HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember PC Meeting PresentationDeschutes County 2040
Comprehensive Plan Update Project
Planning Commission | December 8, 2022
Community Development Department
Agenda
•Status Report & Engagement Update
•County Vision Statement
•Policy Review and Discussion
•Forest Resources
•Natural and Other Resources
•Natural Hazards
•Next Steps
Community & Online Open House Themes
•Water use and management
•Impacts of destination resorts
•Wildfire risk & management
•Other hazards
•Wildlife habitat & other natural resources
•Dark skies requirements
•Climate change induced growth
Vision
The high quality of life in Deschutes County stems from:
•The beauty, bounty and richness of a healthy natural environment,
•A community of caring people,
•A strong and diverse economy,
•Access to a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities,
•The rural character of the region, and
•Maintaining a balance between property rights and community interests.
Vision Comments
The high quality of life in Deschutes County stems from: The beauty, bounty and richness of a healthy natural environment
•“Wildlife and recreation opportunities are abundant in our green spaces and forests because they have been protected from development”
•Recognizing the limitations of the environment “Without water our community cannot thrive or even survive.” “…needs to include efforts to deal with climate change, living with wildfire, and limited water in our desert environment.”
•“Beauty, bounty and richness of a healthy natural environment focuses far too much on aesthetics and not enough on function.”
Vision Comments
The high quality of life in Deschutes County stems from: A community of caring people
•“Diverse and inclusive community”
•“Sense of community”
•“An overall feeling and attitude of a close, tight knit community”
•“I think "a community of caring people" is an unrealistic goal for a county…”
•81 mentions of “community” and 86 of “people” in online open house responses
Vision Comments
The high quality of life in Deschutes County stems from: A strong and diverse economy
•“People of different incomes can live, work and thrive”
•Affordability and the impact on a service-driven economy “protecting our middle working class who operate and manage our housing, restaurants, stores, forests, trails, ski resorts, etc.”
•“The local economy largely lacks any real manufacturing or industry. There is no effort to encourage this.”
•“Stop the myth that our economy hinges on tourism.”
Vision Comments
The high quality of life in Deschutes County stems from: Access to a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities
•Many comments on destination resorts with a focus on water impacts
•“I think we have enough destination resort facilities now and don't need to plan for any more.”
•“It's a huge driver of the economy.”
Vision Comments
The high quality of life in Deschutes County stems from: The rural character of the region
•“Wild and rural places are protected from suburban development. Development occurs densely within town.”
•“Strong wild and open lands buffer to urban development”
•“Multi million dollar hobby farms are not rural”
Vision Comments
The high quality of life in Deschutes County stems from: Maintaining a balance between property rights and community interests
•“Farms thriving! They've figured out how to re-allocate water in Deschutes County so working farms get the water they need without the river drying up!”
Vision Comments
Overall, there are many comments in support of the existing vision, but differing opinions about if it is achievable, and if it is truly the focus of the County.
•“I wouldn't change the vision but I do believe there needs to be more effort to fulfill the vision.”
Additions suggested include:
•“Reliable transportation network Access to arts, culture, and entertainment “
•“Add a bullet point stating Walkable and Bikeable Communities”
•“A community of caring people who prioritize health and wellbeing”
How well does this vision fit Deschutes County today?
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Average: 5.7
Number of Responses Along a Slider 0 -10Not at all Fits perfectly!
Policy Review Objectives
Identify gaps
Address unclear language
Focus on tune-ups of existing language
Circle back to community member additions later
Not wordsmithing today
Looking for general consensus, but not formal decisions
Goals & Policies
Forest Resources Goal
•Protect and maintain forest lands for multiple uses
and objectives, including forest products, watershed
protection, conservation, recreation, wildlife habitat
protection, forest health, and wildfire resilience.
Goal 5 Program Goal
•Maintain a current inventory of protected resources.
Goals & Policies
Water Resources Goals
•Develop regional, comprehensive water
management policies that balance the diverse needs
of water users and recognize Oregon water law.
•Increase water conservation efforts.
•Maintain and enhance a healthy ecosystem in the
Deschutes River Basin.
•Maintain and enhance fish and riparian-dependent
wildlife habitat.
•Coordinate land use and water policies to address
management and allocation of water in Deschutes
County.
Goals & Policies
Wildlife Habitat Goals
•Maintain and enhance a diversity of wildlife and
habitats.
•Balance protection of wildlife and habitat with the
economic and recreational benefits of wildlife and
habitat.
•Support retaining populations of Federal and State
protected and endangered species.
Goals & Policies
Open Space, Scenic Views Policies
•Coordinate with property owners to protect open
spaces, scenic views, and scenic areas and corridors
Energy Policies
•Promote Energy Conservation and Alternative Energy
Production
•Promote affordable, efficient, reliable, and
environmentally sound commercial energy systems
for individual homes, and business consumers.
Goals & Policies
Environmental Quality Goals
•Maintain and improve upon the quality of air and
land in Deschutes County.
•Promote sustainable building practices that
minimize the impacts of development on the natural
environment.
Surface Mining Goal
•Protect and utilize mineral and aggregate resources
while minimizing adverse impacts of extraction,
processing and transporting the resource.
Goals & Policies
Cultural and Historic Resources Goal
•Promote the preservation of designated historic and cultural resources through education, incentives, and voluntary programs.
Natural Hazards Goals
•Develop policies, partnerships, and programs to increase resilience and response capacity in order to protect people, property, infrastructure, the economy, natural resources, and the environment from natural hazard.
•Ensure the County’s built environment and infrastructure are adequately prepared for natural disasters.
•Develop programs that inform the public about the increased risks from natural hazards
Next Steps
•Report back on policy refinements
•Review third batch of policies in December
•Housing
•Economic Development
•Recreation
•Public Facilities
•Continue Meeting-in-a-Box activities
•Report –Engagement Activities
Questions?
Project website:
www.deschutes.org/2040
Will Groves, Planning Manager
will.groves@deschutes.org
Nicole Mardell, AICP, Senior Planner –Long Range
nicole.mardell@deschutes.org