2024-137-Minutes for Meeting April 30,2024 Recorded 6/7/2024o��iVES COG2<
BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon
(541) 388-6570
•
3:00 PM
Recorded in Deschutes County OJ2024-137
Steve Dennison, County Clerk
Commissioners' Journal 06/07/2024 9:41 :05 AM
TUESDAY April 30, 2024
2024-137
Sisters City Hall
Live Streamed Video
Present were Commissioners Patti Adair, Tony DeBone and Phil Chang. Also present was
County Administrator Nick Lelack
This meeting was audio and video recorded and can be accessed at the Deschutes County
Meeting Portal webpage www.deschutes.org/meeting_s.
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Adair called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
AGENDA ITEM:
1. Continued Public Hearing: Draft 2020-2040 Deschutes County
Comprehensive Plan
Nicole Mardell, Senior Planner, introduced the public hearing on the 2020-2040
Comprehensive Plan Update, explaining that the Plan defines the community's
vision for housing, recreation, transportation, and land use, among other
elements. She recounted the extensive community outreach undertaken in
developing the update as well as the Planning Commission's in-depth review,
which included three public hearings. Major themes of the public input received
thus far include the rezoning of farmland, protection of wildlife, dark skies,
private property rights and water management.
The Planning Commission recommended several revisions relating to: balancing
regulations with incentives; exploring a new zoning category to balance high
BOCC MEETING APRIL 30, 2024 PAGE 1 OF 4
desert resources with housing; revising Policy 8.1.2 (collaboration among
recreation agencies and property owners for trail projects); and deleting Policy
5.1 regarding the consideration of impacts to water quality and quantity for
destination resorts and other large-scale developments.
Mardell summarized comments submitted by agencies and members of the
public in advance of today's hearing.
The public hearing was opened at 3:22 pm.
Tony Oliver commended staff for the work done on the draft update.
She was concerned about the conversion of farmland to other uses and
supported incentives to facilitate sustainable farming. She additionally
supported a moratorium on destination resorts due to concerns about
water availability. She objected that properties near her home which are
zoned RR10 are being used for motorcross facilities.
Bruce Bowen also thanked staff for their work on the update. He said the
draft plan is too long and too technical, and unclear in some parts. Saying
that the plan fails to provide a visionary leadership, he faulted it for
adhering to the status quo and not addressing problems which proliferate
in connection with destination resorts, which he considered to be rural
subdivisions in disguise. He further said that the draft update does not
adequately protect natural or agricultural resources —water in particular —
and stated his objection to ad hoc or spot zoning.
Eva Eagle said dense subdivisions exert pressure on services, including
roads. She was concerned with the decline in wildlife populations such as
deer, smaller mammals and birds, and was also concerned about the
decrease in the groundwater table. She advocated for protecting the
environment, water quality, and agricultural and forest land. She said
large destination resorts are not needed to boost the economy and urged
retaining open spaces.
Jim Thrower advised remembering that mthis area is a desert, and water
sources are limited. He expected the climate to become drier over time,
resulting in increased demand for water. He objected that ranchers and
farmers will not have enough water for agricultural uses, yet golf courses
and artificial lakes are being allowed. He spoke regarding the documented
decline in the mule deer population, saying this species does not easily
adapt to change. He concluded that their migration patterns are disrupted
by development, which affects their reproductive rates and hardiness.
Paul Lipscomb speaking on behalf of the Oregon Land and Water Alliance,
said his biggest concerns were water and destination resorts. He believed
the draft update does not sufficiently address water in terms of
conservation and the enforcement of rules governing water use. He
BOCC MEETING APRIL 30, 2024 PAGE 2 OF 4
proposed changes to the section regarding destination resorts to address
water usage and said golf courses in particular are not sustainable.
Discussion ensued regarding the enforcement of water permits and
allocations and how to measure water use.
Rodney Cooper said mule deer are resilient and pay no attention to
property lines or boundaries in terms of their habitat. He suggested that
predators —in particular, cougars and wolves —are partially responsible
for the decline in the population of mule deer.
Discussion ensued regarding the reasons for the decline in the population of
mule deer in Central Oregon, including that non-native junipers crowd out
bitterbrush which is an important food source for the deer.
Dorinne Tye appreciated the public engagement done for the
Comprehensive Plan update. She spoke regarding the need to protect
water resources and shared her concerns regarding negative
environmental impacts (in particular, noise and pollution) from air and
vehicle traffic.
Morgan Greenwood, representing the Central Oregon Builders
Association, suggested that the Plan be revised to reclassify non -
commercially viable agricultural land to facilitate housing development.
In addition, she asked that the Community Development Department
implement a fee -based pre -application meeting to help streamline and
expedite the review time for housing development. She supported not
using surplus County land for affordable housing at the expense of a
better opportunity.
Oral testimony concluded at 4:09 pm.
The Board was in consensus to leave the written record open for 30 days.
Comments from the Commissioners will be accepted into the record until
May 14t"
Commissioner Chang advocated for an evening public hearing opportunity
before the Board. Following discussion, the Board concurred to continue the
public hearing to 5:30 pm on Wednesday, May 8t"
Commissioner DeBone spoke to an area zoned F2 in the South County which
was platted before 1973 and has long been considered to be rural
residential, but is zoned as resource land. Despite the official zoning, people
have built residences without septic systems or adjacent public right-of-way.
BOCC MEETING APRIL 30, 2024 PAGE 3 OF 4
Mardell said this land is considered to be non -prime resource land.
Commissioner Chang said while property owners can apply for rezones on a
per parcel basis, the cost of conducting the necessary soil analysis can be
prohibitive. He suggested that possibly the County could aid in those efforts.
ADJOURN:
Being no further items to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at XX:XX pm.
DATED this day of 2024 for the Deschutes County Board of
Commissioners.
ATTEST:
RECORDING SECRETARY
PA TI ADAIR, CHAIR
ANTHONY DEBONE, VICE CHAIR
PHIL CHANG, C MIVIISSIONER
BOCC MEETING APRIL 30, 2024 PAGE 4 OF 4
Mardell said this land is considered to be non -prime resource land.
Commissioner Chang said while property owners can apply for rezones on a
per parcel basis, the cost of conducting the necessary soil analysis can be
prohibitive. He suggested that possibly the County could aid in those efforts.
ADJOURN:
Being no further items to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at XX:XX pm.
DATED this �day of t/� �2024 for the Deschutes County Board of
Commissioners.
ATTEST:
RECORDING SECRETARY
PA Tll ADAIR, CHAIR
ANTHONY DEBONE, VICE CHAIR
PHIL CHANG, C MMISSIONER
BOCC MEETING APRIL 30, 2024 PAGE 4 OF 4
�vIES CO
o� GA BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
PUBLIC HEARING: 2020-2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
3:00 PM, TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024
Sisters City Hall, 520 E Cascade Avenue, Sisters
(541) 388-6570 1 www.deschutes.org
HEARING FORMAT: In accordance with Oregon state law, this hearing is open to the public and
can be accessed and attended in person or remotely.
Zoom Meeting Information: This meeting may be accessed via Zoom using a phone or computer
• To join the meeting via Zoom from a computer, use this link: http://bit.ly/3h3ogdD.
• To join by phone, call 253-215-8782 and enter webinar ID # 899 4635 9970 followed by the
passcode 013510.
• If joining by a browser, use the raise hand icon to indicate you would like to provide public
comment, if and when allowed. If using a phone, press *9 to indicate you would like to
speak and *6 to unillute yourself VVIIeiI you a're Caiied oil.
• When it is your turn to provide testimony, you will be promoted from an attendee to a
panelist. You may experience a brief pause as your meeting status changes. Once you
have joined as a panelist, you will be able to turn on your camera, if you would like to.
CALL TO ORDER
AGENDA ITEM
Continued Public Hearing: Draft 2020-2040 Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan
(247-23-000644-PA)
ADJOURN
Deschutes County encourages persons with disabilities to participate in all
programs and activities. This event/location is accessible to people with disabilities.
If you need accommodations to make participation possible, call (541) 388-6572 or
email brenda.fritsvold@deschutes.org.
MEETING DATE: April 30, 2024
SUBJECT: Continued Public Hearing: Draft 2020-2040 Deschutes County Comprehensive
Plan (247-23-000644-PA)
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Continue public hearing to gather testimony on draft Deschutes County 2040 Plan update.
BACKGROUND AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS:
The Board of Commissioners will hold a continued public hearing in Sisters to gather
testimony on the Draft Deschutes County 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Hearing information: 1 uesday, April 30, J pm, Sisters City Hall, JLu C %.-as cue /-1ve lue,
Sisters, Oregon.
The full record is located on the project hearing page:
https://www deschutes.org/cd/page/247-23-000644-pa-deschutes-county-2040-
comprehensive-plan-update-hearing-page.
BUDGET IMPACTS:
N/A
ATTENDANCE:
Nicole Mardell, AICP, Senior Long Range Planner
Will Groves, Planning Manager