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Home My WebLink AboutSummary of Round 2 Engagement (Revised June 8, 2023) Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Summary of Open House Engagement Round 2 Revised June 8, 2023 INTRODUCTION Deschutes County is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan. A robust engagement effort, with a wide range of County residents and stakeholders is a fundamental part of this process. This memorandum provides a high-level summary of engagement conducted in the second round of this comprehensive plan through in person and online open house formats. It aims to describe the breadth and diversity of opinions shared so far, but does not purport to include all ideas that might not have been shared with County staff or the project team. The comments are presented as heard, and have not yet been vetted as policies or goals. Specific comments are captured in the appendices to this summary, while themes representing the ideas and directions, as well as differences of opinion related to specific topics are presented here. OVERVIEW OF OPEN HOUSE ACTIVITIES AND TOPICS This round of open house engagement focused on specific policy questions that seemed to have the most diverse range of opinions in prior discussions. These topics included: • Population Growth, Housing, and Development • Agriculture, Forestry, and Resource Lands • Recreation and Natural Resources • Water Use • Natural Hazards Additional comments not related to these topics was welcomed and recorded at these events. This round of engagement consisted of several in-person open houses, an online forum, a live online meeting, and smaller presentations at other community events. These events are described briefly below. IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSES Engagement activities included several in-person open houses at various locations in the County, including the following: • Brothers (April 5, 2023) • Terrebonne (April 17, 2023) • Bend (April 19, 2023) • La Pine (April 26, 2023) • Sisters (April 27, 2023) These events had poster boards with an exercise similar to the Online Open House, asking participants to rate their support for an idea and provide some additional information on post-it notes. At the Bend event, participants split into topic-area “breakout groups” to provide more detailed feedback. At the other events, participants provided the same type of feedback using the poster boards throughout the meeting. ONLINE OPEN HOUSE An online open house was conducted in parallel with these in-person events, allowing community members to provide feedback and engage in discourse on these topics. The online open house was created using the “Consider.it” platform, which allows users to rate their level of support on a given proposal/topic, provide supporting “pros” and “cons”, and engage with other open house respondents through the online forum. The forum is accessible for review at https://deschutescounty.consider.it/ VIRTUAL MEETING Additionally, an online Question and Answer session was hosted on April 28th at 9am to allow community members to speak directly to a member of the project team. SMALLER MEETINGS AND POP-UPS County staff met with smaller groups to discuss policy issues. • Environmental Center “Power Hour” (April 12, 2023 5-7 pm) • Pop up at Terrebonne Oliver Lemons (April 11, 2023, 11-1 pm) • Pop up at Alfalfa General Store (April 14, 2023, 11:30-12:30 pm) • Preserve East Bend (May 9, 2023 6-8 pm) WEBSITE AND EMAIL COMMENTS Throughout the project duration, community members have been able to share their thoughts via the embedded website comment form and by emailing staff. Emails and a spreadsheet with website comments are included as an appendix to this summary. KEY THEMES AND SENTIMENTS Key themes drawn from comments and conversations as part of the second round of open houses are listed below. A number of these themes are interrelated. The order of the themes listed here is not intended to denote the relative importance or priority of a given topic. More detailed discussion of community feedback and themes from each individual open house, including ranking of support for policy directives, can be found in later sections of this summary. • Health and Safety Issues Related to Homelessness. Many participants noted the human and environmental harm caused by homelessness in Deschutes County. There was generally support for the County playing a role in addressing the issue (though some participants did state that supportive policies are part of what attracts the unhoused to Deschutes County), but no clear consensus about the steps needed. Some participants stated that facilities (shelters, RV parks) would be best accommodated near existing services, while others said they would be better suited in unincorporated areas. • Destination Resorts. Some participants noted that tourism is a key industry in Deschutes County and that destination resorts bring jobs and tourism dollars to the County. Many other participants believe that the impacts on water use, traffic, and natural resources outweigh the benefit from these resorts. • Growth and Development. The rapid pace of development was a concern to many. Some respondents suggested a moratorium of all building until the “carrying capacity” of the County could be determined, and that cities should build “up, not out.” The creation of “mini mansions” and short-term rentals was cited as problematic. • Water use. Many respondents noted that rural residents are needing to dig deeper wells, though others noted that this issue is very site-specific. Capping canals, education, changing landscaping requirements/allowances, and wholesale revisions to the County’s water regime were recommended as solutions. The conflict between water rights for small “Hobby Farms”, recreational uses, and larger agricultural endeavors was discussed, with positions taken on all sides. Some noted that irrigation districts ultimately have authority over several aspects of water use and their rules are sufficient. • Rural Residential Development. Varying opinions were presented on rural residential development in Deschutes County. Some participants noted that there is a high demand for homes on larger lots than typically available in urban environments, and that more rural residential growth could help alleviate the County’s housing crisis. Others said that agricultural land and open space Once land is developed it cannot be undeveloped. We need to build up and not out. Open House comment. Homelessness cannot be resolved through regulation, nor can the individual be better served by legislation. Open House comment. should remain so for cultural, economic, and environmental reasons, and that far-flung residential development increases traffic, stress on infrastructure and emergency systems, and reliance on the automobile. Rural housing specifically for farm workers was also supported by several participants. • Agricultural Land. The nature and viability of some land with agricultural zoning (and often without irrigation or water rights) was a topic of discussion. There was both support and opposition toward relaxing land use restrictions on some EFU properties. Some respondents noted that MUA land is typically less viable than EFU land in the County – though others noted that even if not viable for agriculture it provides a scenic buffer and habitat area, or range land for livestock. • Housing. Many comments on the topic of housing were received. Support for urban development in urban areas; the need for mobile home parks, Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing, and other affordable housing options; desire for more creative ideas; concern with under-regulated RV parking; and resistance to sprawling rural development as a solution were all topics of conversation. • Agricultural Economy. General support for agricultural grants and farmland conservation programs was present, though some participants expressed wariness about too much public investment. Concern about the prevalence of non-farming activities on farmland (such as events, agritourism, etc). Several participants noted the need for more sustainable agriculture, less water- dependent crops, and the possibility of carbon sequestration through agricultural practices. EFU is where actual farmland is, MUA is not, yet it is treated as such by what the county allows. Reducing lot sizes to 1 acre in MUA zone would provide much needed option to the tiny highly restricted lots provided in the city. Open House comment. Rural residential development increases dependence on carbon-fuel powered vehicles at the expense of mass-transit, bicycles, walking, etc. Commercial services are distant. Open House comment. • Natural Resources. Most participants expressed interest in protecting natural resources from the impacts of continued residential and recreational development. The topic of habitat conservation came up frequently, with most respondents saying that further protections are needed. However, there was some push back related to the burden these protections may put on property owners. Clustering of residences was supported as a way of supporting natural resources while meeting other goals, as were land trusts and transfer of development rights as tools. • Natural Hazards and Climate Change. There was general support for fire-wise practices and hardening to prevent loss of life and property, as well as support for using a lens of climate adaptation/mitigation when looking at County issues. Increased migration to Oreogn due to climate change was mentioned. • Other Issues. The topic of potential landfill sites came up in Brothers, specifically opposition to a Millican Valley site. Renewable energy was mentioned by some participants, some in support and some against (due to wildlife and visual impacts). • Parks and Trails. Respondents were generally supportive of Deschutes County playing a role in parks and recreation. However, some respondents said County resources could be best spent elsewhere due to City parks and trails. • Wildlife Habitat. Biodiversity loss and construction practices that are harmful to birds were mentioned. Clustering of housing was offered as one solution to protecting habitat while providing housing. Hobby Farms are Urban Sprawl with Lipstick Open House comment. Without water land is useless for anything but rabbit brush and sage. Allowing division to 1/2 to 1 acre size for unwatered land would fulfill a severe housing need. Open House comment. • Wildfire. The need for fire-wise construction and thoughtful evacuation plans was noted. However, additional costs and removal of foliage were noted as downsides. • Climate Change. Many respondents noted that the County is unprepared for the scale of change that a changing climate will bring. . Farming should be left to natural economic forces (supply and demand), and not subsidized. Open House comment. Resorts should be held to a higher standard of energy efficiency and sustainable development. Open House comment. The existence of destination resorts strengthens arguments for banning or severely restricting short-term rentals in cities. Open House comment. We have a civic, if not moral, obligation to care for those who are less fortunate. The managed camps should be placed so that services are accessible to the homeless. Open House comment. Staff observed a few notable differences in opinion based on the location of the in person open house. All comments can be found in the appendix to this summary, with a few notable items discussed below: La Pine Area: • Less support for limiting development based on water availability • More support for rezoning low value farmland for housing • Mixed support for prioritizing impacts of climate change in County decision making • More support for flexibility in agritourism activities • Less support in incorporating climate change into County decision making Bend Area • More support for rezoning low productivity farmland for open space • More support to increase County role in addressing homelessness • More support for parks and recreation department and incentives to protect wildlife • Less support for rezoning low value farmland for housing • Mixed feelings regarding grants and agritourism flexibility to support farmers Brothers Area: • Generally more support for grants and agritourism to support farmers. • Mixed feelings regarding rezoning of agricultural land and rural residential development • Generally less support to increase County role in addressing homelessness • Less support for requiring fire hardening or similar fire prevention practices Terrebonne Area • Mixed feelings for further limiting destination resorts • More support for flexibility for agritourism activities • More support for new incentives to protect wildlife • Mixed feelings to increase County role in parks and recreation Sisters Area • More support for fire hardening and incorporation of climate change into county decision making • More support for grants to support farmers • More support to rezone farmland to preserve open space • Mixed feelings regarding new incentives to support wildlife • Slight more support for increased County role in addressing homelessness RESULTS OF ONLINE FORUM This section presents the results of the Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Forum at https://deschutescounty.consider.it as well as notable comments/themes drawn from other events. The online form asked participants to rate their support for a variety of proposals, and add additional rationale as a “Pro” or a “Con” for a given topic. Responses that spurred discussion or were “liked” by other participants are shown as “top” comments. Larger bubbles on these diagrams correspond to a greater number of reasons (pro or con) given for a particular position. The number of visitors and comments over the course of the online open house are shown in the charts below. POPULATION GROWTH, HOUSING, AND DEVELOPMENT Deschutes County has been growing rapidly for many years, and the topic of growth and its impacts are clearly on the minds of community members. Forum participants were asked about destination resorts, housing, and homelessness. Should the County go further than Oregon law currently requires to restrict destination resorts? 130 opinions, 28 pros & cons c Should the County encourage rural residential development outside urban areas? 122 Opinions, 19 Pros & Cons Should the County allow for more types of housing such as RVs, manufactured homes, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)? 117 Opinions, 13 Pros & Cons Should the County do more to address health and safety issues related to homelessness? This could include providing more financial resources to assist in preventing chronic homelessness. 116 Opinions, 15 Pros & Cons AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, AND OTHER RESOURCE-BASED ACTIVITIES Deschutes County is comprised primarily of agricultural and forest lands, and how this land is used has been a key topic in engagement to date. Should the County Support rezoning low productivity farmland with poor soil to allow greater opportunities for housing? This could be accomplished through new comprehensive plan and zoning designations, or other means as appropriate. 102 Opinions, 11 Pros & Cons Should the County support rezoning low productivity farmland with poor soil to preserve open space? This could be accomplished through new comprehensive plan and zoning designations, or other means as appropriate. 97 Opinions, 10 Pros & Cons Should the County invest in the agricultural economy through grants or exploring a farmland conservation program? 96 Opinions, 5 Pros & Cons Should the County Allow greater flexibility for income-producing supplemental activities on farms? Examples include weddings, farm-to-table dinners, farm stands, or on-farm commercial events. 103 Opinions, 14 Pros & Cons RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES Recreation and tourism are important parts of what makes Deschutes County great. The many natural resources contribute to the County's status as a destination and to the quality of life for residents. Should the County increase its role in developing, managing, and providing park and recreation facilities? 94 Opinions, 10 Pros & Cons Should the County enact new incentives to help wildlife species? 101 Opinions, 10 Pros & Cons Should the County require clustering of development to help protect natural resources? 99 Opinions, 12 Pros & Cons WATER AVAILABILITY, USE, AND MANAGEMENT Drought, water conservation, and the role that Deschutes County plays were frequently mentioned by respondents. This topic touches on many other pieces of the Comprehensive Plan including housing, agriculture, recreation and natural hazards. Should the County enact new rules to limit development based on water availability? 107 Opinions, 11 Pros & Cons Should the County conduct educational outreach to encourage water conservation and on-farm efficiency measures? 109 Opinions, 13 Pros & Cons NATURAL HAZARDS Deschutes County is impacted by local events such as fire, drought, and winter storms as well as global events such as climate change and habitat loss. Should the County require new homes and other development to incorporate fire hardening or similar fire prevention practices? 98 Opinions, 10 Pros & Cons Should the County create a plan to address the impacts of climate change? 97 Opinions, 12 Pros & Cons ONGOING ENGAGEMENT AND NEXT STEPS This was the second of two major pushes for public engagement as part of the Deschutes 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update. Additional input is always welcome at the project website. ATTACHMENTS: A. OPEN HOUSE POSTERS B. OPEN HOUSE COMMENTS C. DEMOGRAPHIC RESPONSES Summary of Open House Round 2 Page 26 APPENDIX A: OPEN HOUSE POSTERS WELCOME Project Timeline Sign In Let us know you’re here! This helps the project team ensure we are talking to lots of different members of the Deschutes County community. Learn about the issues The Comprehensive Plan update will focus on the following topics: Share your ideas! For each topic we have a few questions we want your opinion on. Your feedback informs the policies the County will work to implement through the Comprehensive Plan. Place a dot along the line to let us know how much you agree with a question. Then, use the sticky notes to share your other thoughts on each question or topic, and any other ideas you have! See the exmple below. EXAMPLE: Middle Sister is the Best Sister The County and its member jurisdictions should make sure to only depict Middle Sister in any marketing materials. Welcome! Mule Deer Northern Bald Eagle Prairie Falcon Waterfowl Nongame furbearers Golden Eagle Great Grey Owl Upland game birds Townsend’s Big-Eared Bats Osprey Sage Grouse Salmon Antelope Elk Water Use Wildfire Animals Consider this! Keep the conversation going! Before you leave, scan this QR code with your phone camera to join the conversation on our Consider.it platform. Share more ideas with County staff and see what your neighbors have to say about the project. 1 2 3 Natural Hazards Destination Resorts Housing Agriculture & Forestry Natural Resources Water Use OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL 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. Deschutes County is most at risk for these natural hazards... 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 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 200K +220% ~200,000 people live in Deschutes County as of 2019 In 1980, population was estimated to be 62,500, by 2019 it had increased to ~200,000. That’s a 230% increase. Awbrey Hall • 3,350 acres burned • 22 homes lost • Areas west of Bend evacuated 1990 Two Bulls • 6,908 Acres burned • Areas west of Bend evacuated 2014 Milli • 24,000 acres burned • Areas west of Sisters evacuated 2017 Rabbit Brush • 74 acres burned • 2 Homes lost • Areas in Cloverdale evacuated 2018 Lionshead • +203,000 acres burned • 264 homes burned • 14 structures burned 2020 Green Ridge • 4,338 acres burned2020 Frog • 4,020 acres burned2020 Skeleton • 18,000 acres burned • 19 homes lost • Areas southeast of Bend evacuated 1996 Cache Mountain • 4,200 acres burned • 2 homes lost • Black Butte Ranch evacuated 2002 B&B Complex • 90,769 acres burned • Area west of Black Butte evacuated 2003 Rooster Rock • 6,134 acres burned • Areas southeast of Sisters Evacuated 2010 Pole Creek • 26,584 acres burne • Areas southwest of Sisters Evcacuated 2012 80,00070,00060,00050,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 10,000 0 25,600 64,700 71,900 78,431 7,400 Acres Burned by Decade • Duration • Future Probability • Magnitude • Past Occurrence • Spatial Extent • Speed of Onset Natural Hazard Risk of Disaster Vulnerability • Built Environment • Business • Critical Facilities • Cultural Assets • Infrastructure • Population Large Fires in Central Oregon Wildland fires affect our community. Below is a list of wildland fires that occurred in or near Deschutes County. Understanding Risk: Where hazard and vulnerability meet. Natural Hazards Requiring new homes or other development to incorporate fire hardening or similar fire prevention practices (ex: Firewise building, landscaping, and design standards)? Prioritizing the impacts of climate change as part of the County’s decision-making? Do you support... OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL Share your other comments about natural hazards here: Share your other comments about destination resorts here: Resort Development Further restrictions on Destination Resorts, beyond what state law currently dictates? Do you support... Map Title LA PINE SISTERS BEND REDMOND KLAMATH COUNTY LAKE COUNTY LANE COUNTY CROOK COUNTY LINN COUNTY JEFFERSON COUNTY 97 20 242 126 31 370 27 372 97 20 BLACKBUTTERANCH ELK LAKERESORT MT BACHELORSKI AREA INN OF THE7TH MOUNTAIN EAST LAKERESORT PAULINALAKE LODGE TWIN LAKESRESORT CRANEPRAIRIERESORT LAVA LAKELODGE CULTUS LAKERESORT THOUSANDTRAILS THREE CREEKLAKE RESORT SUNRIVERRESORT EAGLE CRESTRESORT CALDERASPRINGSRESORT TETHEROWRESORT PRONGHORNRESORT Prepared by0510 Miles Destination Resorts (Goal 8) Other Resorts and Points of Interest Urban Growth Boundaries Water Bodies County Boundary Transportation State Routes Railroad County Lines DESTINATION RESORTS Revised 4/4/2023 Map Title LAPINE SISTERS BEND REDMOND LANE COUNTY CROOK COUNTY LINN COUNTY JEFFERSON COUNTY 97 20 242 126 31 97 370 27 372 97 20 BLACKBUTTERANCH ELK LAKERESORT MT BACHELORSKI AREA INN OF THE7TH MOUNTAIN EAST LAKERESORT PAULINALAKE LODGE TWIN LAKESRESORT CRANEPRAIRIERESORT LAVA LAKELODGE CULTUS LAKERESORT THOUSANDTRAILS THREE CREEKLAKE RESORT SUNRIVERRESORT EAGLE CRESTRESORT CALDERASPRINGSRESORT TETHEROWRESORT PRONGHORNRESORT Prepared by03.5 7 10.5 14 Miles Destination Resorts Urban Growth Boundaries Water Bodies County Boundary Transportation State Routes Railroad DESTINATION RESORTS Revised 3/2/2023 What are destination resorts? Destination resorts are self-contained developments that provide lodging and recreational facilities for visitors in a setting with high natural amenities. In Deschutes County, these resorts vary significantly in size and function, from individual camping areas to ski resorts to the community of Sunriver itself. Why are destination resorts included in the comprehensive plan? Deschutes county has more destination resorts than any other Oregon county. Many of the County’s destination resorts pre-date Oregon’s statewide land use system, while others have been approved recently and are undergoing development. Oregon Statewide Planning Goal 8 provides specific guidance and definitions related to the creation of destination resorts. OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL 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: • 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. • The County coordinates with cities on growth activities including urban growth boundary amendments and urban reserve planning. • Deschutes County partners with NeighborImpact, Housing Works, Veterans village, and other organizations to address affordable housing. • Rural residential development outside of cities is under the jurisdiction of Deschutes County, including resort communities like Sunriver and Black Butte Ranch. • Deschutes County provides building permit services for Sunriver, La Pine, and the rural County outside of city limits. Housing & Residential Development Encouraging rural residential development outside urban areas? Do you support... OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL 2010 2020 2022 2047 2072 2.3% AAGR 1.5% 1.1% 1.7% AAGR 2.4% AAGR 1.9% 1.3% 4.1% AAGR 3.3%2.5% 4.2% AAGR 2.5%1.9% 2.6% AAGR 1.7% 0.3% -0.3% 1.4% Historical Forecasted Historical and Forecasted Population and AAGR in Deschutes County and its Sub-Areas 400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 Historical Forecasted 2010 2020 AAGR (2022- 2047) 2022 2047 2072 AAGR (2022- 2047) AAGR (2047- 2072) Deschutes County 157,733 198,253 2.3%207,921 298,937 392,790 1.5%1.1% Larger Sub-Areas: Bend 77,122 99,598 2.6%103,976 160,361 225,619 1.7%1.4% Redmond 26,508 33,608 2.4%37,342 60,060 82,601 1.9%1.3% Larger Sub-Areas: La Pine 1,653 2,512 4.2%2,736 5,129 8,336 2.5%1.9% Sisters 2,038 3,064 4.1%3,437 7,911 14,881 3.3%2.5% Outside UGBs 50,412 59,471 1.7%60,430 65,476 61,352 0.3%-0.3% Po p u l a t i o n Historical and Forecasted Population and Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR) Housing & Residential Development Allowing more types of housing such as RVs, manufactured homes, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)? Doing more to address health and safety issues related to homelessness, including providing more financial resources to assist in preventing chronic homelessness? Do you support... OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL Share your other comments about housing here: OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL Agriculture & Forestry 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 income • 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 Do you support... Rezoning of low-productivity farmland with poor soil to allow greater opportunities for housing? Rezoning of low-productivity farmland with poor soil to preserve open space? OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL 57% 10%23% 10% Cropland Pastureland Woodland Other Less than $2,500 $25,000 to $49,999 $2,500 to $4,999 $50,000 to $99,999 $5,000 to $9,999 $100,000 or more $10,000 to $24,999 Land in Farms by Use Farms by Value of Sales Deschutes County Deschutes County Jefferson County Jefferson County 73% 16% 10% 1% 46% 16% 15% 5% 3%3% 12%38% 5%11% 10% 7% 5% 24% Agriculture & Forestry Providing grants to support Deschutes County’s agricultural economy and/or exploring a farmland conservation program? Allowing greater flexibility for activities on farms such as weddings, farm-to-table dinners, farm stands, or on-farm commercial events? Do you support... OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL Share your other comments about agriculture and forestry here: Recreation & Natural Resources Deschutes County increasing its role in developing, managing, and providing park and recreation facilities? Using new incentives to help protect wildlife species? (put ideas in comments) Do you support... OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL Deschutes County is home to many natural resources, which form the basis for the County’s vibrant outdoor recreation opportunities. 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. Recreation & Natural Resources Requiring clustering of development to help protect natural resources? Do you support... OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL Share your other comments about recreation and natural resources here: Water Use Considering new rules to limit development based on water availability? (put your specific ideas in the comment box) Educational outreach to encourage water conservation and on-farm efficiency measures? Do you support... Share your other comments about water use here: OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL OPPOSE SUPPORTNEUTRAL Drought, water conservation, and the role that Deschutes County plays in managing water resources are key issues for this Comprehensive Plan update. This topic touches on many other pieces of the Comprehensive Plan including housing, agriculture, recreation, and natural hazards. The potential policy directions listed below represent some of the feedback we’ve received so far. Let us know what you think! We have heard from the community: • Access to water is the biggest issue for the County. • Education about the importance of water conservation is needed. • Access to well water for rural residents is a serious issue. • The County should protect water rights for farmers. • We need to reuse and conserve water. • Look to other arid locations for examples Mule Deer Northern Bald Eagle Prairie Falcon Waterfowl Nongame furbearers Golden Eagle Great Grey Owl Upland game birds Townsend’s Big-Eared Bats Osprey Sage Grouse Salmon Antelope Elk Water Use Wildfire Animals Other Ideas? Do you have any other ideas you’d like to share? Use this space to tell us what you think. What do you think? Summary of Open House Round 2 Page 27 APPENDIX B: OPEN HOUSE COMMENTS Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 1 Open House Responses Allow for more types of Housing such as RVs Manufactured Homes and Accessory Dwelling Units Affordable housing is needed for people who serve our community but canâ€™t afford to live here such as educators, caregivers, & first responders. All new housing should have solar and xeriscape and use electricity, not gas. Save more trees Bend needs to build up (vertically) it's central area. Not degrade current residents property values. Disallowing cheaper homes for people of all incomes is immoral and frustrates the entire population in pushing out current residents. Like them or not, the county is lacking in mobile home parks. The county has lost many mobile home parks to speculative development over the last decade. There is nowhere else to go for mobile home residents when they lose their parks. While not everyone's favorite housing development, mobile home parks do offer stability and community. Models where they are run as tenant-owned coops are the best models. lots of creative ideas should be encouraged. Need to allow SRO (single resident or room occupancy) in city codes (and county code for destination resorts and farms). SRO, aka dormitory, studios, or boarding house, have been removed from codes over the decades due to the bad reputation of boarding houses of 50+ years ago. This housing type fills a gap in creating housing for people that are single, low-income, seasonally employed, and/or transitioning from being homeless. They can be hotel-room like studios or private bedrooms sharing bathrooms and kitchens. Modern tech allows for more security. Destination resorts need to be required to build dorms for seasonal employees, and even school districts could build dorms to house high school students in unstable or unsafe households. New locations need to be identified first. Recent opposition to managed camps within the Bend city limits shows that more effort from local leaders is needed in identifying available sites first before allowing new types of housing. STRONGLY OPPOSE. Affordable housing is subsidized housing. The government must provide real housing for all, not force people to live in RVs. NO ADs outside UGBs, ever. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 2 Support 2 of the 3, and feel RVs with unknown waste systems belong in this question with mfg homes and permitted adus. Technically, isn't your comment a pro for this? The area needs to provide affordable housing for all economic groups. We need more housing of any sort until housing isn't an issue anymore. Yes, inside UGBs. But inefficient, sprawling rural housing has no place in Oregon or in rural Deschutes County. Allow greater flexibility for income producing supplemental ac�vi�es on farms Farm land is another form of open space. While some land may not be "farm ready" at this time, what we DO NOT need is more 10-acre residential partitions of farm land. Farming in cental Oregon - a desert with low precip and incredibly short growing season - is a bit of a fool's errand. Farmers need other sources of income to survive. Severely limiting income streams on farmland is highly disrespectful to the owners. Oregons' land use laws were created to protect not only productive forest and farmlands but to protect the bucolic open spaces and stop visual blight (i.e. sprawl, polluting industry). The latter is an unfunded mandate. If we want to keep the "pretty" it has to be paid for one way or another. Either let farms be entrepreneurial and create other income streams (accounting for elements that can be controlled through codes like traffic, safety, light pollution, etc.). Or pay owners to preserve their space to whatever standard non- farmers deem "pretty" enough. Farmland is a vital local resource. Deschutes County has seen significant loss of this finite resource. We must recognize the long-term economic, environmental and social impacts. In Deschutes and Jefferson counties, there was a recent lack of hay and alfalfa to feed pasture-based livestock. Ranchers need feed for their animals. Hay and alfalfa are "export crops" used by dairy farmers across the Cascades, and the states of Washington and California. We need to solve the water problems that keep farmers from being successful, not encourage them to opt to supplement their incomes with commercial activities they have no experience with. In Central Oregon Landwatch v. Deschutes County, the court examined Oregon Revised Statute 215.283(2)(c) which states in part that â€œprivate parks, playgrounds, hunting and fishing preserves and campgroundsâ€ may be established as non-farm Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 3 uses on property zoned EFU. The court concluded that the specific proposed use of the property by the petitioners was not for a private park, but more accurately, for a commercial event venue. Having land taken out of production so someone can charge for afairey tale wedding is not really farming or farm use. I am pro-agritourism (i.e. making it easier to have farm stand, farm to table dinners), if it is in addition to farming. I am against letting EFU land be used for non-ag purposes If folks can have the commercial use in conjunction with farm use as currently identified in statewide land use laws, then yes! if just a commercial activity on EFU land, no Just the activities allowed by state law. The activity must support agriculture otherwise corporations will take farmland from real farming anyway this is not a county issue. Many farms are not able to survive financially on just farming and agritourism allows these farms to stay in business , which protects our farmland and agriculture and food for CO On-farm events help those who don't farm understand where food and agricultural products come from and help bridge the urban-rural divide. Oregon's land use "goals" - Goal 3 (Agricultural Lands) requires counties to identify farmland, designate it as such on their comprehensive plans, and zone it as Exclusive Farm Use https://www.oregon.gov/lcd/OP/Pages/Goal-3.aspx State law already provides such opportunities. Farmland should be used for farming, not commercial activities which belong inside UGBs. This will lead to degradation of farming. People can buy EFU land and choose not to farm, but rather to hold weddings, events, etc. We should preserve the tranquility of EFU lands. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 4 https://www.deschutes.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development/page/736/exclusive_farm_use_efu_ zoning_ordinance_chapter_18.16.pdf According to Deschutes County, the purpose of EFU land is as follows: 18.16.010. Purpose. A. The purpose of the Exclusive Farm Use zones is to preserve and maintain agricultural lands and to serve as a sanctuary for farm uses. When we moved here in the 1990s, Deschutes County / Bend was truly rural. Now, this area is much more commercial. Within UGBs, yea Yes please! Make the farms more accessible, bring people directly to the farms to spend $$$, foster community! Create a plan to address the impacts of climate change Addressing water usage, habitat loss, avoiding sprawl and infilling this is climate action. Not logging our forests in the name of fire is the most important thing we can do. Be prepared. If this is a mega drought the natural, social and economic effects will be devastating. Concerned that creating more committees is not going to produce better resultsâ€¦â€¦education is critical Continue the plan, with the understanding that: you cannot have inexpensive end- cost housing with expensive build costs. County is mishandling and wasting tax-payer dollars by not addressing sustainability and climate change. Measures that address climate change and sustainability are simply efficiency measures. Reduce waste (whether material or emissions or resources) and you reduce costs. Ignoring these opportunities (as the County leadership does now) is 100% misuse of taxpayer dollars. Entities that don't have climate action plans are also missing out on millions of dollars of state and federal grants currently available - another fiscal travesty. Create a plan that includes incremental improvements that can be easily adopted by businesses, homeowners and renters. Any plan that purports to achieve net zero carbon reduction by 2040 is useless. Deschutes County must develop a clear strategy to address the issues of climate change. Our growth rate continues to accelerate. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 5 An operating vehicle emits a range of gases from its tailpipe into the atmosphere, one of which is carbon dioxide CO2 â€“ the principal greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. CO2 is an unavoidable by-product of burning gasoline. Each gallon of gas consumed produces about 20 pounds of CO2. When you start your car's engine, you're contributing to climate change. CO2 continues to be spewed into the atmosphere not because of population growth. It's also tourism growth. Idling a gasoline engine for over 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more CO2 compared to restarting your engine. https://afdc.energy.gov/files/u/publication/which_is_greener.pdf Deschutes County Commissioners should focus on developing mass transit outside of city limits. They should stop allowing destination resorts. They should NOT convert farm land into large lot residential land. They should cooperate with cities to create a cohesive strategy for defending against climate change. In developing their climate change strategy, the County should encourage the participation of people between the ages of 18 and 30. They have the most "skin in the game". There are a number of "templates" that can be used to develop such a strategy: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/10/3-ways-to-engage-young-people-in-climate-action/ https://www.citizenlab.co/blog/environment-sustainability/how-to-create-climate-action-plans-through-community- engagement/ https://www.commonplace.is/blog/community-engagement-in-climate-action https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/pds/advance/cap/SDCountyCAP-PublicOutreachandEngagementPlan.pdf Financial losses at airports, while increasing flight training, excessive emissions, destroying habitats, air and water Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 6 Over a half million gallons of fossil fuel burned at Bend Municipal Airport in 2021 Second highest ultrafine airborne lead emissions in the state, almost 600# 2017 but added approximately 50k annual operations since, even already in top 30 in the US. Bend Municipal Airport made Earth Justice's top 100 environmental justice list https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/top100leadpollutingairports_2021-08-23.pdf Airport financed with public money but runs at loss yearly, -$147k last year, non essential, destroying lives, habitats & livability. There's a pattern of illness & death with expansions. They train exceedingly low hundreds of thousands of times annually over homes, sensitive areas like wetlands, badlands and destroy critical habitats. The noise, emissions, culling and lead correlate to range wide species loss, hypertension, fatal heart attacks, adhd, renal, vascular & brain injury. From emissions to illnesses to culling to wildlife loss, this is terrible for Central Oregon and a death sentence for wildlife and our planet. The county should not be investing in such destruction which puts out more planet frying pollution than fleets of ev's could ever offset. The climate crisis is inseparably linked to crucial social issues of the thre present and future. Yet, social justice and the environment are repeatedly pitted against each other â€“ with both losing. Need a plan for climate change especially being in the desert where resources are scarce Of course we need a plan. We're still in a drought, it's going to get worse, and we need to stop dwaddling. We are behind much of the modern world in Deschutes C. We pretend we are progressive, and climate focused but we barely scratch the surface. Messaging and actions need to change. First we need to dramatically reduce fuel loads like grasses, and understory quicker before the summer heat set in. Proactively fine properties who do not follow suit instead of waiting for it to get out of control. We are under prepared for a climate enhanced wildland- urban interface fire in Deschutes County during a time of massive development and in-migration. We still allow almost unfettered access for recreational fires and camping in areas where it is likely that a fire would start. We are not proactive with enforcement we are mostly retroactive when it is already too late. Do more to address health and safety issues related to homelessness 16% of homeless people in the US are "chronically homeless". Most are mentally ill. They are more likely to be the victims of violence than the general population. https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2019/september/HomelessQandA.html Deschutes County has one half of one percent of the population as chronically homeless which is a manageable number given the amount of addiction tax collected. The most recent Oregon Liquor and Cannabis (OLCC) report shows $625M was dispersed over 2 years with only $19M being allocated for Alcohol/drug/health services. $356M was sent to general funds of communities. Hold the government collected Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 7 funds accountable for this topic! Mandate money collected for drug/alcohol/heath services to be used solely for that reason including building new infrastructure and hiring staff. Homeless camps should be removed from our wild areas, like China Hat and the forests around Central Oregon. The disease and destruction of human waste is atrocious. Homelessness cannot be resolved through regulation nor can the individual be better served by legislation. Homelessness is a direct result of our own moral failure as a society. We need to treat people with compassion and help them. Indeed, we do. Like ants to sugar, the more services we provide and easier it is to be Homeless in Bend the more we will have. Other cities are sending homeless to Bend. People are sometimes driven to use drugs when they do not have adequate housing. The two conditions are linked/ Education about drugs should begin early in life. Does the county have a curriculum about drug abuse for school children? Per Harvard Health Publishing, "Poverty, homelessness, and social stigma make addiction more deadly". https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/poverty-homelessness-and-social-stigma... Other studies have found poverty to be a risk factor for opioid overdoses, unemployment to be a risk factor for fatal heroin overdoses, and a low education level to be a risk factor for prescription overdose, and for overdose mortality. There is a severe lack of substance abuse and mental health services - especially long term care facilities - across the state and nation. There's a major disconnect between what statistics say and what the public believes about homelessness. The public think addiction is the cause. The lack of affordable housing is. https://invisiblepeople.tv/the-numbers-dont-lie-drug-addiction-is-not-a-leading-cause-of-homelessness/ This is akin to pooling health ins costs among the pop, be it frm poor luck or choices. As a healthy family, I also pay HC costs 4 the rich n unhealthy bc of their choices Throwing money at this problem has only made this problem worse. Places that donâ€™t enable homeless folks donâ€™t have the volumes of homeless people we do. Any homeless count. The more we â€œsupportâ€ the folks, the faster they show up. We do not have a living wage for workers and affordable housing for everyone. No excuse. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 8 We do not need to have more facilities to feed and house the homeless. That seems as if we are encouraging more drugs into our area We have a civic, if not moral, obligation to care for those who are less fortunate. The managed camps should be placed so that services are accessible to the homeless. We need research on where the homeless that are circulating throughout Central Oregon really came from. Do they have tax returns here? Or are they coming to be homeless with a view We need to recognize the negative impacts of houselessness on the greater community. While the challenges for the houseless have been well detailed (as they should be), we haven't given little thought or action to the negative impacts. Increased safety issues - whether perceived or real - impacts women, children, the elderly, and handicapped the most. These demographics, which are probably 2/3 the population, have to avoid areas they feel unsafe. Their rights to move freely about our communities have been taken away. Homeless encampments also create a huge fire hazard for citizens and those at the camps themselves. Removing improvised camps, therefore, benefits thousands of more people than it hinders. Allowing camps to continue also normalizes the "lifestyle" and makes it more difficult to transition people back into stable housing. The legal hitch is the "bed for someone to go to" capacity. If that can be met, then limitations must be put on other options (public camping) or it will never end. Yes more resources are needed to prevent Bend from becoming Portland. But with additional services/shelters should come with rules that disallow homeless camps in the area. Educa�onal outreach to encourage water conserva�on and on farms Education and dollars are needed to promote juniper thinning to increase groundwater availability. Decades of research at OSU has proven the rapid spread of juniper in Central Oregon is impacting groundwater supplies. Juniper, an incredibly water-thirsty tree, was naturally limited in spread from wildfires. 100 years of suppression has created a forest of trees sucking up all available groundwater AND creating a new fire hazard due to it's fuel loading and receptiveness to fire. All land owners (farms, governments, districts, etc.) need to be aggressively removing trees to restore groundwater AND reduce wildfire threats. This needs massive education efforts and money to back up thinning projects. Groundwater problems in the dry, high desert of Deschutes arenâ€™t a surprise. More than a decade ago, state and federal scientists charted the trend and predicted it would continue. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 9 Private wells can have inorganic chemicals such as antimony, asbestos, barium, cadmium, chromium, cyanide, etc. EFU land should not be converted to residential purposes. https://www.deschutes.org/health/page/drinking-water Hobby farms and golf courses should not have priority water rights. Conservation should be legally mandated. No more blowing water everywhere. IF people understood a bit of hydrology, maybe they would see the importance of conservation. We often take for granted aspects of modern life. If a person had to haul water rather than just turn the tap, they would have an awakening. Land within city limits have access to public water. Residential land in the County doesn't. Rural homes need wells and water is not metered. Some communities share a well. Wells are the principle source of water for homeowners in Deschutes County. Water use is not metered. The more rural wells, the faster Deschutes County's aquifer will be depleted. https://www.opb.org/article/2022/07/19/deschutes-water-rights- access-well-drilling-groundwater-central-oregon/ Let's bury the canals Need to stop propping up antiquated water delivery systems (i.e. open canals) and build more efficient systems for the next 100 years (drawing water closer to where it is used). People already know Privately owned water like Avion should post highest water users. Refer to the USDA/NRCS enviro quality improv pgms (EQIP). No need for redundancy. Several organizations manage the groundwater in the Deschutes Basin. In Central Oregon, 6 irrigation districts rely on the Deschutes River. We need to encourage water conservation! Deschutes County's growth is seriously threatening this region's water supply. We need to hold our Deschutes County Commissioners accountable for ensuring that residential growth and the conversion of farm land to residential development (where the new residences must rely on ground water as city services are not available) does not destroy this region. https://www.opb.org/article/2021/09/16/drought-oregon-farmers-water-supply/ https://oregonexplorer.info/content/deschutes-basin-development-and-groundwater?topic=53 Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 10 YES PLEASE. Incentivize water conservation and upgrades, cover canals, re-think water allotment (stop people from dumping water just to 'use it or lose it'). Yes, but, who provides the educational outreach and at what price. Any public educational campaign will likely need to be state or locally approved and be funded by taxpayer money. Encourage rural residen�al development outside urban areas A tiny portion, if any, local hay is exported to japan. A huge amount of alfalfa grown in Central Oregon is sold to dairy farmers in OR & WA. A rather obtuse argument, at best. Agricultural land must be fertile to be productive. The bulk of the land encroached by the city of Bend is trash. I have 40 year old pondarosa trees in the field less than 16 feet tall. Sound fertile? Agriculture land here uses 90% of available water yet creates very little crop value for locals. Selling alfalfa hay to rich horse owners in Japan is in no way positive. Consider housing for agricultural workers close to the farms and ranches. Perhaps housing could be located in service hubs on rural land. D.T. I agree with your point but only where it applies to EFU zoning, not MUA. This topic is a mess because the county posed it as changes to EFU which should not be touched at this time. But MUA should be touched, it's a waste of space for the most part. Distinguish between MUA and EFU zoned farm land EFU is where actual farm land is, MUA is not, yet it is treated as such by what the county allows. Reducing lot sizes to 1 acre in MUA zone would provide much needed option to the tiny highly restricted lots provided in the city. High demand for larger lot sizes than being built in city Without water land is useless for anything but rabbit brush and sage. Allowing division to 1/2 to 1 acre size for unwatered land would fulfill a severe housing need. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 11 I support this logic. The city of Bend has no authority to require modification of a design to achieve the desired density and save some trees. Under the present code a developer can present a design which clear-cuts the property. When asked to save trees, they can truthfully reply that preservation of any trees would prevent development because the proposed design (the developerâ€™s) cannot avoid removing all of them. The only way to preserve trees is to apply a formula that calculates a mandatory minimum number to be saved. Many cities use such formulas, which can be based on a variety of factors. Some require preservation of 30% of the tree canopy. Others assign â€œcreditsâ€ to trees based on their DBH and require preservation of a fixed number of tree credits/acre. The Portland code measures the DBH of each tree and requires that the developer retain a fixed percentage of the total tree diameters/acre, scaled to the size of the trees being retained. All such codes allow mitigation under a variety of circumstances. An example: a cityâ€™s code requires saving 40 tree credits/acre. It has assigned 15 credits to any ponderosa with 20â€ DBH; a ponderosa with 30â€ DBH is worth 25 credits. All the developer would have to do is preserve one 20â€ ponderosa and one 30â€ ponderosa per acre. This method would produce clear and objective standards and is the only way to save some of our trees. For more information, please contact Karon Johnson at karonjguam@gmail.com. In ways I agree, but doesn't MUA provide a buffer zone? When developed, who bears the burden of a new buyer zone, if the county even bothers to address that? Land must be furtile to be usable for agriculture. Most land surrounding the city of Bend is not. We are approx 200 feet from the S city limits with high density housing and schools going up across the road. Our 13.9 acres is a baren wasteland that can barely support sagebrush. The only viable crop for profit would be marijuana grown with avion water because Arnold is not a farm provider. They are a tourist attraction. We have had the soil tested with terrible results. It is in our best interest to divide the land as profitably as possible and move on. It is what it is. Land that is not utilizing any infrastructure or water while providing buffer zones, can still be used as wildlife habitat and many other uses for ag, open space & other uses. It must be left, not destroyed with infrastructure & water intensive, soil destroying development. Many ranchers and farmers can use help from workers that could live on their property. It definately should have controls on it. Bunk house in barns, apartments, RVs MUA zoning should change, not EFU Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 12 This topic is based on making changes to EFU zoning for the purpose of building more homes. EFU land is mostly farmable in some way and generally farther out from populated areas. MUA is generally closer in and even if soil conditions were ok are generally not large enough to viably profit from agricultural use. I firmly believe the county should change the basis of this topic to making changes to MUA and get serious about just how much useless land is surrounding the cities that only have value if they were allowed to divide into smaller parcels. I am not saying city size lots but MUA10, 10 acre minimum, that is close to dense population is useless at that size and the county, not the state, could easily designate these at MUA1 OR MUA2.5. Lots around 1 acre are ideal for horse owners, large shops, barns with barn animals or even just to have enough space for your house and an RV. Please do a bit of research of your own before formulating an opinion on a topic of this magnitude. Deschutes county DIAL is a great source for maps of zoning areas. Talking with water suppliers such as Avion or Aggate may help you decide on water usage. Just please put in the time and effort if you feel this is an important topic. Thanks Non-productive farm land (poor or little soil, rocky non-tillable areas) generally do not have water rights. Compared to urban use, agriculture uses water very efficiently. Once land is developed it cannot be undeveloped. We need to build up and not out. Please check out deschutes county dial interactive map, select zoning, look how little EFU remains in contiguous tracts & those which do have major highways running through them Preserve the tree canopy and wildlife habitat. Every time the urban growth boundary is moved out to allow a new subdivision the natural environment is negatively impacted. Provide facts to back up those erroneous statements. Putting homes & yards in will reduce water use in non watered areas? Restricting the development of poor farm land near the city of Bend does one thing quite well: It keeps the land prices for developable land high and prevents many people from being able to afford a home. The classification of some properties was poorly done, and this needs to be corrected. Rural residential development increases dependence on carbon-fuel powered vehicles at the expense of mass-transit, bicycles, walking, etc. Commercial services are distant. https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/the-characteristics-causes-and-consequences-of-sprawling-103014747/ Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 13 Rural residential development outside of urban areas is also called "sprawl". The abundance of large-lot (usually 1-5 acres) consume large amounts of previously open space. https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/the-characteristics-causes-and-consequences-of-sprawling-103014747/ Rural residents often complain about infrastructure issues, access to medical and emergency services, lower-quality K-12 education. However, Deschutes County is not really "rural" The real issue is that transportation is typically vehicle dependent. Well-established infrastructure is also a problem. Further, most "urban" neighborhoods have HOAs or government rules that impose noise restrictions, inoperable vehicles, firing of guns, etc. These concerns can be a big problem. Also, urban services (water/sewer) are nice to have. Rural wells can go dry or become polluted. https://www.opb.org/article/2022/07/19/deschutes-water-rights-access-well-drilling-groundwater-central- oregon/ Several crops, such as crop of the year, millet, can be grown without water. Ag land must be preserved regardless of current use. It protects biodiversity and there are several other ways it can be used but once developed and broken up, the land is not suitable for any ag use and interferes with currently viable farms Sprawl creates more problems than they solve. Increased traffic, EMS challenges, dark sky lighting, loss of habitat, etc. The city has annexed thousands of acres with more pending. A home & yard uses far more water than unused ag lands. What's you perceive as useless is actually critical biodiversity habitats necessary to slow down the NatureServe study findings, which analyzed data from its network of over 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada, said the report was its most comprehensive yet, found 34% of plants and 40% of animals are at risk of extinction, and 41% of ecosystems are at risk of range-wide collapse. We must preserve 30% of lands and waters in the next 6.5 years. Bend had already blown that. No more unnecessary loss. The city has annexed thousands of acres with more pending. A home & yard uses far more water than unused ag lands. What's you perceive as useless is actually critical biodiversity habitats necessary to slow down the NatureServe study findings, which analyzed data from its network of over 1,000 scientists across the United States and Canada, said the report was its most comprehensive yet, found 34% of plants and 40% of animals are at risk of extinction, and 41% of ecosystems are at risk of range-wide collapse. We must preserve 30% of lands and waters in the next 6.5 years. Bend had already blown that. No more unnecessary loss. Now is NOT the time to sprawl Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 14 The city of Bend only uses about 10% of total water usage in comparison to agriculture use. Converting non-productive Ag land can and should also reduce water use. Non-productive Ag land could also simply reduce water consumption but that has not been prioritized and instead relies on out of date usage requirements/incentives and land owner decisions. This is going to be an unpopular comment in response to DTs comment. But here goes. Not everything on this planet can survive the massive overpopulation of humans. At 8 billion it's officially a planet under siege. We consider ourselves more important than anything else, me include. You will not see me, or anyone, offering up their place in the world to save plants and animals. Is what it is. More to the point, we own the property we live in for it's potential financial gains, not for birds to live on. Those are all City of Bend issues, not County Water defines farm land In Deschutes Co there is no farm land without water. In the last 3 years irrigation districts have not been able to supply water from late July to end of season, destroying much "farm" land. By reclassifying low productive farm land and removing its water rights more water would be available for productive farms increasing agriculture. We do not have enough water. Please stop building We have a perfect location, currently utilized for toxic harm. Bend municipal airport is a financial loser & does not align with Central Oregon's outdoor lover's Most developers can fit about 15 homes per acre. If remediated and developed you could fit over 5000 homes in the sprawling airport property. The yearly tax revenue from homes would reverse the toxic negative income trend and add revenue to the county treasury. Our community & education dollars should not be paying for this property & amenities to shore up its devastating impacts to facilitate PRIVATE FOR PROFIT businesses. This airport property is a bad investment. It demonstrates annual historic losses at public expense. There is an unaddressed economic impact from irreversible lead & air pollution injury which effects physical & mental health, children's education, increases ADHD, hypertension, violence, damages habitats, wildlife and livability, Building out the airport with homes would be in alignment with what central Oregonians have expressed is important to them. Building out this toxic scourge would remove the slow economic bleed from losses, and the community cost of resource burdens from classrooms to law enforcement to medical professionals. Building out would remove substantial human and wildlife harm while meeting a desperate need, adding community funds, livability, homes and real lasting value. Meanwhile, debate heats up as billion dollar suits are filled against airports & big oil. This could lead to even larger losses from Central Oregon airports, especially Bend Municipal Airport since there's always been airports more appropriately zoned and Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 15 buffered for this type of growth within a few miles and because there's been zero testing, prevention or monitoring of this air pollution. https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/seattle-tacoma-international-airport-sea-tac-pollution We need agricultural land for, um, agriculture. We need to increase density and build up. Then everything makes more sense. Greater water efficiency, more tax $$$ per square foot, public transit makes more sense, etc. Yes, dial is a great resource https://dial.deschutes.org/Real/InteractiveMap I agree with your EFU comments. With current annexation, pending annexation and several hundred acres of EFU and MUA's converted to RR in recent years plus the overall picture of MUA and EFU as seen when zooming out on dial makes me nervous. Basically, with your suggestion I visualize the area surrounding the city would look a lot like Deschutes River Woods parcels, minus the trees. Don't get me wrong, I really like that set up, but might that need to include city type roads/streets, utilities, sewers... infrastructure. Would it be considered unincorporated community? Need adjustments for buffers? Who makes those decisions? And what of the numerous exceptions with MUA which really could impact EFU? Could MUA1 be staggered to MUA10 to help facilitate buffer zone? Could specific exception criteria be excluded from exception list? As a citizen I already find it nearly impossible to keep up with requested conversions, but giving even more wiggle room will likely exaserbate the load and inappropriate exceptions. You are right that this is complex and bottom line is that the idea of 'encouraging RR outside of Urban Area' flies in the face of what makes Bend, Bend as well as possibly increasing harm to wildlife, resource and biodiversity. You eat beef? increase the countys role in developing managing and providing park and recreation fa recreation and natural res 31389 Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 16 Because the county is surrounded by so much public land and the cities all have park districts, it maybe wiser for the county to use its resources for other purposes. BPRD does a great job in the city so no need to oversee what they do. Having a cohesive county approach to Deschutes County would be good. BPRD status quo is plenty County development, enough said Commodification of public land rarely benefits biodiversity and nearby residents. Deschutes County is one of the only counties in the state without a parks department. Why? A county of 200k people with no county parks is a huge oversight and disservice to its residents. Deschutes County owns 1000s of acres of land, many of which are adjacent to other public lands (federal, state, park district, etc.). These lands can be developed into parks (campgrounds, trails for hiking/biking/horses/motorized use, nature preserves, etc.) much easier than if other agencies (especially federal) tried to develop them. These parks can be a revenue source (i.e. Sisters city campground funds the parks operating budget every year). More importantly, they provide a huge benefit to tax-paying residents who need places to economically relax, recreate, and get outside that are close by and reduce competition for scarce spaces at federal and state recreation areas within the county. County residents are stressed - from high costs, from commuting, from competing with tourists for trailhead parking and campsites! There are currently lots of federal dollars being allocated for parks and trails that, because our County has no parks department, are missing out on. Another example of County leadership showing no interest in being fiscally responsible. habitat loss to human development a large contributor to loss of species. Honor Private Property Rights When supporting new trails in the Deschutes National Forest, consider existing trails, wildlife habitat, maintenance, safety and negative effect on homeowners' private properties. parks n trails are needed. Explore optionsto create a separate district or working with BPRD to expand its boundaries not by adding a County park district. Support the outdoors, it's why it's great to live here (one of many reasons). Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 17 The Sisters Trail Alliance is again seeking support to develop a bike trail from Sisters into Black Butte Ranch (BBR). BBR is a private, gated community whose owners pay substantial HOA fees to maintain their safety, tranquility and naturalness as outlined in the Master Design. A publicly accessible bike path will provide more trespassing onto the 18 miles of BBR bike paths behind the "Private Property" gates, more unauthorized access to facilities such as racquet courts, pools, and other sports facilities. To task BBR with more sophisticated gate systems, more police presence, more enforcement of rules and regs, more observations of unauthorized bicyclists that already disregard the private property signage is not reasonable, nor should the financial burden of such be put on the homeowners. For BBR homeowners, their families and guests there already IS an alternate road connecting the Ranch with Sisters. A Forest Service road, aka Powerline Road is away from the highway and has been used for years by cyclists. Hundreds of BBR homeowners have objected in writing to this project and, upon request, I can supply the County with several pages of specific reasons why this project should be stopped. There are over 300 hiking trails within a 15 minute drive from where I live in Redmond. Maybe whatâ€™s needed is simply making that information more available? (I just looked it up in the internet though). We're growing, largely because of recreational opportunities. For more on the topic, see OPB's interview with Commissioner Phil Chang below. https://www.opb.org/article/2021/09/22/deschutes-county-keeps-growing-what-does-that-mean-for-the-region/ Ben Gordon of Central Oregon LandWatch is also interviewed by OPB's Think Out Loud. Ben always has good insights to share. Invest in the agricultural economy through grants or exploring a farmland conserva�on program Allow farms to temporarily stop using their water rights without losing them. Farms need to be more efficient with their water use, and maybe we shouldn't be supporting a farming industry IN THE DESERT with subsidies. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 18 Improving efficiencies for farmers could be beneficial. Investments in modernizing agriculture could have a lot of positive impacts on water and energy conservation. Agriculture has changed greatly over the decades. Local farmers need to be embracing these changes due to lack of water. This is a desert with low precip and an incredibly short growing season - with a changing climate complicating all of it. Investments in greenhouses that use less water, less energy, and less staff seem to be wise investments for the future. Remove mapping of water rights - efficient water use can water more acreage than what is being allowed. New incen�ves to help protect wildlife species A concerning and significant amount of habitat (shrubs mainly) are removed over fire without the science to back it. We are harming wildlife in tremendous ways doing shrub removal. Anything to support the fauna in the areas. They have it hard enough as it is. Fertility in mammals is closely tied to nutrition Ann is a major reason that Urban Sprawl is detrimental to the Mule Deer population Good urban and rural planning should inherently support wildlife. Tactics like clustering developments and wildlife underpasses are great examples of protecting wildlife and habitat. Also more investment in mass transit and a bike/ped infrastructure reduces the need for car use - a major killer of wildlife in the area. Many other cities & some countries have adopted regulations requiring bird safe construction & bird deterrent windows. We do need to adopt wildlife friendly standards as part of permitting & code. Massive biodiversity loss already. Saving species, saves us There has been too much habitat loss, worsened by county overgrowing all airports & operations by thousands of percentage points, which facilitates culling, tremendous habitat & species loss. This much loss will likely cause cascading collapses, we can't lose more. Our government is funding too much loss. https://www.divestoregon.org/oregon-treasurys-esg-investment-failure Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 19 Biodiversity in focus studies indicate we must preserve 30% of lands &waters by 2030, 6.5 years! "34% of plants and 40% of animals are at risk of extinction, and 41% of ecosystems are at risk of range-wide collapse." Not sure where these new incentives would come from, but the notion is correct. people need education on the effects of rural development on wildlife and clear hazards (eg outdoor cats) should be regulated. Residential home windows kill 500 million birds a year US/Canada; another 500 million die on commercial buildings. Bend and the County need bird safe window requirements as code. https://abcbirds.org/blog/truth-about-birds-and-glass-collisions/ The state is in the unenviable position of protecting two species of predators that are responsible for the bulk of Mule Deer mortality. Wildlife are one of the features of our area that attract tourists. Development should be respectful of the rights of nature. Windmills are becoming the biggest threat to Bald Eagles and should be prohibited in the county and the state. With many more people moving into Deschutes County, some animal habitats are being threatened, particularly mule deer. Development is harming their environment. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the mule deer population decreased about 40% near Metolius and about 30% near Paulina in a recent three-year testing period. Deschutes County's current Wildlife Area Combining Zone for mule deer hasn't been updated since the 1992. In collaboration with the ODFW, a study conducted last year identified land uses that adversely affect wildlife. To combat the issue of what ODFW calls "high human use and disturbance ODFW recommends that certain uses be prohibited or limited to protect the mule deer winter range habitats. Loud noises, and physical blockages such as fences are a couple examples of high human use and disturbance. Go here for a Deschutes County Report: https://www.deschutes.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development/page/26394/faq_- _2023_mule_deer_winter_range_inventory_update.pdf Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 20 New rules to limit development based on water availability Are existing rules being enforced? Deschutes County wells are running dry. Rural residents must bear the costly burden of digging deeper wells. It makes sense to limit development based on water. https://www.centraloregonlandwatch.org/update/2022/1/6/where-is-the-groundwater-going .......Increasing number of reports from concerned residents about their wells running dry. Many people who rely on groundwater are finding that they have to bear the costly burden of digging deeper into the ground to access the water on which they rely. While the growing alarm echoes concerns about water use in general, it casts a light on a less familiar water source: groundwater. Deschutes County's population grew by almost 28.9% since 2010, double that of Portland. Do we need to worry about water? YES WE DO. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/oregon-water-science-center/science/groundwater-upper-deschutes-basin-oregon (see below) Groundwater monitoring in the Deschutes Basin shows water-level declines are larger than might be expected from climate variations alone, raising questions regarding the influence of groundwater pumping and other human influences. Go here for more data about declining reserves of groundwater in Deschutes County: https://www.centraloregonlandwatch.org/update/2022/1/6/where-is-the-groundwater-going According to the USGS, between 1997 and 2008, groundwater levels in the central part of the basin from Sisters to Powell Butte steadily declined by as much as 14 feet. In Redmond, groundwater declines are cause for concern. Go here for a 2022 White Paper on Understanding Upper Deschutes Basic Groundwater Levels: https://gsiwatersolutions.com/White%20Paper_Understanding%20Upper%20Deschutes%20Basin%20GW%20Levels_9_26_20 22_reduced.pdf If, after a scientific examination of the water table issues in Deschutes County, you are not alarmed, than perhaps you think the profits from real estate development (and "private property rights) are more important than the health and safety of our residents and all other species. Development must take both recharge and discharge into account. Household waste contaminates the groundwater. Microplastics in the upper Deschutes headwaters. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 21 Give us free rain water catchment containers dependent on square footage I think the fact there are no Cons speaks volumes here. We are heading towards what AZ, NM, CO, and CA are dealing with. This is a statewide issue. New water laws needed. If water is scarce of course we should be smarter about how we build. Many of the â€œhobby farmsâ€ are producing local meat, vegetables, herbs, etc. for local restaurants, food carts and farmers markets. Who gets to decide what a â€œhobby farm is?â€ New rules should be promulgated especially after the Deschutes County Commissioners bypassed the tribes and Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife on the Thornburgh Resort. https://ktvz.com/news/government-politics/2023/04/12/thornburgh-resort-close-to-yet-another-county-approval-after- nearly-20-years-of-appeals-setbacks/ County Commissioner Tony DeBone explained Wednesday why he voted "yes" on an updated redaction of the Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan, despite ODFW and Warm Springs tribal concerns. Protecting the right to access clean water and maintain healthy ecosystems needs to be the countyâ€™s priority, currently that is not the case There needs to be a distinct definition of hobby farm and restrict water use and rights on those properties or other EFU properties that are only used for residences. Too many EFU properties are using massive amounts of water to irrigate lawns with no economic value. Or lands riddled with water-sucking junipers are being irrigated. These water uses do not have agricultural or habitat benefits; they just waste water and energy. Water is a valuable resource that is being depleted quickly Water scarcity is very site-specific in the County. Limitations would have to based on water availability data. Place further restric�ons on des�na�on resorts 112,448 acres in Deschutes County zoned for destination resorts. 52% of Deschutes Co. is forest land; 12,738: acres of forest land where resorts are allowed. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 22 https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/deschutes-reconsiders-destination-resort-map/article_bf3a9c3e-5f64-50dc-8d20- f19ea383a92d.html A county shall adopt, as part of its "comp plan", a map consisting of eligible lands within the county. The map must be based on reasonably available information. A map adopted pursuant to this section shall be the sole basis for determining whether tracts of land are eligible for destination resort siting pursuant to ORS Â§ 197.435 to 197.467. According to state law, destination resorts cannot be built within 24 air miles of an urban growth boundary containing a population of 100,000. Bend now has over 100,000 residents State law (ORS 197.455) The county may not allow destination resorts Within 24 air miles of an urban growth boundary with an existing population of 100,000 or more ... https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/oregon/or-statutes/oregon_statutes_197-455 Adhere to state law No destination resorts w/in 24 miles of cities UGBs. Agreed! Annually, Thornburgh can pull about as much water as the entire city of Prineville, with a population of 10,000, reported using all last year. https://www.opb.org/article/2022/07/18/tol-central-oregon-groundwater-drought/ Any local benefits are far outweighed by their burden: take huge quantity of water better directed to agriculture and the river; service jobs with wages too low to afford housing. Avoid â€œbroad brushâ€ regulation that ignores site specific variances between land and water resource Bend needs to pause urban growth until proper infrastructure is in place. Meaning an actual freeway that slingshots out and around 27th from China Hat to Cooley. All these new round-a-bouts are like putting a bandaid on a compound fracture. Deschutes County has more destination resorts than any other in Oregon. Sunriver Resort and Caldera Springs has rezoned 617 acres of former U.S. Forest land to allow for a resort. Thornburgh Resort is now able to fill its lakes and reservoirs after recent decisions from the Deschutes County Commission effectively overturned an earlier denial of the resortâ€™s plans to mitigate its water use. https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/water-could-soon-flow-at-thornburgh-resort/article_196561b6-d27f-11ed-a28b- 3754783232b0.html Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 23 DRs were intended to support tourism and economic development in rural parts of the state. Deschutes County no longer needs help with attracting tourism. Exactly Farmers that use irrigation water (surface/runoff water) were the ones that built the water distribution system for agriculture back in the 1800â€™s. Water use is codified into law. Urbanites move in from out of state and want to steal our water. Shame on you. I'd rather see the county put their resources into supporting the residents who've already invested in living here. Quit catering to the tourist! If they can be done sustainably they are fine. Isthere such a thing? Do you have an example of this? New requirements needed for all destination resorts (existing or proposed) to mitigate for changes in the county. Require them to provide employee housing on site (or offsite with transportation provided) to help mitigate for severe lack of housing for seasonal workforces and reduce traffic impacts. Also require them to create alternate routes to nearby cities or attractions to mitigate for traffic increases. These alternate routes should be bike paths (the Sunlava Path is one example, the proposed Sisters-Black Butte Ranch path is another). Opponents have said that this state law cannot be upheld because it conflicts with local land use laws. If so, local land use laws need to be revised to align with State Law. Our focus must shift away from development for profit and consumption for the few to conservation of natural resources and strategic development that strengthens community. Rural subdivisions masquerading as destination resorts is not a great land use policy. Slowing Growth While I am in favor of resorts being built here, I think our infrastructure is in need of a complete redesign. Planning needs to be thoroughly thought out. A traffic circle is not the solution to every woe The existence of destination resorts strengthens arguments for banning or severely restricting short term rentals in cities. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 24 Cities with significant housing stock being used as short term rentals have a strong case for banning or severely restricting them because there are plenty of STRs available (to buy or rent) at the destination resorts. The number of Deschutes County residents deepening wells has soared in the last two years. Thatâ€™s as development is booming. More than 1100 new wells have been drilled. https://www.opb.org/article/2022/07/18/tol-central-oregon-groundwater-drought/ These resorts do not provide that many jobs and the jobs they do are low wage. Brasada is an example of how wasteful these resorts can be. Many of the homes sit vacant for months. They are poor use of land, especially given existing infrastructure and housing needs. Thornburgh can now fill its lakes and reservoirs early April decision from two Deschutes County Commissioners "overruled" a hearings officer chose to deny request. https://twitter.com/thebulletin/status/1643410652214489090 Tourismâ€¦. The Primary Industry The primary industry here in Bend is Tourism. Adding destination resorts such as Brasada/Pronghorn and the like adds jobs Water hogs in farming and wildlife habitat-focused communities. We need to be water-wise, or we will wind up like AZ. Water is not infinite and a failure to address this will lead to major issues soon. Water issue Before approval of additional destination resorts, well water and aquifer levels must be appropriate for x number of years. Water water water water water! Weâ€™ll are going dry at an alarming rate but still politicians vote to continue building We already have more than enough Destination Resorts and the County can't add any more near Bend due to Oregon statutes. Oregon law: In 2023, Bend's population exceeds 100 residents. See the link below for ORS 197.455 for an explanation. https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_197.455 We have plenty of golf courses between Redmond and Bend. I don't think we should allow any new resorts because with that comes the golf courses and millions of water being uses. We have plenty of resorts but need to protect the landscape and environment. We need less sprawl and to preserve wildlife habitat. Destination resorts bring little to our communities. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 25 We need to do away with the pace of growth. Tourism has made this area unpleasant to live it. Pretty soon they will be busing people here from the airport for tours. Going to Bend is like visiting an ant colony. We need to limit the advertising that is done by the tourist burea for buying in Cental Oregon. They flood Facebook with telling people to move here. It is not helpful except for home builders. Require clustering of development to help protect natural resources Any large development in the WUI should be planned to reduce impacts on natural resources and protect against wildfire. Build UP not OUT. concentration of housing outside of cities should take into account their outsized impact on nearby cities. Concerns over â€œurban sprawl,â€ open-space preservation, environmental protection, and farmland loss have increased. Cluster developments offer a solution. Cluster / cottage developments site homes on smaller lots. But, "density" (the total number of homes) on any given acreage doesn't exceed what is allowed in traditional subdivision designs. Instead, the same number of homes are clustered on a smaller part of the total available land. The remaining land, which would have been allocated to individual home sites, becomes protected open space that is shared by the community's residents. For more on how Bend's Planning Commission defines Cottage Developments see Bend Development Code (BDC) 3.8.500 or go here for more info: https://www.bendoregon.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/54006 It would be ideal if other cities in Deschutes County opted for the same "density" (4 cottages or dwelling units per acre). KÃ´r Community Land Trust, a non-profit, is creating affordable homes using a cluster development "format". https://centraloregondaily.com/kor-community-land-trust-to-open-new-affordable-homeownership-community/ Cottage development also helps an aging population stay in their own homes. Fixed income people benefit because cottage clusters allow for shared gardens and walking paths. For more on this subject, go here: https://www.propelstudio.com/project/aging-in-place-cottage-cluster Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 26 Density supports more affordable housing, lower transportation costs, smaller retail establishments and reduced CO2 emissions. Open space and parks, neighborhoods. https://domz60.wordpress.com/2020/03/31/the-many-benefits-of-higher-density-development-patterns-2/ Environmentally, clustering is preferable to subdividing. Connected open space is both scenic and provides habitat for wildlife, community gardens and play areas for children. The economic benefits of cluster development include less necessary infrastructure: fewer roads, sewers, and utility lines. The higher density of the clusters of housing also tends to mean more efficiency for services such as public transit, and can also promote increased bicycle usage and the encouragement of pedestrians. The extra open space made available by this type of development leaves room for parks, trails, and community-supported agriculture. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residential_cluster_development Grouping homes together reduces initial investments in roads, utilities, and other infrastructure costs. I'm originally from France, and many French villages cluster homes together The same concept is true in European mountain villages. Historically, villages all over Europe farmed on the outskirts of town, and clustered not only houses, but bakeries, blacksmiths, etc. within the village. The Dolomites have many examples of this "clustering". It also creates a sense of community. More efforts to protect wildlife habitat need to be made. A concerning and significant amount of habitat is being removed for fire without the science to back it. More walking, bicycling, and transit use. Higher densities induce mixed-use development patterns encourage walking, biking and open space (parks). Not sure what clustering means. If it means co-locating homes with businesses then I am for this idea. Let's transform the outlet mall to a vibrant community! ODFW/ other states' research emphasizes the importance of cluster development if we insist on building in vital wildlife habitat like winter range/ in migration corridors Protect private property Do not support a public bike trail into a gated community such as Black Butte Ranch Smart growth helps mitigate the perils of climate change. Density reduces CO2 emissions. We need "complete" communities where people can bike and walk to shop, work and play. 2008 study published by the Urban Land Institute and partially funded by EPA, concluded that compact development can reduce vehicle miles traveled by 20 to 40 percent compared to conventional development. Based on the amount of Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 27 development that will take place and the percentage of that development that could reasonably be expected to be compact infill, the study estimated that compact development could reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 7 to 10 percent in 2050. Require new homes and other development to incorporate fire hardening or similar fire preven�on Fire mitigation measures save lives and communities. Lessons learned repeatedly from recent major fires are that properties using simple fire mitigation measures (landscaping changes, screen vents, etc.) fared much better than those that didn't. Communities and cities that lost a significant portion of properties are having an enormous uphill struggle to rebuild due to lack of property tax income, damaged or destroyed infrastructure like water treatment, schools, and roads, and loss of residents due to moving away (due to lack of housing) or they DIED in the fires. This means the financial burden of rebuilding is put on local government - and enormous cost versus the minor outlay of money and work needed to prepare properties upfront. The insurance industry is currently denying property coverage, too, based on their proprietary risk models and doing nothing to help owners improve their properties. The government needs to step in when capitalism fails. Fireproofing the 100' around our homes is great. Destroying wildlife habitat on large acreage is not ok. There are ways to mitigate fire without harming wildlife, science shows. Good if its a new development and plan is effective. Requiring certain materials, etc. could just limit some creative solutions. Many cities & counties are developing wildfire action plans. Deschutes County makes grants to neighborhoods/communities (mainly Firewise USA) that are working to address local risk https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/wildfire-action-plan/ There are many other examples. The County should also involve local Master Gardeners to help communities understand which plants and trees discourage wildfire and which elevate the risk. Preventative measures should depend on location. Homes in town less susceptible to wildfire. Some neighborhood communities in Bend already require concrete roof tiles and cement board siding. Local governments can offer rebates on these products. Stop building Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 28 The County must protect against all hazards, not just fire, but does not do so. Sinkholes are hazards and the County does nothing to prevent development on old landfills. We need a more comprehensive evacuation plan. Our Fire Chief said on a podcast last year there was no real citywide evacuation plan. How in this age is that possible?? Chief Riley was asked in an interview what our city evacuation strategy was and provided a completely inadequate answer. It was basically every neighborhood for themselves which is a very bad idea. We need a comprehensive strategy and messaging so that everyone is on the same page. From my personal experience in a major urban fire, the tempo, chaos and intensity of evac was a reason for more lost lives. We need a full evaluation lead by Bend Fire, the Mayor, Police etc. Well said. I was in Santa Rosa for the Tubbs Fire. The experience was horrific. Chaotic evacuation, car accidents, hospitals shutdown, power out so lights not working, fires sporadically igniting throughout the city for a week straight. We need a better evacuation strategy for the city of Bend. Not this piecemeal stuff. YES. Stop what happened in Santa Rosa or Colorado and build fire safe housing. You cannot have inexpensive end- cost housingâ€¦ with expensive build costs. Reality check! Support residen�al development on farmlands with poor soils and low produc�vity "poor soil" farmlands are still very important for rangeland/ cattle/ they are an important part of our agricultural landscape and should be retained-- build houses in UGB Agricultural lands with poor production potential should be allowed to be developed depending on their location and surrounding existing land uses. Some lands were misclassified when the state required all properties to be classified. There are some EFU lands that should not have that designation and are surrounded by development. Deschutes county should reexamine and reclassify where appropriate land classifications. City folks arenâ€™t the best neighbors for farmers. There is already a state law protecting farmers from urban neighbors trying to limit established ag practices. Concerned about creating sprawl which could lead to needing more resources such as water to support I am pro-housing, but creating sprawl is not what makes a healthy community. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 29 Infilling is always a better solution than sprawl. We need to preserve open space for wildlife habitat. No water = no agriculture Even decent soil is worthless for agriculture without water and anchorages less than 20 are an economic waste to use limited irrigation supplies on. Demand of lot sizes sufficient for parking, shops, pets etc is high. OK to limit yard size to hold down water usage. Protect Process and Neighbors. Rezoning for housing impacts nearby farms, traffic and infrastructure. This convolutes buffer zones, creates other nearby losses (i.e. road widening), circumvents multijurisdictional & community processes while possibly allowing one individual or agent to dictate location & direction of UGB. Rezoning most likely means zoning for development. The county needs to preserve and protect our limited natural resources. Digging wells for development is not the answer The county has demonstrated no initiative thus far to protect and preserve farms, especially when rezoning a nearby property. I urge caution on saying yes and hoping they do the right thing. The current county commission appears to seek revenue producing opportunities rather than land conservation. The devil in the details is what constitutes poor soil and low productivity. Who decides, and for how long until a fallow field is called low productivity? This is highly related to the location of lands in consideration. If they allow for more housing but create more traffic, emissions, light pollution, then no. Support rezoning low produc�vity farmland with poor soil to preserve open space Agriculture has evolved - while some of these lands are useless for traditional practices, can they be used for greenhouse- based operations? Be cautious of undefined adjectives. Just what? Is â€œ naturalizationâ€. Farmers, in their daily activity already an enormous amount to support wildlife. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 30 Cautious about county having ability to re-zone towards resort type projects. I agree. I believe calling agricultural land which has not been cultivated "useless" is extremely misguided. I also worry about the juniper removal. We did that with sagebrush 50 years ago and the grouse is but one of many pieces of evidence of what happens when we humans make critical errors in telling mother nature she's making a mistake. Not only can, they do not sure what zone would allow naturalization of farmland to reduce population impacts and support wildlife.If there is one that would be interesting. Oregon is being destroyed &polluted by money, Central Oregon is no exception We must get back to protecting what nature hasn't been destroyed! https://projects.oregonlive.com/polluted-by-money/part-1 Our policies drain the land of nutrients, we should repair what we wrecked and bring it back to nature. Passage of wildlife at solar? Have you been to our local solar farms? I'm all for renewables but we do need to be mindful of how, how big & where these go in. Rezone for habitat preservation, mule deer forage etc, but NO more destination resorts!! Rezoning most likely means zoning for development. The county needs to preserve and protect our limited natural resources. Simply an incorrect statement. There is no basis in fact to support this. Some of these lands can be used for concentrated solar power or wind energy and allow for passage of wildife and native habitat conservation. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update – All Responses from Consider.it Policy Forum – Prepared May 31, 2023 Page 31 The term "poor" for farm soil is extremely subjective. Soils are generally amended, and greenhouses are new options. Central Oregon has supported a wide range of farming. Water defines farm land There is no farmland in Deschutes without water and irrigation districts have been unable to supply adequate supplies. The last 3 years much land has had no water from late July to end of season, destroying crops. By redesignating less productive areas away from farm and removing water rights more of available water can go to productive farms and actually increase agriculture. A win all around. Water does not define farmland. The land & land use process defines potential farmland, ag and open space protections which is lost once built out . What protections would this open space zone have? EFU land is protected by the statewide land use system, a county open space zone would not have this same protection While statement is a bit broad, so is the context of the question. Losing peservations of farmland, buffer zones and open space has caused immense harm which needs to be rectified and protected going forward. Who gets to decide if it is poor soil, or low productivity? A fallow field for a year could be called low productivity. A developer could buy farmland, idle it then rezone it. Zoning has done a good job of protecting forest and agricultural lands over the last 50 years, but it is time to revisit the definitions of "farm" and "forest." There are definitely lands zoned EFU that are useless as agricultural lands. They need to be rezoned since that designation is prohibiting some other uses that could be more beneficial (i.e. open space, recreation, housing - all highly dependent of location). Conversely, many of these lands could improve as agricultural if mitigations - like juniper removal - were performed to increase soil quality and improve groundwater supplies. Summary of Open House Round 2 Page 28 APPENDIX C: WEBSITE AND EMAIL COMMENTS Time Name Meeting Title/Group Date If you have any comments or questions you would like to add to the conversation about the future of Deschutes County, please use the space below. 3/23/2023 13:01:40 Dorinne Tye 3/23/2023 Abbreviated version of full comments for 03/23/23 Planning Commission. Action Item 4 - Deschutes 2040 Meeting #7 Table 2 3.4.6 Support and participate in master planning for airports in Deschutes County, including expansion of noise impact boundaries and upgrades to facilities as Airports continue to grow. How do you intend to 'expand noise impact boundaries' and upgrades to facilities? Ambient air monitoring and protections EFU Prime Farmland compliance to be protected Community inclusion in these decisions? Aviation light, noise and pollution reduce health and resiliency of humans, wildlife and crops. Pollution is known to harm soil, reduce crop yields as well as nutruitional content. How will you protect citizens if noise contour is expanded over or near their homes Budget to pay for condemnations and takings? *Updated based on local government/agency comments. Intent for community notification and inclusion? D T <dorinne.tye@gmail.com> 4/5/2023 11:39:27 Leanna Please address the affordable housing crisis. Stop allowing Airbnbs on homes and ADUs that could be used as long term rentals. Stop allowing people to purchase multiple homes and outbid first time home owners. It is becoming impossible to live and work in this area because those with more money and jobs from out of the area are given advantages over families who are trying to put down roots here and who work in the community they live in. Appropriately tax those who have multimillion dollar houses. 4/8/2023 5:34:24 David Arnold Tumalo Community 4/8/2023 To start with hold a meeting in The Tumalo Community. Most important to me is ground water and illegal community spread. The fact that the county does not enforce county code is and issue for me and my neighbors. 4/10/2023 20:53:07 Alexa We should bury the open canals and create walking/biking trails above. 4/11/2023 6:25:13 John Heylin Add more Commissioners, incentivize water savings, build smarter. 4/11/2023 10:52:48 I don't think that every plan should revolve around development and growth. Central Oregon continues to be in a sustained drought, which is becoming our new normal. Development in our uban and rural areas continues to put a strain on our water resources and other natural resources. If we continue to only plan for growth and development, where will central OR be in 50-100 years. Stop changing zones and codes to allow anyone with money to move here and build a house or 2nd house. There is no limit to diggin wells and this will catch up to us if we continue to allow this to happen. Look at Arizona and California and the Colorado Basin. We do not have to over develop and have no water sources in the future. Also, our recreation opportunities are such a competition from Mt. Bachelor to hiking and biking trails and having to reserve a comping site 6 months in advance. How is this growth going to effect our natural resources on federal land from recreation. That will all have to grow as well. Central OR is all about accomodating people to move here. I would like to know the statistics of how many people move here live and work and contribute to our community vs. work remotely or own a 2nd home. We need to plan for protection of what we have available to us and why everyone is moving here to begin with, which is the natural resources, recreation, and beauty. If we continue in this path, we will slowly kill Central OR and no one will want to live here. You already see this happening in other states. 4/11/2023 11:06:00 SueAnn Alleger Solar and Wind energy make sense in the eastern cascades. Education and incentives can and do work. Commercial and residential building codes should require or incentivize within new building code and planning documents. FYI this Time Name Meeting Title/Group Date If you have any comments or questions you would like to add to the conversation about the future of Deschutes County, please use the space below. comment section is not working well on phone size screens. You cannot see what has been written to edit or clarify etc. 4/12/2023 18:31:17 Mike Environmental center 4/12/2023 Thank you!! 4/13/2023 10:10:29 Emily It would be great to see a line item about Skyline Forest. Since it will take a robust coalition to acquire and preserve this land, having a sense of whether county residents support the idea could be really helpful. 4/27/2023 15:01:02 The major issue for our county is water. We’re at the lowest as far as water recourses. But still you’re allowing more and more houses to be built for what, more property tax money. The county should be focusing on whether or not we can support all the additional people with water, which we can’t. Thank you for your consideration. 4/27/2023 15:12:15 April Farmer Deschutes county now has grant opportunities for opening new childcare facilities. We do not have grant opportunities to provide affordable care unless employees are underpaid. We do not have grant opportunities to provide healthcare for employees unless child care is unaffordable. Let’s follow New Mexico and use taxes to pay for affordable, childcare and healthcare for all childcare workers. 4/27/2023 15:45:15 Karen Trachsel Most of the roadways need to widened to accommodate all the new traffic. Stop encouraging growth when the area can't even support the current population. No new destination resorts. No new subdivisions without balancing our water use with adding more demand. 5/2/2023 12:00:25 Sally Compton More high density, urban housing for low and middle income earners. 5/2/2023 14:52:47 K A Austin None To address growth we need to move to a 5 member County Commission and non partisan elections. 5/3/2023 19:25:26 Tracy Boyer Seriously consider limiting growth 5/5/2023 7:40:53 Mel Bartels Sisters Astronomy Club 4/26/2023 Hold the line on Light Pollution. Increasing LP is a self-inflicted injury hurting Central Oregon as a destination for astro-tourists. Not to mention birds, insects, eco-systems. 5/5/2023 8:54:09 Barbara Bajec Sisters Astronomy Club 4/29/2023 I support the International Dark Sky Association's recommendations for appropriate night lighting. 5/5/2023 12:29:08 Elise Wolf Native Bird Care Avian Rescue 1 billion birds die on windows each year in North America (Smithsonian data). 500 million on commercial/government buildings; 500 on residential. Window are strikes have been the primary reason songbirds come into care at Native Bird Care over the last 12 years. Deschutes County and Central Oregon Cities have an opportunity to start to evaluate and begin the process of adding bird-safe window rules/code to commercial buildings, government buildings, and schools. There is a significant movement to do this happening across the United States, with cities, schools, and counties opting for bird safe rules or codes. https://www.audubon.org/news/theres-growing-political-push-make-more-buildings-bird-safe. Here are some resources: https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/legislative-body-meeting-attachments/2022-09-15_DRC_Item%20V_Bird%20Safe%20Regulations_Presentation.pdf; https://www.portland.gov/bps/documents/bird-safe-windows-list/download. 30% of our songbirds are in serious decline. Many are at the ecological tipping point of survival as species. Deschutes Counties attracts those who care about nature. Many of the residents care about birds. If all we did to help birds was to install bird friendly windows (affordable and available now to commercial and residential homes) or bird protective solutions (affordable, easy, many to choose from), then we would save literally millions of birds with little effort or cost. Thank you. Karyl Gothe <karylgothe@gmail.com> [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Nicole, Thanks for your response. I will share your email with my neighbors. Thank you for the opportunity to provide input. Best of luck on your endeavors. Karyl Sent from my iPad On Nov 4, 2022, at 10:54 AM, Nicole Mardell <Nicole.Mardell@deschutes.org> wrote: Hi Karyl, Thank you for submi�ng this informa�on for our Deschutes County 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update project. I’ve received the material and shared it with the project team. In addi�on to your comment, I wanted to let you know of a few ways to stay involved with the project: 1. Our website will be the one-stop shop for informa�on on the project: www.deschutes.org/2040 2. We have an online open house and survey that is open un�l November 18. You can find it under the “Get Involved” tab. The survey is collec�ng input on the key issues, challenges, and opportuni�es facing the County over the next 20 years. Please help us spread the word to your neighbors or those in your network! 3. If you have a group of neighbors that would prefer an in-person opportunity to provide input, we’re offering a “mee�ng-in-a-box” where a County planner comes to your group with a presenta�on and ac�vity to gather input. You can request one of these mee�ngs through me. 4. The website also has a sign-up for our email listserv. We’ll be sending out project updates including addi�onal ways to provide input. We’re very early on in this process, so we’ll have addi�onal in-person and virtual ways to provide input once we start cra�ing goal and policy language for the plan. Thank you and feel free to reach out with any ques�ons! Nicole Nicole Mardell, AICP | Senior Planner – Long Range Deschutes County Community Development 117 NW Lafayette Ave | Bend, Oregon 97703 Tel: (541) 317-3157 | www.deschutes.org/cd Enhancing the lives of citizens by delivering quality services in a cost-effective manner. From: Peter Gutowsky <Peter.Gutowsky@deschutes.org> Sent: Friday, November 4, 2022 9:42 AM To: Nicole Mardell <Nicole.Mardell@deschutes.org>; William Groves <William.Groves@deschutes.org> Cc: Tanya Saltzman <Tanya.Saltzman@deschutes.org> Subject: FW: 2040 Input FYI. Peter Gutowsky, AICP | Director DESCHUTES COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 117 NW Lafayette Avenue | Bend, Oregon 97703 Tel: (541) 385-1709 Enhancing the lives of citizens by delivering quality services in a cost-effective manner. From: Karyl Gothe <karylgothe@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, November 4, 2022 9:39 AM To: Planning Commission <PlanningCommission@deschutes.org> Subject: 2040 Input [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Dear Planning Commission, Having only found about about the input process for the 2040 Plan, the Big River Safety Corridor (BRSC), a group of citizens on the Upper Deschutes River who are concerned about safety and recreation, wish to provide valuable input to your 2040 Plan. Public safety should be a very high concern for your consideration as you build and implement a future plan for South Deschutes County. The safety concerns directly result from an outdated and incompatible hunting zone located on along the Deschutes River between General Patch Bridge and Forest Acres, not far from two campgrounds and a public boat launch. This is the last hunting zone on the Upper Deschutes, Some people who received this message don't often get email from karylgothe@gmail.com. Learn why this is important whereas other similar hunting grounds have been successfully closed above and below because of the same safety issues. The surrounding neighborhoods of Water Wonderland I, Water Wonderland II, Forest Acres, and River Meadows are nearly completely built out. Hunting issues threaten our immediate community and more important the recreating public (both local and visiting). The threat to safety will only worsen as the population grows with the 300+ home extension of nearby Caldera Springs. As you can imagine, with the population boom of Bend, more and more folks are pushing out to seek recreation opportunities. This area has become an extremely popular place to recreate because of its close proximity to Bend. The nearby hiking/biking/snowshoeing trails and the river see recreational activities year round. Yes! People are even paddling the river been during the winter. Obviously, hunting in this area has become incompatible with other uses and poses a threat to anyone and their pets on the trail or river. The BRSC submits the attached report and update to better explain the situation. We urge you to read it and take into consideration the safety threats that need to be addressed to keep the citizens of Deschutes County Safe as it relates to population growth and recreation on the Upper Deschutes River. The BRSC is working to close shooting and hunting in this area and urges the Planning Committee to add its voice to keep Deschutes County residents safe, especially as the situation worsens without proper planning and action. Please reach with questions or for more information via email or by phone: Karyl Gothe karylgothe@gmail.com 503-781-3467 Kate Jones evilauntkate@yahoo.com 831-818-4360 Sent from my iPad Hi Nunzie, We have two natural resources dept staff - the County Forester and Fire Adapted Communi�es Coordinator. Both of those posi�ons were vacant the last couple of months but the new staff in those posi�ons started this week. Here's a press release with their experience: htps://www.deschutes.org/forester/page/deschutes-county-hires-new-county- forester-and-fire-adapted-communi�es-coordinator. I believe our Property Manager has an asset management plan for County owned property although I am not familiar with where it is located. You can reach out to Kris�e Bollinger, our Property Manager for more informa�on: Kris�e.Bollinger@deschutes.org. Best, Nicole Deschutes County hires new County Forester and Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator Deschutes County has hired Kevin Moriarty as its new County Forester and Corinne Heiner as its new Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator. Moriarty, who starts in his new role on Nov. 14, has served as a Natural Resources Manager for Bend Parks and Recreation District since 2021. www.deschutes.org Nicole Mardell, AICP | Senior Planner – Long Range Deschutes County Community Development 117 NW Lafayette Ave | Bend, Oregon 97703 Tel: (541) 317-3157 | www.deschutes.org/cd Enhancing the lives of citizens by delivering quality services in a cost-effective manner. From: nunzie@pacifier.com <nunzie@pacifier.com> Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2022 11:15 AM To: Nicole Mardell <Nicole.Mardell@deschutes.org> Subject: Re: comp plan : natural resources [EXTERNAL EMAIL] ________________________________ Thanks Nicole Does Deschutes County have a natural resource staff? if so who are they and what is each's exper�se? Does Deschutes County have an asset management plan for the lands it owns in the rural county? Thanks Nunzie Gould On 2022-11-17 09:01, Nicole Mardell wrote: > Hi Nunzie, > > Kyle passed your email on to me as I am your contact for the > Comprehensive Plan Update. Right now, we are s�ll in the ini�al > phase of the process which is focused on gathering community input > regarding key themes, issues, and challenges facing the County over > the next 20 years. This spring, we'll have dra� goals and policies > available for review during our second round of engagement. > > Our project consultant team has quite a bit of experience with > natural resources/hazards and we are also connec�ng with our local > and state partners to gather input on exis�ng condi�ons and > poten�al strategies. > > If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to share your thoughts via > our online open house and survey. The survey closes tomorrow 11/18 at > 5 pm: > htps://ddec1-0-en- ctp.trendmicro.com:443/wis/click�me/v1/query?url=htps%3a%2f%2fsurvey.alchemer.com%2fs3%2f70 55746%2fDeschutes%2dCounty%2dComprehensive%2dPlan%2dUpdate%2dOnline%2dOpen%2dHouse %2d1&umid=123e1d20-0e5c-4af1-ac80- 0ee00e4213cc&auth=eb57�fd9ea9cdaa3b558713c132cdbc67404c41- 74112596273d686cbdd7600f0304bf9fd8143a67 > > > You can also sign up for our email listserv on the website > (www.deschutes.org/2040 [1]) to be no�fied of the project progress > including release of dra� goal and policy informa�on. > > Thank you! > Nicole > > Nicole Mardell, AICP | Senior Planner – Long Range > Deschutes County Community Development > 117 NW Lafayete Ave | Bend, Oregon 97703 > Tel: (541) 317-3157 | www.deschutes.org/cd [2] > > [3] > > [4] > > [5] > > _Enhancing the lives of ci�zens by delivering quality services in a > cost-effec�ve manner._ > > -----Original Message----- > From: nunzie@pacifier.com <nunzie@pacifier.com> > Sent: Monday, November 14, 2022 1:20 PM > To: Kyle Collins <Kyle.Collins@deschutes.org> > Subject: comp plan : natural resources > > [EXTERNAL EMAIL] > > ________________________________ > > Hi Kyle > What specific strategies is Deschutes County looking to suggest or > looking to use to address our falling precipita�on and our falling > Deschutes aquifer? > Everyone knows that going to the well to drill deeper just further > exacerbates the problem of our falling water aquifer. > > Whom from the County has exper�se in this field of natural resources > stewardship to be evalua�ng strategies and/or solu�ons? > > Thanks > Nunzie > > > > Links: > ------ > [1] htp://www.deschutes.org/2040 > [2] htp://www.deschutes.org/cd > [3] htps://www.facebook.com/Deschutes.County > [4] htps://twiter.com/deschutescounty > [5] htps://www.instagram.com/deschutes_county/ Zenia Kuzma <zenkuzma@gmail.com> [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Thank you! I will also forward this to Monica Tomosy, a re�red Fish and Wildlife researcher ,ONDA board member and a CATS member . She is keenly interested in wildlife and ecosystem impacts. Thank you. Zenia On Mon, Mar 13, 2023, 8:42 AM Nicole Mardell <Nicole.Mardell@deschutes.org> wrote: Thanks Zenia! Happy to schedule a mee�ng-in-a-box mee�ng in that case for April or May during one of your mee�ng if you’d like. Feel free to forward this to the rest of the CATS group to discuss and perhaps you could propose a few dates that would work for the group. I again just want to men�on that this plan only covers the rural areas of the County (outside of City limits), so our focus of the mee�ng will be on topics like wildfire, farmland, natural resources, and other more rural issues. If the CATS group would like to discuss any City of Sisters related issues, the City would be your main contact. Thank you! Nicole Nicole Mardell, AICP | Senior Planner – Long Range Deschutes County Community Development 117 NW Lafayette Ave | Bend, Oregon 97703 Tel: (541) 317-3157 | www.deschutes.org/cd Enhancing the lives of citizens by delivering quality services in a cost-effective manner. Disclaimer: Please note that the information in this email is an informal statement made in accordance with DCC 22.20.005 and shall not be deemed to constitute final County action effecting a change in the status of a person's property or conferring any rights, including any reliance rights, on any person. From: Zenia Kuzma <zenkuzma@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 13, 2023 8:23 AM To: Deschutes2040 <Deschutes2040@deschutes.org> Subject: Re: Sisters growth [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Thank you for your response. The CATS group include some members from the county as well. Sharon Booth from Tollgate, is a good contact from CATS. I will be out of town un�l March 30th. Another lead contact is Mark Dickens. The CATS group is mee�ng this Mom.evening. I can get you the loca�on.. Thank you,Zenia Kuzma On Mon, Mar 13, 2023, 8:15 AM Deschutes2040 <Deschutes2040@deschutes.org> wrote: Good morning Zenia, Thank you for reaching out! I have one follow up ques�on for you - the County only has planning jurisdic�on on lands outside of city limits. Does the CATS group focus in on the City of Sisters growth specifically? Best, Nicole Nicole Mardell, AICP | Senior Planner – Long Range Deschutes County Community Development 117 NW Lafayette Ave | Bend, Oregon 97703 Tel: (541) 317-3157 | www.deschutes.org/cd Enhancing the lives of citizens by delivering quality services in a cost-effective manner. Disclaimer: Please note that the information in this email is an informal statement made in accordance with DCC 22.20.005 and shall not be deemed to constitute final County action effecting a change in the status of a person's property or conferring any rights, including any reliance rights, on any person. You don't often get email from zenkuzma@gmail.com. Learn why this is important From: Zenia Kuzma <zenkuzma@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 10, 2023 8:55 AM To: Deschutes2040 <Deschutes2040@deschutes.org> Subject: Sisters growth [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Please consider a meet up with the grass roots group ,C.A.T.S, on NextDoor Sisters. They are forming a group regarding growth and development issues, and par�cularly focusing on STRs gobbling up new property and housing for ghost hotels and its impact on residents .We support sensible growth with voter input and feedback, community based tourism, and a place where teachers,service workers ,first responders can live in. They will be pos�ng a website soon. You can contact me , Zena Kuzma , or Mark Dockens a�er April 1 for further info. Thank you. You don't often get email from zenkuzma@gmail.com. Learn why this is important 1 From:D T <dorinne.tye@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, March 22, 2023 4:42 PM To:Planning Commission Subject:03/23/23 Planning Commission- Public Comment [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Abbreviated version of full comments for 03/23/23 Planning Commission. Action Item 4 - Deschutes 2040 Meeting #7 Table 2 3.4.6 Support and participate in master planning for airports in Deschutes County, including expansion of noise impact boundaries and upgrades to facilities as Airports continue to grow. How do you intend to 'expand noise impact boundaries' and upgrades to facilities? Ambient air monitoring and protections EFU Prime Farmland compliance to be protected Community inclusion in these decisions? Aviation light, noise and pollution reduce health and resiliency of humans, wildlife and crops. Pollution is known to harm soil, reduce crop yields as well as nutruitional content. How will you protect citizens if noise contour is expanded over or near their homes Budget to pay for condemnations and takings? *Updated based on local government/agency comments. Intent for community notification and inclusion? You don't often get email from dorinne.tye@gmail.com. Learn why this is important April 17,2023 Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners Deschutes County Planning Commission c/o Nicole Mardell,Senior Planner Deschutes County Community Development Department 117 NW Lafayette Ave Bend,Oregon 97703 RE:robust community support for the Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan update to incorporate policies that protect wildlife and open space,preserve agricultural land,and protect natural resources. Dear Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission, We undersigned organizations,whose membership includes thousands of Deschutes County residents,are concerned about the trajectory of our county.Over the past decade,we’ve watched as wildlife populations have dwindled,water tables have dropped,rural and agricultural lands have been developed into luxury housing,open spaces have been lost,and accelerating climate change continues to exacerbate all of these issues.In response,we have come together to deliver a joint message to the County:Deschutes County should change course.It should do so by updating its comprehensive plan to incorporate the following points: -Protect Wildlife,Biodiversity,and Open Space o Protect our regions biodiversity,and proactively respond to dwindling wildlife populations in our region o Protect wildlife by using the best available data to update all wildlife habitat inventories o Prioritize preservation of open space in Deschutes County o Value trees for their climate change mitigation and ecosystem value -Preserve Agricultural Land o Keep agricultural lands zoned for farm use,including dry rangeland,by ending spot zoning o Keep agricultural land priced for farmers o Encourage conservation and efficiency improvements and encourage equitable water distribution to provide sufficient irrigation water for commercial farmers -Protect the Region’s Strained Water Resources: o Maintain groundwater data and limit new development in areas with declining groundwater levels o Help upgrade infrastructure for water delivery and use,to benefit agricultural water users and to place more water instream for fish and wildlife habitat o Require water conservation in new development and property improvements -Protect Communities from Wildfire: o Ensure wildfire safe communities and reduce risk to firefighters,by protecting current development and limiting future development in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) -Support Housing Affordability and Availability Inside our Cities o Work with cities to plan for and produce needed affordable housing inside urban growth boundaries,including planning for future growth -Address Emerging Trends o Integrate a response to climate change throughout the comprehensive plan o Plan for renewable energy facility development while also protecting open space, wildlife,and agricultural lands o Appropriately resource County code compliance and enforce existing laws Deschutes County has a responsibility to its residents to safeguard its wildlife,working lands, and natural resources—we look forward to the County’s use of this comprehensive plan update to meet this obligation by incorporating the above values. Sincerely, Rory Isbell Rural Lands Program Manager Staff Attorney Central Oregon LandWatch Greg Holmes Rural Lands Policy Director 1000 Friends of Oregon Lindsey Hardy Energy &Waste Programs Director The Environmental Center Michael O’Casey Deputy Director,Pacific Northwest Region Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Mary Fleischmann Leader Central Oregon Bitterbrush Broads Great Old Broads for Wilderness Gretchen Valido &Mathieu Federspiel Chair &Vice Chair Juniper Group Sierra Club Sally Compton Executive Director Think Wild Rick Martinson Executive Director Worthy Environmental Diane Hodiak Executive Director 350Deschutes Eva Eagle Oregon Land &Water Alliance Bret Campbell &Dick Kellogg Friends of the Metolius Suzanne Linford Protect Animal Migration [EXTERNAL EMAIL] I certainly hope there would be no rezoning of precious farmland. We need our farmers. Especially small local farmers that can contribute to our communi�es, farmers markets and economy at large. And also produce healthy organic food. Let's start thinking about the health of our community and stop this investor frenzy to grab every piece of land. Homegrown is the future. On Tue, Apr 11, 2023, 9:35 AM Deschutes County Community Development <nicole.mardell@deschutes.org> wrote: Deschutes County 2040 - Spring Open Houses Hello! You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates for the Deschutes County 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update Project. To learn more about Comprehensive Plans and County Planning, please visit our website at: www.deschutes.org/2040 Planning staff invites community members to share their thoughts on policy directives to tackle issues related to recreation, housing, water, and more! Read on for ways to get involved. Deschutes County 2040 Online Forum How should low-value farmland be used? What type of housing should be allowed in rural areas? What role should the County play in parks and recreation? What type of incentives should be offered to conserve water? As Deschutes County grows over the next 20-years, staff and community Jeanne Brooks <ms.jeanbrooks@gmail.com> members have an opportunity to provide new direction for growth and development in rural Deschutes County. Join the conversation virtually with our Deschutes County 2040 forum. Rank your level of support or opposition on potential policy directives. With this tool you can share pros and cons of a particular policy approach, and interact with others virtually. Click the link below to participate - the forum will be live from April 5, 2023 - May 5, 2023. Want some help navigating the forum? Email deschutes2040@deschutes.org for a tutorial. Click to Visit the Online Forum Image: Deschutes County 2040 Online Forum Community Open Houses Join us at one of our four in person open houses to learn about the key issues facing Deschutes County, rank your support for policy directives through an interactive exercise, and split up into small groups to share your thoughts on the future of the County. All four open houses will have the same format, no need to attend all four. Click below for meeting information and to RSVP! • Terrebonne/Redmond Area Open House - April 17, 4:30-6:30 pm • Bend Area Open House - April 19, 6-8 pm • La Pine/Sunriver Area Open House - April 26, 6-8 pm • Sisters Area Open House - April 27, 4-6 pm • Virtual Open House - April 28, 9-10 am Image: Brothers Open House April 5, 2023 Meeting-in-a-Box Requests Prefer a smaller more casual format? Request a meeting-in-a-box where we bring the meeting to you. Whether it be a book club, a social organization, nonprofit board, or a group of friends, share your input about potential County initiatives on topics like wildfire, housing, and natural resources. Email us at deschutes2040@deschutes.org to request a meeting. Image: Community Meeting Questions? Email us at deschutes2040@deschutes.org To request this information in an alternate format, please call (541) 317-3157 or email accessibility@deschutes.org. Deschutes County | 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, OR 97703 Unsubscribe ms.jeanbrooks@gmail.com Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by nicole.mardell@deschutes.org powered by Try email marketing for free today! David Arnold <daarnold66@gmail.com> [EXTERNAL EMAIL] As I understand it the Tumalo Community Plan is only dealing with the unincorporated community. Such as the sewer,growth, transporta�on. I live on Connarn road and do visit the community for Tumalo Irriga�on mee�ngs, Tumalo vet clinic and to get gas for our small sheep ranch. Oh yes once in a while lunch at The Bite. Given our current problem with wells going dry, high speed traffic on Cline Falls Road, non permited growth on rural farms and ranch’s. And yes, the en�re community’s concerns with Thornburgh Resort and the mule deer wildlife overlay. Since I don’t live in what was once the Laid-law district, I defer to those that live there to speak up on what they want. Let the folks from Tumalo Reservoir road to Barr road voice their opinions. Thanks On Sat, Apr 8, 2023 at 6:08 PM Nicole Mardell <Nicole.Mardell@deschutes.org> wrote: Hi David, Great ques�on. Deschutes County 2040 is our countywide Comprehensive Plan update, which will inform new goals and policies surrounding growth. At the same �me, we are upda�ng one of our area- specific plans, the Tumalo Community Plan. This will be an appendix to the Deschutes County 2040 plan, with policies and goals that are more specific to Tumalo. We have other area-specific plans as well, but they are not being updated this year due to budget/staff constraints. The project website for the Tumalo Community is found here: www.Deschutes.org/TumaloPlan We’ve held open houses for the Tumalo Community Plan update at the Tumalo school in May and August 2022 and are holding another one in May (next month). We felt a mee�ng for the broader Deschutes 2040 project in April in Tumalo may feel like mee�ng overload to community members, which is why you don’t see one listed. Hope that provides some clarity for your ques�on and I do hope that you par�cipate in any of our mee�ngs, either in person or online. For the broader Deschutes County 2040 project, you can find ways to get involved on our website: www.deschutes.org/2040. Happy to chat more if you have any ques�ons. Best, Nicole Nicole Mardell, AICP | Senior Planner – Long Range Deschutes County Community Development 117 NW Lafayette Ave | Bend, Oregon 97703 Tel: (541) 317-3157 | www.deschutes.org/cd Enhancing the lives of citizens by delivering quality services in a cost-effective manner. Disclaimer: Please note that the information in this email is an informal statement made in accordance with DCC 22.20.005 and shall not be deemed to constitute final County action effecting a change in the status of a person's property or conferring any rights, including any reliance rights, on any person. From: David Arnold <daarnold66@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, April 8, 2023 5:27:53 AM To: Deschutes2040 <Deschutes2040@deschutes.org> Subject: 2040 Mee�ngs [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Why no mee�ng in Tumalo? Looks like Tumalo does not mater to the County. You don't often get email from daarnold66@gmail.com. Learn why this is important 1 From:Rory Isbell <rory@colw.org> Sent:Tuesday, April 18, 2023 11:08 AM To:Board; Planning Commission; Nicole Mardell Cc:Greg Holmes; Lindsey Hardy; Michael O'Casey; Mary Fleischmann; Mathieu Federspiel; Sally Compton; Rick Martinson; Diane Hodiak; Eva Eagle; Bret Campbell; Suzanne Linford Subject:Coalition comments on the Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan 2040 update Attachments:2023.04.17_Deschutes2040_JointAdvocacyLetter.pdf [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Dear Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners and Deschutes County Planning Commission, Our twelve organizations - 1000 Friends of Oregon, 350 Deschutes, Central Oregon LandWatch, The Environmental Center, Friends of the Metolius, Great Old Broads for Wilderness Bitterbrush Broads, Oregon Land and Water Alliance, Protect Animal Migration, Sierra Club Juniper Chapter, Think Wild, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Worthy Environmental - jointly submit the attached comment letter on the ongoing Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan update. We collectively ask that the updated comprehensive plan do better to protect our land, water, and wildlife. We look forward to further engaging in this process to create a better future for Deschutes County. Regards, Rory Isbell, on behalf of the twelve signatory organizations ______________________ Rory Isbell (he/him) Staff Attorney & Rural Lands Program Manager Central Oregon LandWatch 2843 NW Lolo Drive, Suite 200 Bend, Oregon 97703 541-647-2930 x804 You don't often get email from rory@colw.org. Learn why this is important 1 From:Jeanne Brooks <ms.jeanbrooks@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 2, 2023 10:55 AM To:Deschutes2040 [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Water is a critical issue here and throughout the West. No more golf courses, destination resorts and other commercial enterprises until we are sure the farmers, ranchers and our neighbors have enough clean water. Please stop avoiding this issue. We need a forum including Landwatch, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Water keeper Alliance, Nature Conservancy Resources and others committed to a sustainable healthy environment. Thank you. You don't often get email from ms.jeanbrooks@gmail.com. Learn why this is important Summary of Open House Round 2 Page 29 APPENDIX D: DEMOGRAPHICS SECTION 1: CONSIDER.IT RESPONDENTS 1 1 2 3 74 7 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Race 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Own a Home Own a Local Business Work in a Local Business Own Agriculutral Land Rent a Home Live Here, Do Not Rent or Own a Home Go to School Relationship to Deschutes County Summary of Open House Round 2 Page 30 9770116% 97702 26% 97703 16% 97707 5% 97739 3% 97756 11% 97759 15% 97760 1% Other :: 94010 1%(blank) 6%Zip Code SECTION 2: DEMOGRAPHIC CARD RESPONSES FROM IN-PERSON EVENTS Your relationship to Deschutes County Rent a home Own a home Live here, do not rent or own a home Own agricultural land Own a local business Work in a local business Go to school Invalid answer No response Total Count 1 13 2 6 2 1 0 0 1 18 % 5.56% 72.22% 11.11% 33.33% 11.11% 5.56% 94.74% % (including no response) 5.26% 68.42% 10.53% 31.58% 10.53% 5.26% 5.26% 100.00% I live in the following Zip Code: 97701 97702 97703 97707 97739 97756 97759 97760 97712 Other Invalid answer No response Total Count 5 5 2 0 0 1 3 0 3 1 0 0 19 % 26.32% 26.32% 10.53% 5.26% 15.79% 15.79% 5.26% 100.00% My Age is: Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 Over 75 I prefer not to answer Invalid answer No response Total Count 0 0 1 3 4 1 8 2 0 0 0 19 % 5.26% 15.79% 21.05% 5.26% 42.11% 10.53% 100.00% I have lived in Deschutes County: Less than 5 years 5-9 years 10-19 years 20 years or more Invalid answer No response Total Count 5 3 5 5 0 1 18 % 27.78% 16.67% 27.78% 27.78% 94.74% % (including no response) 26.32% 15.79% 26.32% 26.32% 5.26% 100.00% Gender Female Male Non-binary I prefer not to answer If you prefer to self-describe your gender identity, please do so here: Invalid answer No response Total Count 11 8 0 0 1 1 0 19 % 57.89% 42.11% 5.26% 5.26% 100.00% Which of the following most accurately describes your race and ethnic identities. Alaskan Native First Nation/American Indian/Indigenous Asian or Asian American or South Asian Black or African American Hispanic or Latino/a or Chicano/a Middle Eastern/North African Pacific Islander White/European American I prefer not to answer If you prefer to self-describe your racial/ethnic identity, please do so here: Invalid answer No response Total Count 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 17 0 0 1 18 Summary of Open House Round 2 Page 32 % 5.56% 94.44% 94.74% % (including no response) 5.26% 89.47% 5.26% 100.00% My yearly household income is: Less than $35,000 $35,000-$50,000 $50,000-$75,000 $75,000-$100,000 $100,000-$150,000 $150,000 and above I do not know I prefer not to answer Invalid answer No response Total Count 1 2 2 2 7 0 1 2 0 2 17 % 5.88% 11.76% 11.76% 11.76% 41.18% 5.88% 11.76% 89.47% % (including no response) 5.26% 10.53% 10.53% 10.53% 36.84% 5.26% 10.53% 10.53% 100.00% In my household, we speak: English as a primary language Spanish as a primary language A primary language neither English nor Spanish (please specify below) Other Invalid answer No response Total Count 18 0 0 0 1 18 % 100.00% 94.74% % (including no response) 94.74% 5.26% 100.00% Are you a veteran of or active duty in any US armed service? Yes No Invalid answer No response Total Count 0 17 0 2 17 % 100.00% 89.47% % (including no response) 89.47% 10.53% 100.00%