonly found in protected riparian areas, such as wetlands and floodplains. Unmapped habitats exist for fish, furbearers, waterfowl, and upland game birds. Scenic Views and Open Space The 2010 Greenprint for Deschutes County listed protection of scenic viewsheds as one of the top five community priorities for conservation in the rural County. The County has several designated scenic corridors, including scenic bikeways, highways, and wild and scenic river sections. With close to 80% of the County under public ownership, many community members enjoy access to natural resources on public lands. A perennial issue among community members is preserving scenic views and open spaces closer to home on undeveloped private properties. Natural Resources & Open Space Key Issues for the Comprehensive Plan Update: • Continued development pressures impacting wildlife populations, in particular mule deer. • Interest in continued preservation of scenic views and open spaces throughout Deschutes County • Recognition of benefits of “dark skies” to residents and the economy