2017-1-Ordinance No. 2016-029 Recorded 1/9/2017REVIEWED
03- IDV
LEGAL COUNSEL
DESCHUTES COUNTY OFFICIAL RECORDS CJ 207.1
NANCY BLANKENSHIP, COUNTY CLERK 1n1
COMMISSIONERS' JOURNAL 01/09/2017 01:52:08 PM
111111ill
BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON
An Ordinance Amending Deschutes County Code,
Title 23, and Amending Deschutes County
Comprehensive Plan, Sections 5.12, and to Change
the Plan Designation for Certain Property From
Agriculture to Rural Industrial.
ORDINANCE NO. 2016-029
WHEREAS, the Land Use Board of Appeal on August 10, 2016 remanded an "irrevocably committed"
exception to Statewide Planning Goal 14 (Goal 14) and a Plan Amendment to change the comprehensive plan
designation of certain property from Agriculture to Rural Industrial; and
WHEREAS, on remand, Anthony Aceti proposed a Plan Amendment to Deschutes County Code
("DCC"), Section 23.01.010, Introduction, and Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan, Section 5.12,
Legislative History, to change the comprehensive plan designation of certain property from Agriculture to Rural
Industrial; and
WHEREAS, after notice was given in accordance with applicable law, a public hearing was held on
October 31, 2016 before the Board of County Commissioners ("Board"); and,
WHEREAS, the Board, after review conducted in accordance with applicable law, approved changing
the comprehensive plan designation from Agriculture to Rural Industrial; now therefore,
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON, ORDAINS
as follows:
Section 1. AMENDMENT. DCC Section 23.01.010, Introduction, is amended to read as described in
Exhibit "A" attached and incorporated by reference herein, with new language underlined.
Section 2. AMENDMENT. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Section 5.12, Legislative History,
is amended to read as described in Exhibit "B," attached and incorporated by reference herein with new
language underlined.
Section 3. AMENDMENT. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Map, is amended to change
the plan designation for certain property described in Exhibit "C" and depicted on the map set forth as Exhibit
"E," with both exhibits attached and incorporated by reference herein, from Agriculture to Rural Industrial.
Section 4. FINDINGS. The Board adopts as it findings in support of this Ordinance, the Decision of
the Hearings Officer, Exhibit "D," and incorporated by reference herein.
PAGE 1 OF 2 - ORDINANCE NO. 2016-029
/1/
Dated this 0 / of Ce -t. , 2016
ATTEST:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON
ALAN UNGER, CHAIR
�
ilL5/Ety„
4r -
TAMMY BANEY, VICE CHAIR
Recording Secretary ANTI PONY DEBONE, COMMISSIONER
Date of 1St Reading: /9 day of .- , 2016.
Date of 2nd Reading: day of 72t -e- , 2016.
Record of Adoption Vote
Commissioner
Anthony DeBone
Alan Unger
Tammy Baney
Yes No Abstained Excused
Effective date: Zeday ofjt+i'�. , 2017.
ATTEST:
Recording Secretary
PAGE 2 OF 2 - ORDINANCE NO. 2016-029
Chapter 23.01 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Chapter 23.01 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
23.01.010. Introduction.
A. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the Board in Ordinance 2011-003
and found on the Deschutes County Community Development Department website, is incorporated
by reference herein.
B. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan amendments, adopted by the Board in Ordinance
2011-027, are incorporated by reference herein.
C. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan amendments, adopted by the Board in Ordinance
2012-005, are incorporated by reference herein.
D. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan amendments, adopted by the Board in Ordinance
2012-012, are incorporated by reference herein.
E. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan amendments, adopted by the Board in Ordinance
2012-016, are incorporated by reference herein.
F. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan amendments, adopted by the Board in Ordinance
2013-002, are incorporated by reference herein.
G. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan amendments, adopted by the Board in Ordinance
2013-009, are incorporated by reference herein.
H. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan amendments, adopted by the Board in Ordinance
2013-012, are incorporated by reference herein.
I. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan amendments, adopted by the Board in Ordinance
2013-007, are incorporated by reference herein.
J. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan amendments, adopted by the Board in Ordinance
2014-005, are incorporated by reference herein.
K. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan
2014-006, are incorporated by reference herein.
L. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan
2014-012, are incorporated by reference herein.
M. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan
2014-021, are incorporated by reference herein.
N. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan
2014-027, are incorporated by reference herein.
O. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan
2015-021, are incorporated by reference herein.
P. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan
2015-029, are incorporated by reference herein.
Q. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan
2015-018, are incorporated by reference herein.
R. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan
2015-010, are incorporated by reference herein.
S. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan
2016-001, are incorporated by reference herein.
T. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan
2016-022, are incorporated by reference herein.
U. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan
2016-005, are incorporated by reference herein.
amendments,
amendments,
amendments,
amendments,
amendments,
amendments,
amendments,
amendments,
amendments,
amendments,
amendments,
PAGE 1 OF 2 — EXHIBIT A TO ORDINANCE 2016-029
adopted by the Board in Ordinance
adopted by the Board in Ordinance
adopted by the Board in Ordinance
adopted by the Board in Ordinance
adopted by the Board in Ordinance
adopted by the Board in Ordinance
adopted by the Board in Ordinance
adopted by the Board in Ordinance
adopted by the Board in Ordinance
adopted by the Board in Ordinance
adopted by the Board in Ordinance
V. The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan amendments, adopted by the Board in Ordinance
2016-027, are incorporated by reference herein.
1°he. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan amendments, adopted by the Board in Ordinance
2016-029, are incornorated by reference herein.
(Ord. 2016-029 41. 201Ord. 2016-027 §1, 2016; Ord. 2016-005 §1, 2016; Ord. 2016-022 §1, 2016;
Ord. 2016-001 §1, 2016; Ord. 2015-010 §1, 2015; Ord. 2015-018 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2015-029 § 1, 2015;
Ord. 2015-021 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2014-027 § 1, 2014; Ord. 2014-021 §1, 2014; Ord. 2014-12 §1, 2014;
Ord. 2014-006 §2, 2014; Ord. 2014-005 §2, 2014; Ord. 2013-012 §2, 2013; Ord. 2013-009 §2, 2013;
Ord. 2013-007 §1, 2013; Ord. 2013-002 §1, 2013; Ord. 2013-001 §1, 2013; Ord. 2012-016 §1, 2012;
Ord. 2012-013 §1, 2012; Ord. 2012-005 §1, 2012; Ord. 2011-027 §1 through 12, 2011; Ord. 2011-
017 repealed; Ord.2011-003 §3, 2011)
Click here to be directed to the Comprehensive Plan (http://www.deschutes.org/compplan)
PAGE 2 OF 2 — EXHIBIT A TO ORDINANCE 2016-029
sect%ow 5.12 Legisl.at%ve Ftistoru
Background
This section contains the legislative history of this Comprehensive Plan.
Table 5.11,1 Comprehensive Plan Ordinance History
Date Adopted/
Effective
Ordinance
2011-003 8-10-1 1/ 1 1-9-1 1
2011-027 10-31-1 1/ 1 1-9- 11
2012-005
2012-012
2012-016
2013-002
Chapter/Section
All, except
Transportation, Tumalo
and Terrebonne
Community Plans,
Deschutes Junction,
Destination Resorts and
ordinances adopted in
2011
2.5, 2.6, 3.4, 3.10, 3.5,
4.6,5.3,5.8,5.11,
23.40A, 23.40B,
23.40.065, 23.01.010
23.60, 23.64 (repealed),
8-20-12/11-19-12 3.7 (revised), Appendix C
(added)
8-20-12/8-20-12 4.1, 4.2
12-3-12/3-4-13 3.9
1-7-13/1-7-13 4.2
2013-009 2-6-13/5-8-13 1.3
2013-012 5-8-13/8-6-13 23.01.010
2013-007 5-29-13/8-27-13 3.10, 3.11
Amendment
Comprehensive Plan update
Housekeeping amendments to
ensure a smooth transition to
the updated Plan
Updated Transportation
System Plan
La Pine Urban Growth
Boundary
Housekeeping amendments to
Destination Resort Chapter
Central Oregon Regional
Large -lot Employment Land
Need Analysis
Comprehensive Plan Map
Amendment, changing
designation of certain
property from Agriculture to
Rural Residential Exception
Area
Comprehensive Plan Map
Amendment, including certain
property within City of Bend
Urban Growth Boundary
Newberry Country: A Plan
for Southern Deschutes
County
DESCHUTES COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - 201 I
CHAPTER 5 SUPPLEMENTAL SECTIONS SECTION 5.1 I GOAL 5 ADOPTED ORDINANCES
PAGE 1 OF 3 — EXHIBIT B TO ORDINANCE 2016-029
Ordinance
Date Adopted/ Chapter/Section
Effective
2013-016 10-21-13/10-21-13 23.01.010
2014-005 2-26-14/2-26-14 23.01.010
2014-012 4-2-14/7-1-14 3.10, 3.11
2014-021 8-27-14/11-25-14 23.01.010, 5.10
2014-027 12-15-14/3-31-15 23.01.010, 5.10
2015-021 11-9-15/2-22-16 23.01.010
2015-029 11-23-15/11-30-15 23.01.010
2015-018 12-9-15/3-27-16 23.01.010, 2.2, 4.3
2015-010 12-2-15/12-2-15 2.6
Amendment
Comprehensive Pian Map
Amendment, including certain
property within City of Sisters
Urban Growth Boundary
Comprehensive Plan Map
Amendment, including certain
property within City of Bend
Urban Growth Boundary
Housekeeping amendments to
Title 23
Comprehensive Pian Map
Amendment, changing
designation of certain
property from Sunriver Urban
Unincorporated Community
Forest to Sunriver Urban
Unincorporated Community
Utility
Comprehensive Plan Map
Amendment, changing
designation of certain
property from Agriculture to
Rural Industrial
Comprehensive Plan Map
Amendment, changing
designation of certain
property from Agriculture to
Surface Mining.
Comprehensive Plan Map
Amendment, changing
designation of certain
property from Tumalo
Residential 5 -Acre Minimum
to Tumalo Industrial
Housekeeping Amendments
to Title 23.
Comprehensive Pian Text and
Map Amendment recognizing
Greater Sage -Grouse Habitat
Inventories
DESCHUTES COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - 2011
CHAPTER 5 SUPPLEMENTAL SECTIONS SECTION 5.1 2LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
PAGE 2 OF 3 — EXHIBIT B TO ORDINANCE 2016-029
2016-001 12-21-15/04-5-16 23.01.010; 5.10
2016-007 2-10-16/5-10-16 23.01.010; 5.10
2016-005 11-28-16/2-16-17 23.01.010, 2.2, 3.3
2016-022 9-28-16/11-14-16 23.01.010, 1.3, 4.2
2016-029 TBD
23.01.010
Comprehensive Plan Map
Amendment, changing
designation of certain
property from, Agriculture to
Rural Industrial (exception
area)
Comprehensive Plan
Amendment to add an
exception to Statewide
Planning Goal 11 to allow
sewers in unincorporated
lands in Southern Deschutes
County
Comprehensive Plan
Amendment recognizing non -
resource lands process
allowed under State law to
change EFU zoning
Comprehensive plan
Amendment, including certain
property within City of Bend
Urban Growth Boundary
Comprehensive Pian Map
Amendment, changing
designation of certain
property from. Agriculture to
Rural Industrial
DESCHUTES COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - 201 I
CHAPTER 5 SUPPLEMENTAL SECTIONS SECTION 5.1 I GOAL 5 ADOPTED ORDINANCES
PAGE 3 OF 3 — EXHIBIT B TO ORDINANCE 2016-029
Plan Amendment from
AG (Agriculture)
To RI (Rural Industrial)
Legend
3 Subject Property
AG - Agriculture
RREA - Rural Residential Exception Area
RI - Rural Industrial
RC - Rural Commercial
PROPOSED PLAN AMENDMENT
Anthony J. Aceti
21235 Tumalo Place, Bend
Exhibit "C"
to Ordinance 2016-029
V V
200 400 101
December 2010
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF DE k9G 1TES CONTY, OREGON
rAlan er.us�,. U ..-
11P¢iily Dafla6n-
fFl��� /^•�A �_
ATTEST Recording Secretary
Dated this t dAy of QccemGvl, 2010
Effective Date. d 211 X-, 2017
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON
FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW ON REMAND
FILE NUMBERS: 247-16-000593-A; 247-14-000456-ZC; 247 -14 -000457 -PA
APPLICANT/OWNER: Anthony J. Aceti
21235 Tumalo Place
Bend, OR 97703
APPLICANT'S Pat Kliewer
REPRESENTATIVE: 60465 Sunridge Drive
Bend, OR 97702
REQUEST:
The applicant requests approval of a plan amendment and zone change
from Exclusive Farm use to Rural Industrial for a 21.59 -acre site located
at Deschutes Junction north of Bend.
FINDINGS OF FACT:
A. Incorporated Findings of Fact: The Findings of Fact lettered A through K, from the Hearings
Officer's decision dated September 30, 2015, are hereby incorporated to the extent they are
consistent with these findings and conclusions.
B. Procedural History: Central Oregon LandWatch appealed Ordinances 2016-001 and 2016-002
to the Land Use Board of Appeals. LUBA remanded the decisions on August 10, 2016. The
applicant requested in writing on September 30, 2016 that the County Board proceed with the
application on remand pursuant to ORS 215.435.
The remand proceeding was limited to the issue remanded by LUBA and a public hearing on
remand was held on October 31, 2016 following proper public notice. At the hearing the applicant
and Central Oregon LandWatch (COLW) submitted written and oral testimony. The record was
held open until November 7, 2016 for the applicant to submit rebuttal argument and final
argument. COLW affirmatively waived an opportunity to provide rebuttal argument.
The County Board deliberated and made a decision on December 7, 2016. The County Board
issued its written decision on remand on December 28, 2016.
C. LUBA Decision and Guidance: The Land Use Board of Appeal's Final Opinion and Order,
Central Oregon Landwatch v. Deschutes County, LUBA No. 2016-012, denied many of Petitioner
Central Oregon LandWatch's issues raised under the two assignments of error presented.
However, because LUBA affirmed Petitioner's argument that the County Board erred in approving
an exception to Goal 14 Urbanization, LUBA remanded the decision for further review.
LUBA denied all of the arguments presented under Petitioner's first assignment of error, which
challenged the County Board's conclusion that the subject property does not constitute
"agricultural land" under OAR 660-033-020(1). LUBA Slip Op. p. 18.
LUBA affirmed Petitioner's second assignment of error, concluding that the adopted findings did
not supply the reasoning necessary to conclude that all rural use of the property is impracticable
and is therefore irrevocably committed to urban uses. LUBA Slip Op. p. 24 and p. 28.
Consequently, LUBA remanded the decision.
1
LUBA's Final Opinion and Order provides the County Board and staff guidance regarding the
purpose of the Goal 14 exception and whether a Goal 14 exception is required to authorize rural
uses on rural land. The decision states:
And,
"In a similar vein, the challenged decision applies the Rural Industrial Zone to the
property. As explained below, the Rural Industrial Zone was adopted to allow rural
industrial uses and ensure the uses allowed in the Rural Industrial Zone are rural
rather than urban in nature. To approve a committed exception to Goal 14 to allow
urban uses of the property (because all rural uses are impracticable) and then apply
a zoning district that was adopted to limit industrial uses to rural industrial uses would
appear on its face to be inconsistent.
'Whether approving an irrevocably committed exception to Goal 14 to allow
urban uses of rural land and then applying a zone that was adopted to limit industrial
uses to rural industrial uses is inconsistent or not, if the county wants to approve an
irrevocably committed exception to Goal 14, it must supply the reasoning that
supports the conclusion that the rural use of the property is impracticable, with the
result that it is committed to urban uses." Slip Op. at p. 23-24 (emphasis supplied).
'What is clear is that the county approved an irrevocably committed exception to
Goal 14: 'an exception to Goal 14 is required for the proposed plan amendment and
zone change.' Record. 49. The only reason for approving such an exception that we
can think of is to authorize urban uses of rural land." Slip Op. at p. 27 (emphasis
supplied).
D. Parties' Intentions: At no point during the prior proceedings did the applicant request that the
County approve urban uses on the subject property. The applicant always asserted that he
sought to allow rural industrial uses on the property at rural levels. When informed that the
County believed he needed to apply for an exception to Goal 14 because of prior precedent, the
applicant asserted he did not believe than an exception was necessary to allow rural uses, but
would prepare an exception application to cooperate with the County. During the remand
proceedings, the applicant's attorney reiterated that the applicant was seeking approval to allow
only rural uses on the property.
The County Board and county staff did not intend to authorize urban uses on the subject property
through the Goal 14 exception approved by Ordinance 2016-001. This is reflected in the RI plan
and zone designations as well as the conditions of approval imposed on the property that the
County Board authorized. The County Board reiterates its intention to allow only rural uses on
the property.
E. Basis for Hearings Official's Decision: The County Board finds that the Hearings Officer did
not intend to authorize urban uses on the subject property. The Hearings Officer's decision
expressly states:
"I find that it is appropriate to require an exception to Goal 14 to determine if the
proposed "reasons" match the potential uses, and so that development limitations
may be established as part of the goal exception to assure the subject site is not
developed with "urban" uses. I note that such a goal exception was required by the
Hearings Officer in ZC-14-2." Record p. 68 (emphasis supplied).
F. Deschutes County Land Use Regulations: The Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan and
Title 18 of the Deschutes County Code have been acknowledged by LCDC as consistent with all
of the statewide planning goals.
2
The Comprehensive Plan states that the Rural Industrial plan designation and zoning applies to
specific properties to provide compliance with state rules by adopting zoning to ensure that those
properties remain rural and that the uses allowed there are less intensive than those allowed in
unincorporated communities as defined in OAR 660-022. Comprehensive Plan, Ch. 3, p. 11.
Specific Comprehensive Plan Policies implement this statement. These include:
Policy 3.4.23 To assure that urban uses are not permitted on rural industrial lands,
land use regulations in the Rural Industrial zones shall ensure that the uses allowed
are less intensive than those allowed for unincorporated communities in OAR 660-22
or any successor.
Policy 3.4.27 Land use regulations shall ensure that new uses authorized within the
Rural Industrial sites do not adversely affect agricultural and forest uses in the
surrounding area.
Policy 3.4.28 New industrial uses shall be limited in size to a maximum floor area of
7,500 square feet per use within a building, except for the primary processing of raw
materials produced in rural areas, for which there is no floor area per use limitation.
Policy 3.4.31 Residential and industrial uses shall be served by DEQ approved on-
site sewage disposal systems.
Policy 3.4.32 Residential and industrial uses shall be served by on-site wells or public
water systems.
Policy 3.4.33 Community sewer systems shall not be allowed in Rural Industrial
zones.
The Comprehensive Plan also includes a policy specifically for the Deschutes Junction area
intended to ensure rural uses in that rural area.
Policy 3.10.5 Maximize protection of the rural character of neighborhoods in the
Deschutes Junction area while recognizing the intended development of properties
designated for commercial, industrial and agricultural uses.
The Deschutes County Code Chapter 18.100 RURAL INDUSTRIAL ZONE — R -I, implements the
above Comprehensive Plan policies. It limits the types of industrial uses, whether permitted
outright or through conditional approval, to rural industrial uses at levels less intensive than for
those allowed for in unincorporated communities. DCC 18.100.010 and .020. The DCC further
restricts those industrial uses through use limitations, dimensional standards, off-street parking
and loading standards, site design, additional requirements, solar setbacks, and restrictions
through the Limited Use Combining Zone — Deschutes Junction. DCC 18.100.030 through .090.
As discussed elsewhere in this decision, the County Board expressly interprets the above
provisions to mean that all of the County's acknowledged rural industrial uses generally constitute
rural uses and not urban uses. We also interpret the above provisions to mean that the Rural
Industrial plan designation and zoning may be applied throughout the county where appropriate
and when the criteria for such designation and zoning have been met, and that the RI designation
and zoning is not limited to just exception areas or unincorporated communities in Deschutes
County.
G. Issue on Remand: The issue on remand is whether the rural industrial uses the applicant has
requested approval to allow on the subject property (the uses allowed by the R -I zoning code)
require an exception to Goal 14 or whether the application for a change in the plan and zone
designation for the property to Rural Industrial can be approved without a Goal 14 exception
3
because those uses are rural uses or can otherwise be limited through conditions of approval so
that only rural uses occur on the property.
All other issues in this proceeding have either been resolved or are otherwise precluded because
they were not raised or otherwise preserved in the appeal to LUBA.
II. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
For the reasons provided below and based upon the evidence in the record and the findings
provided above, the Board of County Commissioners of Deschutes County concludes that the
subject property does not qualify as "agricultural land" under OAR 660-033-020(1) for Goal 3
purposes, that an exception to Goal 14 Urbanization is not required for the County to approve the
rural industrial comprehensive plan designation or zoning on the subject property and hereby
approves the application to change the plan designation for the property from Agriculture to Rural
Industrial and the zoning for the property from Exclusive Farm Use — Tumalo/Redmond/Bend
Subzone (EFU-TRB) to Rural Industrial (R -I).
LUBA's remand denied all of the Petitioner's challenges to our conclusion that the subject
property does not qualify as "agricultural land" under OAR 660-033-020(1) and affirmed that
portion of our previous decision. The consequence of that determination is that non -resource
(i.e., other than EFU) rural uses may be permitted on the subject property consistent with the
rural plan designation and zoning of the property. That issue has been resolved and is not
subject to challenge in this remand proceeding. The County Board reaffirms that portion of our
prior decision without further discussion or analysis.
Given the above findings that the applicant did not intend to request and the County Board did not
intend to authorize urban uses on the subject property, LUBA's remand warrants that we examine
why an exception to Goal 14 was filed in this proceeding at all.
It is plainly evident from the evidence in the record and the above findings that staffs request that
the applicant submit an application requesting an exception to Goal 14, the Hearings Officer's
consideration and approval of that exception, and the County Board's consideration of the
exception application flowed directly from the precedent set by the Hearings Official's decision in
ZC-14-2. The County had concluded that the decision was binding precedent and had
consistently applied the approach used in that decision to assign R -I zoning to properties in
subsequent applications. That decision, as interpreted and applied by the County, concluded that
an exception to Goal 14 Urbanization was required whenever a property owner sought rural
industrial zoning on rural property, and that the Goal 14 exception process was to ensure that the
subject site was not developed with "urban" uses. The Hearings Officer's decision in ZC-14-2
was not appealed and, therefore, its reasoning was never reviewed by LUBA.
As the excerpts from LUBA's opinion in this matter quoted above make clear, the Hearings
Officer's analysis and conclusions in ZC-14-2 regarding the use of the Goal 14 exceptions
process to limit Rural Industrial uses to those that are not "urban" is both rationally inconsistent
and legally incorrect. As LUBA's decision plainly explains, the purpose of a Goal 14 exception is
to allow urban uses on rural land. LUBA's decision also explains that to get a committed
exception to Goal 14, one must demonstrate that it is impossible to locate any rural use on the
subject property. It is thus illogical to approve a Goal 14 exception only to then limit it to Rural
Industrial uses, which are "rural" by definition and acknowledgment. To do so is also inconsistent
with the state's land use legal framework.
The County Board hereby concludes that the County should no longer follow the precedent set
forth in ZC-14-2 that requires approving an exception to Goal 14 before approving the change in
plan designation and zoning of a rural property to the Rural Industrial plan designation and R -I
4
zoning if only rural uses are to be permitted on the property. As LUBA explained in its decision,
the requirement for an applicant to apply for an exception to Goal 14 is to be limited to proposals
that request urban uses on rural land, or as otherwise required by the DCC, state statute or state
land use regulations.
Based upon the above conclusion, because the applicant did not request urban uses to be
allowed on the subject property and because the County Board did not intend to allow urban uses
on rural land, the County Board concludes that the applicant should not have been required to
submit an application for an exception to Goal 14 for the purposes set forth by the decision in ZC-
14-2 as followed by the Hearings Official in this proceeding.
One related issue remains from the LUBA decision. LUBA seemed to think that the Hearings
Officer believed that the application for R -I zoning would allow urban uses on rural land, and
referenced page 49 of the record twice in its decision. The relevant passage from that page is:
"I find that the subject property is 'nonresource land' based on the fact that it is not
Agricultural Land subject to Goal 3, but the proposed plan amendment is subject to
Goal 14. This is because it could result in the 'urbanization' of the subject site by
allowing development with RI Zone uses that are more 'urban' in nature including
both retail and service uses. For this reason, an exception to Goal 14 is required
for the proposed plan amendment and zone change." Record p, 49.
For the following reasons, the County Board rejects the Hearings Official's analysis provided
above and similar comments contained elsewhere in the Hearings Officer's decision that the RI
zone results in the "urbanization" of land for which a Goal 14 exception is necessary.
First, uses allowed in the rural industrial zone are not more, or less, "urban" than other rural
uses. Uses are either urban or they are rural. Rural industrial uses are no more urban or rural
than rural residential uses, EFU uses or rural commercial uses. While R -I uses may be more or
less intensive than rural residential uses or rural commercial uses, they remain "rural uses,"
particularly when developed consistent with the development standards for uses authorized within
the county's RI zoning code. LUBA and the courts have even noted that farm practices permitted
in the EFU zone often resemble industrial uses. The Hearings Officer erred when she concluded
or otherwise suggested that the proposal for R -I zoning could lead to the urbanization of the
subject site.
Second, the County's Rural Industrial plan designation and the R -I zone provisions have been
acknowledged by LCDC as rural uses. While acknowledgment is not a guarantee that all rural
industrial uses will be rural in all instances, as LUBA recognized and as quoted above, the
intention of the Rural Industrial plan designation and of R -I zoning is to ensure that permitted rural
industrial uses are not urban uses and in fact are rural uses. Given the development limitations
set forth under DCC 18.100.030 to .090, the authorized rural industrial uses on the subject
property, if the application is approved, will be less intensive than those allowed in unincorporated
communities. The Hearings Officer erred when she concluded or suggested that Rural Industrial
development of the property under the zoning code would constitute an urban use of rural land.
Third, there is nothing about the application or the subject property that suggests rural industrial
uses within the range of uses permitted in the R -I zone would be "urban." The proposal simply
seeks a rural industrial plan designation and zoning. All development proposals will be reviewed
for consistency within the limitations established by the DCC, which will ensure that the approved
uses are rural uses. With respect to the site, all industrial uses will be served by a DEQ approved
on-site sewage disposal system consistent with Comprehensive Plan Policy 3.4.31. The property
is not served by, nor can be approved for service by a community sewer system, which is
consistent with Policy 3.4.33. Furthermore, the subject property is served by a public water
system, which is consistent with Policy 3.4.32 and the Comprehensive Plan's limitations on
property to ensure that rural industrial uses are in -fact rural. Any analysis, conclusions or
5
suggestions contained in the Hearings Official's decision that suggests any of the above site
factors may lead to urban uses on rural land are in error.
Based upon the above analysis, the County Board concludes that there is nothing about the
applicant's request for a Rural Industrial plan designation and Rural Industrial (R -I) zoning that
would categorically allow urban uses on rural land or that would require the applicant to obtain an
exception to Goal 14 Urbanization.
The County Board hereby incorporates those portions of the Hearings Official's findings and
conclusions that are consistent with these findings and conclusions.
The County Board hereby expressly rejects the Hearings Official's Goal 14 finding at page 32 of
the Hearings Official's decision and finds instead: Goal 14, Urbanization. Goal 14 is "[t]o provide
for an orderly and efficient transition from rural to urban land use." We find that the subject
property is "nonresource land" based on the fact that it is not Agricultural land subject to Goal 3.
Because our analysis leads us to conclude that the proposal as conditioned does not represent
an "urban" use of land, and because the proposal seeks to apply rural industrial plan and zone
designations to the property and the uses permitted under R -I zoning as restricted by the
development standards provided in the Deschutes County Code constitute rural uses on rural
land, the proposal is consistent with Goal 14.
As noted in LUBA's decisions and by the parties during the remand proceeding, LUBA set forth
the analysis required for evaluating individual applications to determine whether rural industrial
uses would allow urban uses on rural land in Shaffer v. Jackson County, 17 Or LUBA 922 (1989),
as explained further in its decision in Columbia Riverkeeper v. Columbia County, _ Or LUBA
(2014)(LUBA No. 2014-017, August 27, 2014). The following is intended to implement the
analysis required by those decisions.
The Columbia Riverkeeper decision explained that the Shaffer analysis requires consideration of
several factors that may indicate a use is rural rather than urban. The factors set forth by LUBA
and responses are provided below.
(1) Do the uses employ a small number of uses? Yes, all of the uses permitted in the RI zone
employ a comparatively small number of persons, particularly when limited by the development
standards of the RI zone intended to limit the scope and intensity of permitted uses.
(2) Are the uses significantly dependent on a site-specific resource and is there a practical
necessity to site the uses near that resource? No, not all of the uses permitted in the RI zone are
dependent on site specific resources.
(3) Are the permitted types of uses typically located in rural areas? Yes, the permitted RI zone
uses are acknowledged as the type of uses typically found and located in rural areas.
(4) Do the uses not require public facilities or services? Yes, plan policies and DCC 18.100.030
K and L limit Rural Industrial uses to on-site sewage disposal systems, and on-site wells or public
water systems. No new facilities or services will be extended to the property for the permitted
uses.
Because the response to one of the Shaffer factors was "No," the Shaffer analysis requires the
County to undertake one of the following three actions: (1) limit the allowed uses to effectively
prevent urban use of rural land; (2) take an exception to Goal 14; or (3) adequately explain why
the proposed rezone, notwithstanding the presence of one or more factors pointing towards an
urban nature, should be viewed as a rural use.
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As discussed above, the County Board of Commissioners does not intend to allow urban use of
the subject so will not take an exception to Goal 14 as permitted above under option (2). This
decision repeals the previously approved Goal 14 exception component of our previous decision.
The County Board of Commissioners notes that DCC Chapter 18.100 provides limitations on
permitted rural industrial development that limit the intensity of the permitted uses, services that
can be provided, off-site impacts, dimensional standards, and other aspects of development.
These standards help to ensure that the uses permitted by the R -I zone, to include those that are
not dependent on a site specific resource, are developed as rural uses of land instead of at urban
levels of use on rural land.
The County Board has reviewed each of the permitted outright and conditional uses provided
under DCC 18.100.010 and .020 and conclude that each of those uses, if developed consistent
with the development limitations provided under DCC 18.100 and elsewhere, generally constitute
rural uses of land.
During the initial proceedings, and as repeated by the applicant's attorney on remand, the
applicant proposed prohibiting the development of pulp and paper manufacturing as permitted
outright under DCC 18.100.010.6.3 due to the fact that its off-site impacts may make such
development an urban use of land if allowed on the subject property. The County Board concurs
with the applicant's analysis and imposes Condition of Approval 2, which prohibits pulp and paper
manufacturing on the subject property. The County Board has reviewed each of the other RI
zone's outright permitted and conditional uses and concludes that each of those uses would
result in the rural use of land if developed on the subject property. No party to the proceeding
has articulated reasons why any of those uses, if developed consistent with the DCC limitations,
would constitute an urban use of rural land. Consequently, the Count Board need not exclude
any other RI uses from the subject property to ensure that only rural uses are developed on the
site.
The County Board Ultimately Concludes:
• To reaffirm our previous decision that the subject property is "nonresource land" because
the property is not "agricultural land" under OAR 660-033-020(1) and is therefore not
subject to Goal 3.
• To repeal those portions of Ordinance 2016-001 and the related findings that approved
an exception to Goal 14, on the basis that a Goal 14 exception is not necessary to
approve the requested plan designation and zone change, or to allow rural industrial uses
on the subject property.
• To approve the Comprehensive Plan Amendment to re -designate the subject property
from Agriculture to Rural Industrial and the corresponding Zone Map Amendment (Zone
Change) to reassign the zoning from Exclusive Farm Use — Tumalo/Redmond/Bend
Subzone (EFU-TRB) to Rural Industrial Zone (R -I).
• To impose conditions of approval necessary to implement this decision.
III. Findinos. Analysis and Conclusions in Response to COLW Testimony on Remand
Because COLW appeared on remand and continues to oppose the proposal, because its
testimony posits interpretations of the Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan that the County
Board concludes are incorrect, and because the County Board ultimately approves the requested
plan designation and zone change applications, the County Board directly addresses issues
raised by COLW's written and oral testimony in the findings below.
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A. Waived Issues
COLW's testimony on remand raises numerous issues that the County Board concludes have
been waived or are otherwise precluded. These issues include, but may not be limited to:
whether the proposal complies with Goals 5, 6 and 9; whether the site is "suitable" for industrial
uses; and whether the County's approval criteria for a plan and zone change satisfy requirements
for such land use actions set forth by cases such as the ones cited by COLW.
As the applicant's rebuttal explains generally, because each of those issues could have been
raised in prior proceedings and appealed to LUBA but were not, and because they do not pertain
to the sole issue on remand or relate to the County Board's determination regarding whether the
uses allowed in the RI zone would result in the rural or urban use of land, COLW is precluded
from raising those issues on remand.
As a precaution, and without conceding the conclusion that COLW has waived the above issues
by not challenging them in the first instance in prior local proceedings or in the appeal to LUBA,
the County Board adopts as its own the arguments on the merits presented in applicant's rebuttal
to COLW's testimony on remand with respect to these issues.
B. Nature of COLW's Arguments
LUBA's remand decision provided two approaches for parties to challenge a conclusion by the
County Board that the permitted RI zone uses are generally rural in nature. LUBA explained that
a party could argue that all permitted RI zone uses are categorically urban uses, and/or a party
could argue that some of the permitted RI zone would constitute an urban use of rural land on the
subject property. Regarding the latter, page 28 of LUBA's opinion expressly envisioned that:
"Once any potential urban uses of concern that might be allowed in the RI zone
have been identified, conditions of approval could be imposed to either preclude
such urban uses or require approval of a Goal 14 exception in the future before
such uses could be authorized in the future."
The County Board finds that COLW's arguments are unequivocal and absolute, and assert that
all industrial uses, to include those permitted in the RI zone, are urban uses that require an
exception to Goal 14 in all instances before those uses can be permitted on rural land.
The County Board further finds that COLW made no effort to identify which, if any, of the range of
permitted and conditional RI zone uses might individually constitute an urban use of land on the
subject property, nor did COLW provide any analysis, argument, comments or guidance about
how the County Board should review specific RI zone uses to determine whether that particular
use might potentially constitute an urban use of land if permitted on the subject property. In this
instance, only the applicant provided us such assistance and argument.
Furthermore, COLW did not provide any reasoning or analysis related to the actual listed uses as
to why each is an urban use of rural land based on the characteristics of the identified use, and
why the development limitations provided under DCC 18.100.030 thorough .090 would not limit
those uses to rural levels of use on rural land. The COLW testimony provided no
recommendations on how any particular RI listed use they considered to be urban could be
conditioned to ensure the use would result in the rural use of rural land. COLW's arguments were
purely legal and were entirely divorced from the actual uses listed and development standards
provided in the DCC's RI zone provisions.
The County Board finds that the sole issue raised by COLW's arguments was whether all
industrial uses, without exclusion, require an exception to Goal 14 before they may be permitted
on rural land. As discussed above, we reject that argument and conclude that the uses permitted
in the RI zone are inherently rural uses.
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C. Interpretations of the Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan and Deschutes County Code
COLW's arguments on remand and orally at the hearing posit interpretations of the Deschutes
County Comprehensive Plan that the County Board finds are erroneous. These include
interpretations to the effect that: the Comprehensive Plan and DCC consider rural industrial uses
to be urban uses; the comprehensive plan intends that rural industrial uses are intended to be
permitted only in one of the County's unincorporated communities; the RI zone was developed
only to bring existing industrial lands that received an exception at the time of acknowledgement
into compliance with state land use regulations and is otherwise limited to existing industrial uses;
and that the RI zone is limited to exceptions areas only. We correct those misinterpretations
below.
COLW posits an interpretation of a statement from Section 3.4 of the Comprehensive Plan:
"Unincorporated Communities: new commercial and industrial uses are permitted
in unincorporated communities. These uses are limited in size. See Chapter 4 for
more information."
COLW contends that statement means that new industrial uses can be permitted only in
unincorporated communities. That interpretation inserts the word "only" where it is not and
ignores the greater context of Chapter 3 of the Comprehensive Plan as well as specific plan
policies in that chapter, which are quoted earlier in this decision. The above statement expressly
authorizes industrial uses in unincorporated communities; it does not prohibit rural industrial uses
on rural lands. COLW's posited interpretation is inconsistent with the quoted language
The County Board interprets Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3 to provide that the purpose of the
Rural Industrial plan designation and zoning is to ensure that those properties that are zoned RI
will remain rural and that the uses allowed on those properties are less intensive than those
allowed in unincorporated communities. That provision is implemented by Policy 3.4.23 and the
development standards adopted under DCC 18.100 RURAL INDUSTRIAL ZONE — R -I. The key
import of that language is that the County Board considers rural industrial uses to be rural uses,
not urban uses, and that they are allowed in rural areas throughout the county, not just in
unincorporated communities.
COLW also narrowly reads the following Comprehensive Plan statement:
"The Rural Industrial plan designation applies to specific exception areas located
outside unincorporated communities and urban growth boundaries. The Rural
Industrial plan designation and zoning brings these areas into compliance with state
rules by adopting zoning to ensure that they remain rural and that the uses allowed
are less intensive than those allowed in unincorporated communities as defined in
OAR 660-022."
COLW focuses on the term "exception area" to contend that RI uses are permitted only in
exception areas, despite also arguing that RI uses are permitted only in unincorporated
communities. The County Board reads this provision more broadly, giving weight to the language
that notes the role state rules have regarding permitted uses. The County Board recognizes, as it
did in the decision affirmed by LUBA in this proceeding, that the designation of land as not
suitable for agricultural use does not lie solely through the exception process under state rules.
The County Board interprets the use of the term exception area in this passage broadly to include
any lands that have been lawfully deemed not subject to the resource goals (Goals 3 and 4) for
whatever reason. Consequently, the County Board interprets the above comprehensive plan
language as not prohibiting the designation of individual properties for rural industrial uses where
those properties qualify for such designation because they have either received an exception to
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Goal 3, or because the provisions of Goal 3 do not apply to them because they do not meet the
definition of "agricultural land" and are therefore nonresource land.
However, for such properties, Policies 3.4.28, 3.4.31, 3.4.32 and 3.4.33 provide standards, which
have been incorporated into and implemented by DCC 18.100, that apply to rural industrial
development to help ensure that such uses are developed at rural levels of intensity consistent
with state rules. While the Comprehensive Plan permits industrial uses in unincorporated
communities and in urban areas, it does not prohibit rural industrial uses at rural levels of intensity
on rural lands.
COLW's proposed interpretations ignore the plan language and plan policies that most directly
address the purpose and application of the Rural Industrial designation to new properties. As
presented in the findings, the County Board concludes that the RI designation and zoning is not
limited to only unincorporated communities and existing exception areas as COLW asserts.
D. COLW's Specific Arguments
COLW contends that LUBA remanded our decision solely for the county to provide evidence
showing the property cannot be used for rural uses and to demonstrate that an exception to Goal
14 is warranted. The County Board disagrees. While the remand proceeding could have been
directed towards findings that support an exception to Goal 14, LUBA did not limit our remand to
that one approach. LUBA recognized that the county may not have intended to allow urban uses
on rural land and that an exception was therefore not warranted or appropriate. Our decision on
remand follows the guidance LUBA provided for review of rural industrial uses and the
requirements to ensure an approval in this instance does not permit urban use of rural land.
COLW repeatedly cites a "necessary" standard in its arguments. COLW does not identify any
DCC or state -mandated approval criterion that requires a demonstration that rural industrial uses
are "necessary" and we are unaware of any. Furthermore, such arguments do not relate to
whether rural industrial uses represent rural or urban uses, or to whether a Goal 14 exception is
required before changing the plan and zone designation of the property. The issue of whether
the proposal satisfied the approval criteria for a plan and zone change was the subject of our
initial proceeding. If COLW believed the DCC or other state -mandated approval criteria imposed
a "necessary" standard, it should have raised that issue in that proceeding or on appeal to LUBA.
It did not. Consequently, COLW is precluded from raising such issues in the first instance on
remand.
COLW contends that the County Board lacks the information necessary to adequately determine
whether uses permitted under the RI zone will be rural or to engage in the analysis required
under Shaffer v. Jackson County. We disagree. While the fact that County Board does not have
the benefit of a specific proposed use complicates the analysis and the County Board must
assume that development will be at the most intensive levels permitted under the development
standards, there is sufficient evidence in the record about the site and the surrounding area to
properly evaluate whether RI uses, if permitted under the DCC development standards and as
conditioned by this decision, would constitute an urban use of rural land. Furthermore, nothing in
Shaffer or the other cases presented to the County Board precludes review without a specific
development proposal and LUBA's remand decision suggests this is permissible in the passage
quoted above.
For the reasons provided elsewhere in these findings, the County Board disagrees with COLW's
categorical statements such as "industrial land is urban use" and its repeated statements that an
exception to Goal 14 is necessary before rural industrial uses can be permitted on the subject
property. Approval of the applications as conditioned is consistent with Goal 14 because this
decision limits the permitted rural industrial uses to rural uses and is therefore not prohibited by
the goal. The County Board rejects the limited definition COLW posits for "rural use" drawn from
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case law as ignoring decades worth of cases and land use regulations that have further
expounded on the meaning of that term. Rural use is not limited to "sparse settlement, a small
farm, or a large acreage home site."
IV. DECISION:
Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the Board of County Commissioners
hereby APPROVES the Applicant's applications for a Comprehensive Plan Map amendment to re-
designate the subject property from Agriculture to Rural Industrial and a corresponding Zone Map
Amendment (Zone Change) to reassign the zoning from Exclusive Farm Use — Tumalo/Redmond/Bend
Subzone (EFU-TRB) to Rural Industrial Zone (R -I) subject to the following conditions of approval:
1. This approval is based on the applicant's burdens of proof, supplemental materials, and written
and oral testimony. Any substantial change to the approved plan amendment or zone change will
require new land use application(s) and approval(s).
This approval allows on the subject property all uses allowed outright and conditionally in the
Rural Industrial zone, except that any pulp and paper manufacturing use shall not be allowed
within the subject property.
3. The Deschutes County Year 2011 Comprehensive Plan shall be amended to include an updated
description of the Deschutes Junction rural industrial site in Chapter 3.4, as follows:
The Deschutes Junction site consists of the following tax lots: 161226C000107 (9.05
acres), 16126C000106 (4.33 acres), 161226C000102 (1.41 acres), 161226C000114 (2.50
acres), portions 161226C000300 (12.9 acres). 161226C000301 (8.93 acres), 161226A000203
(1.5 acres), those portions of 161226C000111 located west of the Burlington Northern -
Santa Fe railroad tracks (16.45 acres), 161226C000201 (20.27 acres) and 161227D0000104
(1.32 acres). Generally, the Deschutes Junction site extends to property to the west of
Highway 97, bordered by Tumalo Road and Tumalo Place and is bordered on the east by
the Burlington Northern Railroad, on the north by Tumalo Place (except for a portion of
1612226A000111), and on the south by EFU-zoned property owned by the City of
Bend.
4. Prior to any development of the property, the developer shall work with Swalley Irrigation District
to transfer some or all of the existing 16 acres of irrigation water rights associated with the subject
property to ensure that there will not be any development on top of irrigated land; only those
irrigation water rights that can be dedicated to beneficial uses, such as irrigated landscaping, may
be retained.
5. As part of any development of the property, the developer shall
a. Create a system of access easements that connect the three driveways with any lots created
by partitioning or subdividing of the land.
b. Work with Commute Options to assist in preparing a two year start-up Transportation Demand
Management program (TDM). The program will include:
1) Conducting workshops and training on TDM alternatives;
2) Provide posters and brochures promoting smart commuting choices;
3) A plan to have employees from on-site businesses have staggered start and end work
hours.
c. Prepare an internal Traffic Control Plan (in accordance with the MUTCD), that includes:
1) Directional signing to Redmond, Bend, Tumalo at each intersection;
2) Time -restrictive (4 PM — 6 PM) "NO LEFT TURN" sign at the driveway onto Tumalo
Place;
3) Bridge undercrossing shall be signed "ONE LANE ROAD";
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4) Prepare a site map, with the aid of DCPWD, showing the location of traffic control
devices.
d. Have the Deschutes County Transportation Planner approve the Traffic Management Plan.
6. Prior to commencing any permitted use on the property, the applicant, developer or operating
business will obtain all necessary air, water and land resource quality permits for the use from the
appropriate local, state or federal regulating agency and will comply with the requirements of such
permits.
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