HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix B - Tumalo Community PlanExhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
Deschutes County
Tumalo Community Plan
2020-2040
Deschutes County Community Development
Updated 2024
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Introduction
The Tumalo Community Plan (Community Plan) is an integral part of the Deschutes County
Comprehensive Plan and, upon adoption by the Board of County Commissioners, constitutes
an official chapter (Section 4.7). The Community Plan may only be changed if it is reviewed
through an official legislative plan amendment process. The Community Plan’s goals and
policies provide a decision-making guide for land use planning, capital improvements, and
physical development during the next 20 years (2020 – 2040). It is anticipated that Deschutes
County, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), special districts, residents, and
community leaders will consult the Community Plan when preparing land use or
transportation projects in Tumalo.
Tumalo is a small rural community located approximately three miles northwest of Bend in
the center of Deschutes County. Oregon Administrative Rules recognize areas in Deschutes
County like Tumalo as an “Unincorporated Community” under OAR 660-022. Of the four
types of unincorporated communities identified in OAR 660-022, Tumalo is a Rural
Community. OAR 660-022 states a Rural Community is a place “which consists primarily of
permanent residential dwellings but also has at least two other land uses that provide
commercial, industrial, or public uses (including but not limited to schools, churches, grange
halls, post offices) to the community, the surrounding rural area, or to persons traveling
through the area.”
Image: Metal Statute, Photo Credit: Deschutes County Staff
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Deschutes County plans and regulates land uses in Tumalo under this legal definition. The
Deschutes River and U.S. 20 bisect Tumalo. Single-family home neighborhoods, a small
commercial node, as well as Tumalo Community School all lie north of the highway and west
of the river. Additional commercial and industrial properties are located on the south side of
the highway. This includes a more recent residential neighborhood with higher densities
than previously found in Tumalo. Although this Community Plan only addresses lands within
the Tumalo boundary, access to U.S. 20, local businesses, district offices, Tumalo Community
School, and Tumalo State Park create a hub that attracts nearby residents and visitors.
The Tumalo Community School, within the Redmond School District, had originally served
children between kindergarten and 8th grade, with an approximate attendance of 407
students in 2010. Beginning in 2020, due to decreasing student attendance numbers, the
school transitioned away from a middle school model and began serving around 250
students between kindergarten and 5th grade. The school’s geographic service area extends
to the outlying areas of Bend, in addition to Tumalo.
Just one mile away, Tumalo State Park encompasses approximately 156 acres with an
addition 52 acres of contiguous surrounding land also owned and operated by the Oregon
State Parks system. The park offers camping, picnicking, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing
and hosted approximately 517,000 visitors in 2021. Its location provides an excellent place
to camp while enjoying Central Oregon’s surrounding amenities and year-round recreation.
A 2.4-mile segment of the 12-mile Deschutes River Trail is accessible from a day-use area
parking lot within Tumalo. The trail follows the Deschutes River south 1.4 miles to Riley Ranch
Nature Reserve, which offers additional trails.
Between 2010 and 2020, Tumalo has undergone significant changes in terms of land use
activities and transportation improvements. Several artisan shops have opened along Cook
Avenue, there is a thriving food cart pod, the Twin Bridges State Scenic Bikeway rolls through
Tumalo, and a two-lane roundabout is due to open in 2023/24 at US 20/Cook-OB Riley
intersection. The County anticipates an additional roundabout at Cline Falls Highway/Tumalo
Road intersection. A small-scale sewer system has developed that serves the higher-density
neighborhood in an area bounded by the south side of US 20, Bailey Road, and OB Riley
Road. Based on residents’ requests, the County hired a consultant to conduct a sewer
feasibility study, which was conducted in 2022. The sewer feasibility study provides a high-
level assessment of the costs and potential for sewer expansion throughout Tumalo as many
properties are on older septic systems. The feasibility study provided information to
residents on potential next steps if the community chooses to form a sewer district.
Based on the changes noted above and the population growth in the community, the County
determined it was time to update the 2010-2030 TCP. The County also received a
Transportation Growth Management (TGM) grant to focus on bicycling, walking, and transit,
aka active transportation, in Tumalo. Both efforts involved extensive coordinated public
outreach.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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The TCP Open Houses occurred in the Tumalo Community School gym on May 11, 2022
(kickoff meeting); August 8, 2022 (draft goals and policies); and May 17, 2023 (revised draft
goals and policies). Additionally, staff held Meet A Planner one-on-one sessions in Tumalo
from June 13-24, 2022 and again from May 2-9, 2023. Finally, staff created public web pages
and online story maps to summarize the project, conduct surveys, and provide updates.
The TGM grant took a similar approach to public outreach, including a June 8, 2022, walking
tour of downtown Tumalo where the public provided comments and suggestions. The TGM
bike/ped/transit grant also included a story map, a website, and stakeholder advisory
committee meetings. The TGM grant’s recommendations for bike/ped/transit are
incorporated into the TCP.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Tumalo Vicinity Map
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Tumalo Community School Student Boundary Map
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Community Vision Statement
Retain the livability of Tumalo as a rural small town, by ensuring safe and efficient public services
and collaborating with the surrounding rural area.
Tumalo residents’ input crafted this community vision for 2020 to 2040. It is their intent that
the Community Plan, developed in cooperation with Deschutes County, will serve as a
framework to realize this vision. The community input came from several public venues. These
included public open houses, one-on-one meetings with County planners, public surveys,
online comments, and e-mails to County staff. Input came from people who lived within the
boundaries of Tumalo as well as those who live near Tumalo and either shop or work there or
send their children to school there.
Notice of the first open house was mailed to every property (261 total) in Tumalo as well as
flyers hung through the community. In-person open houses were held at the Tumalo
Community School on May 11 and August 22, 2022, and averaged between 50 and 70
attendees at each meeting. A virtual open house and survey was held between June 29, 2022
- July 22, 2022, and gathered 55 responses related to the community vision and key issues
facing Tumalo.
Staff held a one-on-one engagement series called “Meet A Planner”, in which community
members could have a 30-minute conversation with a planner to express the key issues,
challenges, and concerns facing Tumalo. Seven meetings occurred between June 20-24,
2022, either in person at Tumalo Coffeehouse or virtually.
The County developed an e-mail listserv for the project updates by collecting emails through
sign-in sheets at the open houses or directly via the project website. As of June 1, 2023, 181
community members subscribed for project updates. Nine total project updates were sent
throughout the process to advertise in-person and online engagement events.
The 2010-2030 and 2020-2040 Community Vision statements are practically identical. The only
changes were directed at deletion of the hyphen in “small-town” and changing “rural
community” to “rural area.” The latter relates to Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 660-022 and
how that provision clarifies that the word “community” refers to a more geographically limited
area. Overall, respondents expressed a strong desire to keep the vision statement unchanged
and for Tumalo to remain rural in nature. The intent to keep the community rural is consistent
with OAR 660-022.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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History
Situated at an elevation of approximately 3,200 feet, Tumalo lies in the middle of the Upper
Deschutes River Basin (river miles 157 and 158). The commercial core of Tumalo lies on an
alluvial bowl bounded by the Laidlaw Butte and the bluff of the Deschutes River canyon. The
Deschutes River bisects the community. Originally named Laidlaw, Tumalo was platted by
the Laidlaw Townsite Company in 1904. However, development originally began in 1899
when the Three Sisters Irrigation Company incorporated. Under the Carey Act, they made
plans for diverting water from Tumalo Creek and the Deschutes River to irrigate
approximately 60,000 acres of arid land. As the town grew, it became a voting precinct in 1906,
with 65 registered voters compared to Bend’s 66. Out of nearly 900 platted lots, a third were
sold by 1907.
Town founder A.W. Laidlaw of Portland and his investors believed that Tumalo would
become the heart of Central Oregon. By 1909, the Laidlaw community aspired to establish the
junction of two railroads, and thereby creating a new “metropolis” in Central Oregon. There
were reasons for optimism as railroad magnates James Hill and E. H. Harriman were
competing to finish a rail line from the mouth of the Deschutes River to Central Oregon. Mr.
Laidlaw assumed the rail line would come south, up the Deschutes River canyon, into the
newly platted town. Assertions were also made that the Laidlaw community would benefit
from connection to another rail line, one that followed the North Santiam River and crossed
over the Cascades.
Ultimately, neither of these two projects came to fruition. At the end of 1909, the Columbia
Southern Railroad still ended in Shaniko, and the Corvallis and Eastern rail lines remained
stalled at the foothills west of the Cascades. Both rail line projects ultimately languished for
approximately 15 years. Following the announcement in 1910 that the Columbia Southern
Railroad was connecting to Bend instead of Laidlaw, Bend began outpacing Laidlaw in
population. As a result, Laidlaw’s population decreased to 250 people, with many
businesses relocating to Bend. The small town remained as Laidlaw until the Laidlaw Post
Office closed in 1913. The post office eventually reopened in 1923 as the Tumalo Post
Office, and the name of the town was changed to Tumalo.
In those early days, Laidlaw had a weekly newspaper, a barbershop, two-story hotel, lawyers’
offices, wallpaper company, bakery, feed stores and bank. Today, legacy buildings include the
Laidlaw Bank and Trust Property and Tumalo Community Church.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Land Use
The 1979 Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan designated Tumalo as a Rural Service
Center because it contained a concentration of residential and commercial properties. A
1979 inventory showed Tumalo consisting of 491 acres and 288 tax lots. In 1994, the Oregon
Land Conservation and Development Commission adopted a new Oregon Administrative
Rule for unincorporated communities, instituting new land use requirements for Tumalo
(OAR 660, Division 22). As part of periodic review, in 1997 Deschutes County updated its
Comprehensive Plan and implemented zoning regulations to comply with these state
requirements. Based on public input, Tumalo’s boundary was amended to accommodate
504.11 acres and 321 tax lots. A 1999 amendment removed three tax lots that were
accidentally included, leaving Tumalo with 318 tax lots as inventoried during the County’s
2010 update to the Tumalo Community Plan. Deschutes County Code (DCC) 18.67
implements land use zoning in Tumalo while DCC 18.67 Table A sets road standards.
Since the 2010 Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan update, including updates to the
Tumalo Community Plan, the total number of tax lots has increased to 361. The increase in
tax lots can be attributed to land use patterns in the area including land divisions, property
line adjustments, and property-specific tax lot review related to the original Laidlaw Town
Plat.
Population and Demographic Data
Single-family residences are the predominant land use in Tumalo. Tables 1, 2 and 3 cite
Deschutes County Assessor data and an adopted 20-year population forecast to estimate
Tumalo’s 2021, future build out, and 2040 population.
Table 1 - 2021 Tumalo Population Estimate
Housing Units* Deschutes County 2020 Census (Persons Per
House)
2021 Population
Estimate
232 2.47* 574
*2021 Assessor's
Data *2020 Census Data
Table 2 - Tumalo Projected Build Out
2021 Population
Estimate
Potential
Dwelling
Units*
Deschutes County
2020 Census
(Persons Per
House)
Future
Population on
Undeveloped
Lots
Build Out
Population
574 101 2.47 250 824
*Assessor's Data 2021
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Tumalo Vacant Parcels and Projected Build-Out Map (2020)
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Table 3 - Tumalo Population Forecast
Year Forecasted Population Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR)
2021 574 2.2%
2022 587 2.2%
2025 600 2.0%
2030 612 1.7%
2035 622 1.5%
2040 631 1.3%
2045 639 1.2%
2047 647 1.1%
2050 654 1.1%
2055 661 1.1%
2060 669 1.1%
2065 676 1.1%
2070 684 1.1%
2072 691 1.1%
County Population Forecast (Portland State University, 2022)
Tumalo’s projected population for 2040 is 631. This projection is extremely conservative due
to limited wastewater infrastructure discussed below in Public Facilities and Services. As
Table 2 illustrates (and further detailed in Table 6), a vacant lands inventory performed in
2021 identified 105 undeveloped residential lots capable of supporting up to 101 potential
dwelling units. If all 105 undeveloped lots become developed and household unit size
remains at 2.47, Tumalo’s population would increase by 250 people, bringing its total to 824.
Under this scenario, Table 3 shows that full build out would not occur until after 2072. Since
the 2020 Tumalo Community Plan adoption, Tumalo and the surrounding County jurisdiction
are projected to experience the compounding factors of an aging population and a notably
lower fertility rate. The age and fertility data combined with an overall expectation for
increased population within cities and other sub-areas of Deschutes County results in a
lower average annual growth rate than previous years. Other factors potentially affecting the
relatively low forecasted population growth rate include housing availability and affordability
challenges, the heightened cost of living, and the detrimental impacts of regional wildfires.
Race and Ethnicity
Tumalo is a predominantly white community, though the population growth over the past
10 years has seen an increase in racial and ethnic diversity, primarily among Hispanic or
Latino community members. The percentage of Hispanic or Latino community members has
increased from 3.3% (2010) to 6.6% (2020) of the total population. For the purposes of
providing race and ethnicity data for Tumalo, population counts for the Tumalo Census
Designated Place (CDP) are utilized below in Table 4, rather than the County’s population
estimate provided in referenced Tables 1 and 2. The most significant difference between
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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2010 and 2020 is seen in the “White alone” single-race individuals, with the percentage of
individuals decreasing from 93.2% of the total population (2010) to 88.5% (2020).
Table 4 - Tumalo CDP Race and Ethnicity (2010 and 2020)
Tumalo (2010) Tumalo (2020)
Total Population: 488 558
Hispanic or Latino 16 (3.3%) 37 (6.6%)
Not Hispanic or Latino: 472 (96.7%) 521 (93.4%)
Population of one race: 460 (94.3%) 506 (90.7%)
White alone 455 (93.2%) 494 (88.5%)
Black or African American alone 1 (0.2%) 1 (0.2%)
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 3 (0.6%) 6 (1.1%)
Asian alone 1 (0.2%) 2 (0.4%)
Some Other Race alone 0 3 (0.5%)
Two or More Races: 12 (2.5%) 15 (2.7%)
Population of two races: 6 (1.2%) 12 (2.2%)
White; Black or African American 1 (0.2%) 1 (0.2%)
White; American Indian and Alaska Native 3 (0.6%) 6 (1.1%)
White; Asian 2 (0.4%) 0
White; Some Other Race 0 4 (0.7%)
Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific
Islander 0 1 (0.2%)
Population of three races: 6 (1.2%) 3 (0.5%)
White; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacific Islander 6 (1.2%) 3 (0.5%)
2010 and 2020 US Decennial Census, Tumalo CDP-specific data
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Tumalo Census Designated Place (CDP) Map
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Land Use Designations and Inventory
Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan designations identify general land uses for the
community of Tumalo and provide the legal framework for establishing zoning districts.
Zoning regulates land uses that are allowed in each respective district. Table 5 lists Tumalo
comprehensive plan designations and corresponding zoning districts. Table 6 summarizes
existing property inventories within those zoning districts, including those properties that
may be encumbered by multiple zones. Detailed descriptions of the Tumalo Comprehensive
Plan designations are provided below.
Table 5 - Tumalo Land Use Designations
Comprehensive Plan Designations Zoning Districts
Commercial (TuC) Commercial District (TuC)
Floodplain (FP) Floodplain (FP)
Industrial (TuI) Industrial District (TuI)
Research and Development (TURE) Research and Development District (TURE)
Residential (TuR) Residential District (TuR)
Residential 5 Acre Minimum (TUR5) Residential Five Acre Minimum District (TUR5)
Table 6 - Tumalo Land Use Inventory
Zone Residential Units /
Number of Lots
Commercial &
Industrial
Developments /
Number of Lots
Undeveloped
Parcels
Total
Number
of Parcels
TUC 43 Units / 36 Lots 31 Buildings / 28 Lots 51 115
TUR 80 Units / 78 Lots 18 96
TUR/TUC 3 Units / 3 Lots 2 5
TUR/FP 27 Units / 27 Lots 10 37
TUR5 57 Units / 54 Lots 12 66
TUR5/FP 27 Units / 24 Lots 8 32
TURE 1 Building / 1 Lot 1 2
TUI 13 Buildings / 5 Lots 1 6
FP 2 2
Total 237 Units / 222 Lots
45 Buildings / 34
Lots 105 361
Assessor's Data 2021/2022
Commercial (TUC). A “Commercial” designation allows a range of limited commercial and
industrial uses to serve Tumalo and the surrounding area. In general, the designation
extends north from the approximate intersection of Riverview Ave and Cedar Lane (bound
by U.S. 20 to the west) to 3rd Street between Wood and Wharton Avenues. Commercial lands
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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also comprise an area west of U.S. 20 between 5th and 8th Streets, bound on the west by
Strickler Ave and Bailey Road.
This designation was originally intended to accommodate a mixture of small-scale
commercial and limited industrial uses that historically existed within the community. The
core commercial area initially encompassed lands adjacent to Cook Avenue, north of U.S. 20.
The designation was ultimately expanded between Cook and Wharton Avenues, extending
south to U.S. 20. This area includes the “Tumalo Mall,” an existing commercial and retail
complex. The use of this building received authorization as a nonconforming use in 1986 and
site plan alterations in 1987 and 1988. These land use actions brought the existing uses and
structures into compliance with the commercial zone.
Currently, the core commercial area supports a variety of uses and development including
cideries, a food cart pod, a greengrocer, the Tumalo Country Store gas station and general
store, Tumalo Irrigation District office, a veterinary clinic, a second commercial complex at
the intersection of 4th Street and Cook Ave, the Historic Tumalo Church buildings, vacant
property owned and maintained by the Tumalo Community School, and a boutique leather
goods manufacturer. The majority of these uses and structures have received land use
approval within the past four years. The Tumalo commercial zoning district also allows for
limited residential development and uses.
Photo: The Bite Food Cart Pod, Photo Credit: County Planning Staff
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Floodplain (FP). A “Floodplain” designation protects the public and private property from
hazards associated with floodplains; conserves important riparian areas along rivers and
streams for fish and wildlife resources; and preserves significant scenic and natural
resources. This designation follows the channel of the Deschutes River that bisects Tumalo.
The areas of special flood hazard are identified by the Federal Insurance Administration in a
report titled Flood Insurance Study for Deschutes County, Oregon and Incorporated Areas. This
report was revised in September 2007, and includes accompanying Flood Insurance Rate
Maps. The Flood Insurance Study is on file at the Deschutes County Community
Development Department.
In 2020, the Deschutes Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) was finalized and approved by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The HCP, which is a 30-year plan, was part of an application
for an Endangered Species Act incidental take permit (ITP) that authorizes incidental take,
aka death, of listed species (Oregon spotted frog, bull trout, steelhead trout, and sockeye
salmon) caused by covered activities. Based on the HCP, Wickiup Reservoir will alter its
operation to improve conditions in the Deschutes River between the reservoir and Bend. The
minimum flow will be 100 cubic-feet per second (cfs) in Years 1 through 7,300 cfs in Years 8
through 12, and 400 cfs (with provisions for up to 500 cfs) in Years 13 through 30. These
increases in winter flows will likely change floodplain patterns within range of the Tumalo
community. Additionally, enhanced lidar terrain data derived from the Oregon Department
of Geological and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) may indicate a changing floodplain
component of the Deschutes River within Tumalo. The existing FP zoning district is subject
to goals and policies within this community plan and the Comprehensive Plan, are directed
at producing the most accurate floodplain data possible for the Tumalo community.
Industrial (TUI). An “Industrial” designation allows a limited range of industrial uses to serve
Tumalo and the surrounding area. The designation recognizes nonconforming industrial
uses and properties suitable for limited amounts of additional industrial development. This
designation is concentrated around the Knife River operation, which is technically outside of
Tumalo, that fronts O.B. Riley Road and U.S. 20 and includes warehouse uses, mini-storage
facilities, and other industrial-related development and uses.
Research and Development (TURE). A “Research and Development” designation allows
research and development facilities requiring a more rural, non-industrial location to be
sited in Tumalo. This designation contains two parcels in one ownership located on the
southeast slope of Laidlaw Butte. It was originally created to accommodate a research and
development site and associated uses predating Deschutes County’s 1979 zoning ordinance.
Residential (TUR). A “Residential” designation allows a mixture of housing types and densities
suited to the level of available water and wastewater facilities. The purpose of this zoning
district is to allow new residential development that is compatible with the rural character of
the area. Originally, the residential district boundary coincided with the boundary of the old
Laidlaw Plat including the Deschutes River Homesites platted between Riverview Avenue and
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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the Deschutes River. Today, it also includes the area surrounding the Knife River aggregate
site south of U.S. 20.
Residential 5-Acre (TUR-5). A “Residential 5 Acre Minimum” designation retains large rural
residential lots. The lands designated Residential-5 acre minimum include the larger parcels
east of the Deschutes River and the southeast from Laidlaw Butte.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Tumalo Comprehensive Plan Map
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Tumalo Zoning Map
Tumalo Zoning Map 2020
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Relevant Studies and Planning Processes
The Tumalo Community Plan, as a subset of the
Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan, relates
directly to other relevant county plans and
policies. These plans and policies include, but are
not limited to, the County Transportation System
Plan (TSP), Tumalo Active Transportation Planning
efforts, and a Tumalo sewer feasibility study. The
TSP is a long-range plan that identifies
improvements to the County’s transportation
facilities and services to accommodate projected
population and employment growth within the
County over a 20-year period. The Tumalo Active
Transportation update is an effort to update the
transportation element of the Tumalo Community
Plan, specifically regarding active transportation
such as biking, pedestrian access, and public
transit. The Tumalo Sewer Feasibility Study is a
consultant-led study to evaluate three potential
sewer options for Tumalo. The graphic below
illustrates how these various plans interact with
one another and fit within the larger regional
planning efforts.
Public Facilities and Services
Tumalo is served by six special districts: Laidlaw Water District; Deschutes County Rural Fire
Protection District #2; Redmond School District; the Tumalo Town District Improvement
Company, Tumalo Irrigation District (via the Rimrock Water Improvement District), and
Swalley Irrigation District. Tumalo’s public facilities and services are described below in
greater detail.
Domestic Water
The Laidlaw Water District serves the area identified as the old Laidlaw Plat, and the area
described as T16S R12E section 29 (W1/2 SW1/4), section 30 (E1/2 SW 1/4), (SW 1/4 SE 1/4),
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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and section 31(NE1/4, N1/2 SE1/4), near Beaver Lane to the north of the core Tumalo
community area. The power and authority given to Laidlaw Water Supply District as a
government entity is vested and exercised by a board of commissioners, each of whom is an
elector of the district. These commissioners have the authority under ORS Chapter 264
to determine rates and the type and extent of water supply facilities. Deschutes County
coordinates with the Laidlaw Water Supply District when a property owner initiates a land
use application within their district through noticing and the solicitation of agency
comments. During the land use process, Laidlaw Water Supply District identifies conditions
they will impose on the development proposal. The Laidlaw Domestic Water District
currently depends on three groundwater wells.
The District’s groundwater source does not exceed current EPA maximum contaminant
limits. No treatment is performed, and none has been required by the Oregon Health
Authority. Properties in Tumalo, but located outside Laidlaw District boundaries, rely on
private domestic wells for drinking water. State law, Oregon Revised Statute 537.545,
exempts private wells if domestic consumption is less than 15,000 gallons per day and
irrigation of a lawn or noncommercial garden is less than one half-acre.
Wastewater
Tumalo does not have a community-wide wastewater facility. Instead, land uses in Tumalo
currently rely on on-site wastewater systems, ranging from newer alternative treatment
technologies (ATT) and filter systems, to older drainfields. Onsite systems in some cases,
are insufficient and improper for a development site. According to the Deschutes County
Onsite Wastewater Division, most of Tumalo’s soils are rapidly draining, with rapid or very
rapid permeability. Given these soil characteristics, standard septic systems can only be
sited on lots greater than an acre. Smaller lots, between a half-acre and an acre are
obligated to site more expensive onsite systems such as sand filters and ATTs. Additionally,
there are circumstances in Tumalo where certain lots cannot be developed or redeveloped
because they are too small or lack sufficient area to meet setback requirements for septic
system drainfields.
Deschutes County zoning regulations restrict the type and intensity of allowed land uses to
those which can be served by an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
approved onsite wastewater disposal system. The County does not allow uses or densities
that are unable to obtain a permit for a DEQ approved onsite system. In addition, County
zoning regulations set minimum lot sizes to ensure the onsite systems do not exceed soil
capacity of treating wastewater effluent. These circumstances have prompted residents
and business owners to express support for exploring funding opportunities to establish a
community wastewater facility to maintain surface and groundwater quality.
The exception to the above is a small, privately owned wastewater system (Tumalo Property
Owners Association or TPOA) that was approved in 2018 to service a compact residential
development on the south side of U.S. 20 between essentially Bailey Road and O.B. Riley
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
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Road. This private system also serves a strip mall and several other small businesses on that
same south side of U.S. 20. TPOA is a Septic Tank Effluent Pumping (STEP) system, meaning
biosolids are pretreated, placed in a septic tank, then the effluent is pumped into a
pressurized pipe and sent up to a holding tank located on property owned by the Laidlaw
Water District.
In 2022, at the request of property and business owners in Tumalo, Deschutes County, used
American Rescue Plan Act monies to fund a feasibility study to evaluate possible ways to
provide sewer service to Tumalo. The County selected the engineering firm Murraysmith (later
absorbed by CONSOR) to perform the wastewater feasibility study with the results presented
to the Board on December 21, 2022.1 The feasibility study reviewed the following scenarios,
all of which would require crossing U.S. 20:
1. Expand the TPOA system; establish a separate collection and treatment system within
Tumalo;
2. Install a collection and disposal system in Tumalo with a connection to the City of
Bend’s North Interceptor line at Cooley Road/U.S. 20.
The feasibility study included additional concepts related to scale and/or phasing such as:
1. Providing service to only the commercial core along Cook Avenue;
2. Providing a larger system that would serve the Tumalo commercial core and
residential areas west of the Deschutes River and north of U.S. 20.
The feasibility study provided cost estimates for construction and hook-up fees and monthly
bills. The amounts vary widely depending on number of lots served, amount of grant funds
acquired, connection fees, and monthly bills.
Community members have expressed concerns about being required to hook up to the
system when a) their septic system begins to fail and b) the private system is within 300 feet
or less to their property line and legally available. Staff received a massive stream of public
comments expressing opposition toward a private system expanding into Tumalo and
concerns about the private system being able to charge onerous fees to connect to the
system. A smaller group, primarily those with commercial properties along Cook Avenue,
supported the development of a sewer system.
The sewer feasibility study documented the estimated costs and timelines for a sewer system.
Ultimately, whether a sewer authority is created, and a sewer system is provided in Tumalo
will be a decision for the community, not the County.
1 https://online-voice.net/tumaloseweroptions/
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
23
The formation of a sewer district is not a land use action and thus is outside the scope of the
TCP. However, based on massive public input during the various TCP open houses, the TCP
has added policy language specific to sewers.
Emergency Services
The Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2, governed by an elected five-member
volunteer Board of Directors, was established in 1952 to provide fire prevention, protection,
and suppression services to residents living outside municipalities and areas not already
served by established fire protection districts. In 1991, the district added emergency medical
services. Today, District #2 covers approximately 140 square miles of suburban and forested
land surrounding Bend and serves approximately 25,000 constituents. The average
population of the district greatly increases seasonally due to tourism.
The actual delivery of fire and emergency medical services to district constituents is provided
through a contract with the City of Bend Fire Department. Station 302 is located on 4th Street
in Tumalo. The station was originally built in the early 1970s and a new building was
constructed in 2019 to the immediate east. The station is staffed with an advance life
support-equipped fire engine, brush/interface pumper, and an ambulance.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
24
Irrigation Water
Tumalo Town District Improvement Company (also known as the Tumalo Town Ditch
Company) draws irrigation water based on three water right certificates with priority dates
of 1904, 1905, 1938, 1950 and 1952. The system consists of a three-mile ditch that begins
near the bridge at Tumalo State Park, parallels the river, crossing Bailey Road at the Tumalo
Feed Company Restaurant, then continuing under U.S. 20 to the commercial district. The
ditch serves approximately 43 customers and is used for irrigating lawns and gardens2.
North of the Tumalo commercial core, within the unincorporated community boundary, is a
small residential enclave centered around Beaver Lane located within the Rimrock Water
Improvement District. This District is owned and managed by a private water patron who
distributes purchased water deliveries from Tumalo Irrigation District (TID) to the residential
properties within this residential area. TID, first established through the construction of canal
infrastructure in 1883 and organization as a district by 1922, diverts water from Tumalo
Creek below Shevlin Park and the Deschutes River near Pioneer Park, with additional water
storage through the Crescent Lake impoundment system. TID serves approximately 7,400
acres of irrigated lands to support livestock, hay, alfalfa, garlic, lavender and other crops and
farm uses3. There are approximately 685 customers served by TID.
East of the Deschutes River, within the Tumalo unincorporated community boundary, are
properties located within the Swalley Irrigation District. Swalley draws water based on a
priority water right certificate dated September 1, 1899, and was incorporated as a municipal
irrigation district in 1994 after 95 years of private ownership and operation. Swalley Irrigation
District currently serves approximately 4,333 acres of irrigated lands around the vicinity of
Tumalo, east of the Deschutes River and west of Highway 97. There are approximately 668
customers served by the Swalley Irrigation District.
Recreational Trail
The Bend Metro Park and Recreation District (Park District) provides parks, trails and
recreation programming for residents encompassing the Bend Urban Area. Tumalo is
located outside the district boundary by approximately two miles. However, the Park District
does have recreational interests that extend outside its current boundary. In 2002, the Park
District and the City of Bend collaborated on the development of the Deschutes River Trail
(DRT) Action Plan. This plan identified the desire to complete the Deschutes River Trail
through Bend and connect it on both ends to destinations outside the urban area. The
development of the Riley Ranch Nature Reserve between O.B. Riley Road and the Deschutes
River at the north end of Bend has helped extend the DRT. The ultimate northern extent of
the planned DRT follows the Deschutes River from the Bend Urban Growth Boundary to
Tumalo State Park and on to Tumalo. The Park District continues to work with private
property owners and the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department in an ongoing
2 https://www.tumalo.org/files/98649cf93/Water+User%27s+Handbook.pdf
3 https://www.tumalo.org/about-us
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
25
effort to assemble a continuous publicly owned corridor for the trail. Fortunately, the
portions of the trail corridor closest to Tumalo are already in public ownership. The Park
District and the County support the development of this trail corridor between Tumalo and
Tumalo State Park as a hard-surfaced shared-use path that utilizes the current grade-
separated crossing underneath the U.S. 20 bridge on the west bank of the Deschutes River.
The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has identified archeological resources that will
need to be protected during the trail’s construction and usage.
ODOT in 2022-23 is building a bicyclist/pedestrian-only underpass at U.S. 20/4th Street to
make crossing the highway much easier. This multiuse path will connect to Bailey Road. The
existing Twin Bridges State Scenic Bikeway would also utilize this shared-use path instead of
the U.S. 20/Bailey-7th intersection as it does currently.
Transportation
Tumalo requires a transportation network that provides safe and efficient through
movements for traffic traveling on U.S. 20. Equally important is maintaining local access to
residential and commercial areas, as well as the Tumalo Community School. U.S. 20 runs
diagonally east-west through Tumalo and contains two travel lanes and a center turn lane.
Its volumes and speed make north-south street connections challenging. ODOT has a two-
lane roundabout at U.S. 20/Cook-O.B. Riley programmed for construction in 2023. The
roundabout will add sidewalks along U.S. 20 for several hundred feet as well as along O.B.
Riley and Cook. The roundabout will help lower speeds on U.S. 20, which is now posted at 45
mph down from the earlier posting of 55 mph.
There are three access points to U.S. 20: 5th Street; 7th Street/Bailey Road; and Cook
Avenue/O.B. Riley Road. The first two have turn restrictions and only Cook/O.B. Riley will
allow all movements. Within Tumalo, there are several paved and unpaved streets, totaling
approximately 4.7 miles.
Average daily traffic (ADT) counts measured the following vehicles:
• 5th Street recorded 3,118 ADT (2022)
• Bailey Road, 1,234 ADT3 (2022)
• Cline Falls Hwy, 4,039 ADT (2022)
• Cook Avenue, 6,697 ADT (2022)
• Tumalo Road, 3,753 ADT (2022)
• O.B. Riley, 2,061 ADT (2022)
• U.S. 20, 0.10 miles east of Cline Falls Hwy, 10,276 ADT (2021)
• U.S. 20, 0.10 miles west of Cline Falls Hwy, 6,837 ADT (2021)
To protect the function of a highway, it is often necessary to limit access and control turning
movements. ODOT limited the movements at U.S. 20/Bailey-7th to right-in, right-out only
(RIRO) for 7th and RIRO and left-in at Bailey. There is also a raised refuge for bicyclists and
pedestrians at U.S. 20/Bailey-7th. The two-lane roundabout will make U.S. 20/Bailey-7th into
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
26
a RIRO intersection and Cook/8th will become a RIRO intersection as well. This will reduce the
number of conflict points at these intersections. A conflict point is a location where vehicles
turning or passing through can collide. By restricting turn movements or redirecting property
access to side streets or alleys, the number of crashes on the highway and the local road
system can be lowered. Implementing additional measures such as traffic calming, improved
pedestrian crossings, or reducing the travel speed on the highway can benefit an entire
community.
The County continues to provide sidewalk infill through both transportation improvements
and requirements tied to land use approvals. Cascade East Transit (CET) master plan calls for
examining a transit stop in Tumalo. Due to ADA requirements, the transit stop must be
accessed via sidewalks. The current intent is to have the stop on Bruce Avenue between 5th
and 7th once there is sidewalk.
The only change to the functional classification system was changing Cook Avenue from a
collector to an arterial in the 2010-2030 Transportation System Plan (TSP).
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
27
Rural Fire Protection District #2 Map
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
28
Surrounding Land Uses
Residents outside Tumalo identify with the area because it is where many buy certain goods
and services, send their children to Tumalo Community School, attend church, or otherwise
convene with other community members. The following Comprehensive Plan designations
and related zoning districts are within a mile of the formal Tumalo unincorporated
community boundary.
Agriculture
An “Agricultural” designation and Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) zone protect farmlands in
Deschutes County pursuant to Statewide Planning Goal 3 (Agricultural Lands). As discussed in
the Agricultural Lands Section of the Comprehensive Plan, protecting farmlands is one of the
primary goals of Oregon’s land use system. When the Comprehensive Plan was first adopted
in 1979, there was general consensus for an agricultural goal:
“To preserve agricultural land in Deschutes County for the production of farm and forestry
products, as well as the public need for open space.”
In 1992, Deschutes County completed a farm study report. The purpose of the study was to
ensure that EFU zoning and standards for farm divisions and dwellings were consistent with
Goal 3 and relevant administrative rules. The study found that farms in Deschutes County
usually contained irrigated and non-irrigated land, as well as soils of different classes. The
study identified seven agricultural subzones. For each subzone, standards determined
minimum parcel sizes for farm divisions to protect the commercial agricultural land base.
The subzone immediately adjacent to Tumalo is the Tumalo/Redmond/Bend subzone
(EFUTRB). The minimum acreage for this subzone is 23 acres of irrigated land. Approximately
2.5 miles farther east, there are approximately fourteen (14) Alfalfa area subzone parcels
(EFUAL) that allow a minimum of 36 acres of irrigated land. The EFUAL subzone parcels are
intermixed with EFUTRB subzone parcels.
Since the latest Tumalo Community Plan update in 2010, there have been increased
numbers of land divisions approved in the vicinity of Tumalo, some of which are designed to
support both nonfarm and farm-related dwellings and accessory structures. Home
Occupations, or home-based business uses have become increasingly common within the
surrounding EFU lands. In addition to the increasing number of approved land divisions, EFU
dwellings, and Home Occupations, the EFU lands surrounding Tumalo have also seen an
increase in marijuana and hemp-related farm uses and structures since the statewide
legalization of recreational marijuana and the passage of the 2018 farm bill allowing hemp
production. Please refer to the Agricultural Lands section of the Comprehensive Plan for
more details about agricultural land in Deschutes County.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
29
Rural Residential
A “Rural Residential Exception Area” designation and corresponding Multiple Use Agriculture
(MUA-10) zone apply to lands for which Deschutes County justified an “exception” to
Statewide Planning Goal 3. Multiple Use Agriculture applies to agricultural lands that have
been demonstrated to be unsuitable for commercial farming, but retain enough agricultural
practices that are compatible with rural development. The minimum lot size for new
subdivisions in this zoning district is ten acres. There are several MUA-10 subdivisions within
a mile of Tumalo. Approximately one-half mile south of Tumalo lies the Cascades Academy,
located on MUA-10 zoned property. Cascades Academy is a pre-kindergarten through 12th
grade independent private school4.
Surface Mining
Located just outside Tumalo, a “Surface Mining” designation and corresponding Surface
Mining (SM) zone authorize surface mining activities. This district allows development and
use of mineral and aggregate resources consistent with Statewide Planning Goal 5 (Natural
Resources, Scenic and Historic Areas, and Open Spaces). It applies to two properties in the
immediate vicinity, one at the north end of Tumalo, west of the Deschutes River and the
other, adjacent to U.S. 20 and bisected by O.B. Riley Road, known as the Knife River
operation. The Knife River properties are allowed through a limited combining zone to store,
crush, process, sell and distribute aggregate minerals. One additional surface mine
designated property of approximately 75 acres is located 1 mile south of the Tumalo
community boundaries.
Flood Plain
Several properties within the Tumalo unincorporated community and multiple parcels to the
south and north are located within the Flood Plain Zoning District. These parcels are
exclusively associated with the Deschutes River corridor and surrounding low-lying areas.
The purpose of this zoning district is to protect the public from the hazards associated with
flood plains; to conserve important riparian areas along rivers and streams for the
maintenance of the fish and wildlife resources; and to preserve significant scenic and natural
resources while balancing the public interests with those of individual property owners in
the designated areas. Given the purpose of the zoning district, a majority of the flood plain
designated areas outside of Tumalo are maintained as open spaces or otherwise
undeveloped land, including portions of Tumalo State Park.
4 https://www.cascadesacademy.org/about
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
30
Open Space & Conservation
Approximately one-half mile south of the Tumalo commercial core are properties within an
“Open Space & Conservation” Zoning District, largely associated with the boundaries of
Tumalo State Park and the contiguous Riley Ranch Nature Reserve, further south along the
Deschutes River corridor. The purpose of this zoning district is to protect designated areas
of scenic and natural resources; to restrict development in areas with fragile, unusual or
unique qualities; to protect and improve the quality of the air, water and land resources and
to plan development that will conserve open space5.
Photo: Tumalo State Park, Photo Credit: Hike Oregon
5 DCC 18.48.010
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
31
Conclusion
The TCP is the result of extensive outreach and interaction between staff and residents,
business owners, property owners in Tumalo, and those who live near Tumalo and shop,
recreate, or send their children to school there.
Nearly unanimously, respondents spoke of their deep affection for Tumalo and a sense of
place. They valued the rural feel of Tumalo and appreciated the small-scale commercial core.
Often they expressed a fear of not wanting Tumalo to become like Sisters or to be engulfed
by Bend.
In updating the TCP, staff worked to balance the oft-expressed desire by the public for
Tumalo to experience little to no change with a State land use system and County code that
anticipates and legally must accommodate development. The Comprehensive Plan
designations and the zoning designations for Tumalo in DCC 18.67 remain unchanged. Any
application to amend the Comprehensive Plan or zoning designation would require public
hearing before both the Deschutes County Planning Commission and the Board of County
Commissioners. Those potential plan amendments and/or zone changes would have to
demonstrate consistency with both the Comprehensive Plan and the TCP.
The TCP polices respond to public input regarding protecting the Deschutes River, concerns
about the costs and timing of a future wastewater treatment system, the worries about
traffic volumes, and the desire to protect the community and maintain its livability.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
32
Goals and Policies
The following policies are designed to address issues specific to the Tumalo Rural
Unincorporated Community. The policies supplement existing Comprehensive Plan policies
and were developed from input received by community members, stakeholders, and input
from relevant agency partners.
The following policies and policies are designed to address issues specific to the Tumalo
Rural Unincorporated Community. The policies supplement existing Deschutes County
Comprehensive Plan policies and were developed from input received by community
members, stakeholders, and input from relevant agency partners.
Community Vision Statement
Retain the livability of Tumalo as a rural small town, through safe and efficient public
services and collaborating with the surrounding rural area.
Land Use Goal
Continue to implement a clear and transparent planning process and policy framework
reflective of the community’s small-town rural character.
Land Use Policies
1. Conform land use regulations to the requirements of Unincorporated Communities
as defined in OAR 660 Division 22 or any successor.
2. Ensure County plans and land use regulations comply with state requirements for
agricultural uses in the Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) zones.
3. Encourage the preservation of historical structures such as the Tumalo Community
Church (1905) and the Laidlaw Bank and Trust (1910).
4. Review the Tumalo Community Plan periodically to determine if it meets the current
and future needs of the area.
5. Encourage residents and community groups to reach out to Deschutes County for
updates and information.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
33
Natural Resources, Open Space, and Recreation Goal
Support the preservation and conservation of natural resources, cultural resources, and
open space while providing ample and diverse opportunities for recreation.
Natural Resources, Open Space, and Recreation Policies
1. Continue to support Tumalo as a regional bicycle destination.
2. Support community and agency partners in planning and development of a
multiuse trail system from Tumalo State Park to Tumalo.
3. Encourage consolidation of designated access points to the Deschutes River and
education of trail users to preserve riparian areas.
4. Encourage voluntary designation of open space and public access to Deschutes
River on adjacent private properties.
5. Provide County perspective and support for community-based restoration projects
to protect the health and vitality of the Deschutes River and its tributaries.
6. Preserve publicly owned lands along the Deschutes River as designated open space.
7. Collaborate with public, private, and nonprofit organizations on infrastructure
improvements near recreation areas including formal river access points,
wayfinding signage, lighting, or sanitary facilities.
8. Support community efforts to designate the segment of the Deschutes River
through Tumalo as an Oregon Scenic Waterway for its recreational values.
9. Coordinate with community partners on the development of a trails and recreation
master plan.
10. Support community-led efforts to address concerns regarding recreational use of
and impacts to the Deschutes River and its floodplain.
11. Coordinate with community partners on efforts to designate new parks and
maintain local parks.
12. Encourage preservation or improvement of groundwater quality and the
conservation of groundwater supplies.
13. Provide public educational outreach on the importance and benefits of water
conservation, encouraging low water use, and drought tolerant landscaping.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
34
14. Encourage Tumalo to become a fire-adapted community through the Firewise
Program.
Residential Area Goal
Maintain the small-town character and feel of Tumalo, while accommodating the
community’s residential growth.
Residential Area Policies
1. Encourage density and design features that are compatible with existing
development.
2. Permit livestock in the residential districts subject to use limitations.
3. Plan and zone for a diversity of housing types and densities suited to the capacity of
the land to accommodate water and sewage requirements.
4. Explore legislative changes to limit multi-family housing to 4 units in Tumalo.
Economic Development Goal
Retain the economic vibrancy of Tumalo’s historic core and industrial areas while providing
economic development opportunities that are compatible with the small town rural
character of the community.
Economic Development Policies
1. Encourage design standards in the commercial district so new development is
compatible with the rural character of the community and reduces negative impacts
on adjacent residential districts.
2. Explore alternatives to the solar setback standards for development within the
commercial zoning districts of Tumalo.
3. Allow residential uses and mixed residential/commercial uses, without inhibiting
future commercial development opportunities in the Commercial Zoning Districts.
4. Support economic development initiatives and tourism in the Tumalo area.
5. Allow for existing and future uses without producing adverse effects upon water
resources or wastewater disposal. Coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure
industrial uses meet requirements for water availability and wastewater disposal.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
35
6. Limit industrial activities to low-impact uses that rely on rural resources as defined
in OAR 660-004-0022(3)(a).
7. Limit industrial activities to low-impact uses that rely on rural resources as defined
in OAR 660-004-0022(3)(a).
8. Encourage opportunities for public art in Tumalo.
Public Facilities Goal
Ensure irrigation, domestic water, wastewater, and other utility systems are safe, efficient,
and economical.
Public Facility Policies
1. Consider water and wastewater capacity when assessing development capabilities
on individual lots in Tumalo.
2. Promote efficient water and wastewater systems in new development to manage
water resources carefully.
3. Encourage early planning and acquisition of sites needed for public facilities.
4. Support replatting of lots in the area comprising the Laidlaw Plat and other lands
designated commercial to create lots large enough to accommodate a DEQ
approved on-site sewage disposal system, or connection to a public sewer system if
available, consistent with the findings of the Tumalo Sewer Feasibility Study (2022).
5. Coordinate with local Irrigation Districts and the Tumalo Town Ditch to avoid
adverse effects on their infrastructure and distribution systems.
6. Maintain efforts to ensure the Tumalo domestic water system complies with public
health regulations and state and federal water quality regulations.
7. If Tumalo residents initiate district formation, coordinate with the residents and
business owners on the creation of a public sewer district.
8. Explore legislative approaches to preclude non-voluntary connections to private
sewer systems.
9. Explore with Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to determine whether a
property owner can record a land use provision stating a private sewer is not
lawfully available under Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 340-040-0160 unless the
land owner voluntarily consents to the connection.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
36
10. Prohibit private sewers in Tumalo, unless the property owners of the lots in the
Laidlaw Plat, Deschutes River Tract, and Deschutes River Homesite Rimrock Addition
form a district and vote on the issue.
Transportation Goal
Provide a safe and efficient system for all modes of transportation, including bicycle,
pedestrian, and transit, to support local economic development, recreational uses, and
community health.
Road Network Policies
1. Periodically review the Transportation System Plan policies and standards for
Tumalo to reflect best practices.
2. Periodically review existing roadway design requirements to ensure complete
streets which accommodate all modes of travel.
3. Collaborate with the Oregon State Police and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office to
address speeding within Tumalo.
4. Encourage ODOT to use its “Blueprint for Urban Design” for U.S. 20 projects to
enhance the roadside environment by signage, accommodating alternate modes,
roadside amenities, and landscaping.
Road and Sidewalk Policies
1. Implement road development standards for Tumalo that are consistent with the
small-scale character of the community.
2. Utilize land development and grant funding opportunities to improve street
segments identified for improvement in the Transportation System Plan.
3. Provide functional, cost-effective sidewalks within the commercial core while
preserving the rural character of the residential areas.
4. Provide sidewalks or multiuse paths where they are needed for safety, as set forth
in the Transportation System Plan.
5. Construct sidewalks specified on community roads without curbs and gutters and
allow adequate room for utilities.
6. Provide wayfinding signage and maintenance best practices on County arterials and
collectors to ensure safe and accessible routes for all users.
Exhibit C to Ordinance 2023-016 – Comprehensive Plan Appendix B – Tumalo Community Plan
37
7. Review Deschutes County Code (DCC) 17.48, Table B, Minimum Bikeway Design
Standards, and consider revising widths of multiuse paths from 8 feet to 10 feet and
up to 12 feet in areas with high mixed use.