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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComprehensive Plan UpdateDeschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1961) (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.or AGENDA REQUEST & STAFF REPORT For Board Business Meeting of January 5, 2009 Please see directions for completing this document on the next page. DATE: December 17, 2008 FROM: Terri Hansen Payne CDD 385-1404 TITLE OF AGENDA ITEM: Quarterly report on the comprehensive plan update process. PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS DATE? No BACKGROUND AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Deschutes County is updating the comprehensive plan, the document that provides land use policies for the unincorporated areas of the county. This meeting is to provide information to the Board of County Commissioners on the status of the update. The new comprehensive plan is not anticipated to be completed until 2010. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None RECOMMENDATION & ACTION REQUESTED: Discuss and provide input on the comprehensive plan update process. ATTENDANCE: Terri Hansen Payne and long range planning staff DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS: N/A Community Development Department Planning Division Building Division Environmental Health Division 117 NW Lafayette Bend, Oregon 97701-1925 (541) 388-6575 FAX (541) 385-1764 http://www.co.deschutes.or.us\cdd Memorandum # 2 TO: Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners FROM: Terri Hansen Payne, Senior Planner and Staff DATE: Decernber 17, 2008 MEETING: January 5, 2008 SUBJECT: Comprehensive Plan Update / Quarterly Report BACKGROUND The purpose of this memo is to update the Board of County Commission regarding the Comprehensive Plan Update process. Outlined below is the public outreach completed during the initial stage of this two year process. This public outreach and data gathering phase is projected to continue until July 2009 (Attachment 1: Steering Committee Schedule). COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Deschutes County is initiating an update of the adopted comprehensive plan, the set of goals and policies that guide land conservation and development. These goals and policies are developed from an analysis of existing conditions/trends and community input and must comply with the 19 Statewide Planning Goals. STEERING COMMITTEE The Planning Commission is acting as a Steering Committee for the plan update, reviewing the existing chapters of the comprehensive plan and hearing from the public on what other policies cou d be considered as part of the plan. On August 28, 2008, growth and community involvement were discussed at a joint meeting with the Board of County Commission and Comprehensive Plan Steeriig Committee. Since that time, the Steering Committee has had four further discussions as detailed below. September 25, 2008: Farm and Forest discussion Panels were put together for the farm and forest discussions, to hear from experts in the field. The farm panel included: Jon Jinnings Regional Representative, DLCD Dana Martin Staff Chair, Central Oregon Small Acreage, OSU Extension Services Henry Lewis Local farmer Rick Leper Crop Analyst for Round Butte Seed Summary: • Commercial farming is difficult in Deschutes County because yields are low and uncompetitive • Low yields are based primarily on the climate and the short growing season. Comprehensive Plan Update Memo # 2 • Future farming will likely be hobby farming, niche farming, alternative energy production • Water use should be integrated into land use planning and consider in -stream flows • Look at rural renewable energy enterprise zones as an incentive to maintain large agricultural lands. • Weed eradication should be considered for farm land that no longer maintains irrigated pasture. The forest panel included: Jon Jinnings Joe Stutter Stu Otto John Allen Stephen Fitzgerald Regional Representative, DLCD County Forestry Specialist, Deschutes County Oregon Department of Forestry US Forest Service Silviculture and Wildland Fire, OSU Extension - Comments only Summary: • Forest's economic value is limited timber harvest, hog fuel, post poles etc. It is also managed for fisheries and wildlife habitat. • Trees in Deschutes County are mostly small immature logs that would not support the global market for timber sales. • Major issues for managing forests Water quality and quantity (aquatic habitat) Sustainable recreation Disconnect of most people from natural lands • Fire wise communities need to be part of the comprehensive plan • Development of forest lands significantly displaces wildlife. October 23, 2008: Rural Reserves and Destination Resorts discussion Rural Reserves and Destination Resorts • Staff introduced the idea of rural reserves, areas determined to have special rural value and protected from urban development pressures. • Destination resort re -mapping could be initiated, after proper notice to mapped owners and with their approval. • A process is needed to allow properties to be added. November 20, 2008: Rural Development, Housing, Economic Development, Urbanization and Natural Hazards discussion Rural Development and Housing • The goals are admirable, but the policies do not acknowledge what exists today. • The Rural Development and Housing policies are outdated. • Opportunity to grow should be included in these policies. Economy • Many of the economy policies are out-of-date and need revision. • The County should encourage smaller commercial centers in an effort to minimize vehicle trips and infrastructure impacts to the rural areas. Urbanization and Natural Hazards • Natural hazards mitigation plan needs to be incorporated in the Comprehensive Plan Update. pg 2 Comprehensive Plan Update Memo # 2 • Deschutes County has good inter -jurisdictional cooperation with defensible space policies part cif the zoning code December 18, 2008: Deschutes River Corridor and Fish and Wildlife discussion A panel has been put together for this river corridor fish and wildlife discussion: Dave Inbody Ryan Houston Rick Demmer Jennifer O'Reilly Deschutes County Endangered Species Risk Assessment Coordinator Upper Deschutes Watershed Council Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service LISTENING SESSIONS Six listening sessions were held around the county in October and November 2008 to hear from the community what is working and what needs attention. The county was divided into seven management areas for analysis and a meeting was held in a central location for each of the five areas with population. An additional meeting for the Northeast area was added since the originally scheduled session was on election day. • Sisters City Hall • Deschutes Services Center • Redmond School District • La Pine Senior Center • Brothers School • Terrebonne Community School A summary of the listening sessions is attached (Attachment 2). MEETINGS AND PRESENTATIONS Besides listening sessions, the county contacted 159 governmental and quasi -governmental agenc es and 28 community organizations with an offer to meet and discuss potential issues or lead a presentation and discussion with their group on comprehensive plan issues. The list below identifies stakeholder meetings from August to December 2008. • 9-9-08 Project Wildfire presentation/discussion • 9-17-08 Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council meeting • 10-6-08 Central Oregon Irrigation District meeting • 10-13-08 Bend Municipal Airport Group presentation/discussion • 10-14-08 Central Oregon Real Estate Governmental Affairs Committee presentation/discussioi • 10-15-08 Bureau of Land Management meeting • 10-16-08 Community Wildfire Protection Plan presentation/discussion • 11-13-08 La Pine Fire District Board presentation/discussion • 11-17-08 Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, Deschutes River Conservancy meeting • 12-4-08 Video conference with Oregon Military Department OTHER OUTREACH • Coordinated with Senior Web Applications Developer, to develop a Comp Plan Update website; including adding 'blog' (e-mail) component (http://lava5.deschutes.orq/cdd/compplan/index.cfm; Comprehensive Plan Update Memo # 2 • Staff have done interviews on the comprehensive plan and why it matters on Daybreak, Direct Connect, Good Morning Central Oregon and Inside Deschutes County. • A flyer was prepared with the Steering Committee schedule and mailed out to 42,500 households in the unincorporated county tax bills, sent to email lists and made available at the Community Development and Deschutes Services Center buildings. • A flyer was prepared for the listening sessions and sent to email lists including government and non-government agencies and the public located in the rural communities of each management area. The flyer was also distributed at each listen session meeting, made available at the Community Development and Deschutes Services Center buildings and sent out as a press release to the numerous local newspapers. NEXT STEPS • Continue with the meeting topics outlined in the Steering Committee Schedule through 2009. • Provide quarterly progress of the Comprehensive Plan Update to the Board of County Commissioners. • In January and February hold community meetings to discuss issues in Terrebonne, Tumalo and Deschutes Junction. • In Spring 2009 begin with follow-up listening sessions in the five management areas to bring back what staff heard and address the changes that can be made within the limits of state statute. Attachments 1. Steering Committee Schedule 2. Listening Session Summary What do you value about Deschutes County's Recreational Opportunities? Community? Rural Lifestyle? Access to Nature? Deschutes County wants to know! What: Deschutes County is updating its land use policies in the County Comprehensive Plan Why it matters: The updated Comprehensive Plan policies will impact land use in Deschutes County for the next 20 years See the other side of this sheet to find out how your voice can be heard. Join the Conversation Deschutes County is initiating an update of its adopted Comprehensive Plan (Plan), the document that guides land use conservation and development. The Plan contains policies based on local conditions and community values and must comply with Statewide Planning Goals and regulations. In some cases, State regulations define the types of permitted land uses and lot standards. In other cases, there is considerable flexibility. The Deschutes County Planning Commission will act as the Steering Committee, holding one meeting per month on the Plan. Topics will be discussed at these meetings based on the schedule below. At each meeting State regulations will be identified along with current conditions, trends and our existing Plan policies. These meetings are open to the public and community input is encouraged. Date 8-7-08 8-28-08 9-25-08 10-23-08 11-20-08 12-18-08 1-22-09 2-26-09 3-26-09 4-23-09 5-28-09 6-26-09 7-23-09 Topic Work plan, schedule Growth, community involvement Farm and forest land Rural reserves and destination resorts Development: rural residential, urbanization, economy, housing, natural disasters Natural resources: rivers, riparian areas, wetlands, wildlife Environmental quality: water, air, land, energy Issue areas: Tumalo, Terrebonne, Deschutes Junction Transportation Public facilities and services Unincorporated communities: Sunriver, resort communities, rural service centers Resources: historic, parks and recreation, open space, surface mining Other as needed All meetings are scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. Deschutes Services Center Barnes and Sawyer Rooms (first floor) at 1300 NW Wall Street Bend This schedule is subject to change What do you want Deschutes County to look like in 20 years? How should the Plan reflect community values? How should the County provide for anticipated growth? Are there issues you want to see addressed? For more information Visit the Deschutes County website at www.deschutes.orq/cdd and look for the link under comprehensive plan update, or contact staff listed below. Terri Hansen Payne Peter Gutowsky Peter Russell Kristen Maze terrip(c�deschutes.org peterq(a�deschutues.orq peterr c(Ddeschutes.orq kristenm(a�deschutes.orq 385-1404 385-1709 383-6718 383-6701 Community Development Department Planning Division Building Division Environmental Health Division 117 NW Lafayette Bend, Oregon 97701-1925 (541) 388-6575 FAX (541) 385-1764 http://www.co.deschutes.or.us\cdd Management Area Listening Sessions Summary Six listening sessions were held in October and November of 2008 to allow the public to discuss how well Deschutes County land use policies are working and what needs attention. Staff divided the county into seven Management Areas (MAs), two of which are primarily public lands, where the only houses are a handful of cabins. For the other five Management Areas a listening session was held in a central location. There was an additional meeting scheduled in Terrebonne for the Northeast Management Area because the first meeting for that area was scheduled on election evening. All meetings went from 6-8 p.m. Date • 10-28 • 10-30 • 11-4 • 11-6 • 11-12 • 11-13 Management Area Northwest Central Northeast South East Northeast Location Sisters City Hall Deschutes Services Center Redmond School District Offices La Pine Senior Center Brothers School Terrebonne Community School Attendees 23 people 2 people 2 people 20 people 23 people 12 people Exercise At each listening session community members were invited to participate in an exercise. Six goals from our current comprehensive plan were set around the room on large sheets of paper and the audience was asked to place a purple dot on the sheet with their most favorite goal and a blue dot on the sheet with their least favorite goal. Results of Listening Session Exercise COMPREHENSIVE GOALS "To preserve and enhance rural character, scenic values and natural resources of the county." MOST FAVORrr 29 LEAST. FAVORIT 1 "To maintain existing water supplies at present quantity and quality." 8 1 "To preserve and maintain agriculture land." 6 5 "To allow flexibility of housing location, type and density in Deschutes County." 3 11 "To conserve forest lands for forest uses." 2 0 "To provide for the development of destination resorts in Deschutes County." 1 48 Management Area Listening Sessions Meeting Notes At each meeting staff briefly discussed the comprehensive plan update process, then listened to the community. Notes were taken on large pads to assure the correct capture of ideas. At the Northwest Management Area meeting six written comments were handed to staff on the topic of destination resorts. These written comments as well as detailed notes from each session can be found at our website www.deschutes.org/cdd under comprehensive plan update. This is a brief rundown of the main issues discussed. Overall The issue of destination resorts was raised and discussed at every session. The overall consensus (with a few exceptions) was that we don't understand the impacts of resorts, can't enforce the resort regulations and should not allow more resorts. Another common theme was the need to protect water and other natural resources. A final common theme was mistrust and frustration with county land use and with county government in general. Northwest MA This discussion focused primarily on destination resorts and with one exception there was support for a moratorium on resorts and/or repealing the overlay map. Primary concerns included effects on water quantity/quality and fish/wildlife; the lack of understanding of the cumulative impacts of many resorts; the need for workforce housing; traffic; mitigations across jurisdictions and the inability of the county to enforce existing regulations. Suggestions • Enact a moratorium on destination resorts • Have resort applications address cumulative impacts from area resorts • Have applicants provide funding for the county to hire independent experts for impact analysis • Use bond money for funding studies on resorts, for land preservation or for mitigation and monitoring Central MA Concerns were noted over destination resorts, traffic congestion and crime. The county was urged to maintain rural areas and natural resources and to address fire hazards. Suggestion • Repeal the destination resort map • Create policies for addressing fire hazards • Trade county lands to obtain and preserve land along the rivers Northeast MA Water quality and quantity were a concern as were destination resorts, which use water and city services. It was noted that canals should not be piped as they are an historic resource and add moisture to the air and support wildlife, vegetation and quality of life. Suggestions • Balance individual and community rights and support agriculture • Create an internet site to match people wanting to farm with people who have land that could be farmed Pg 2 December 2, 2008 Management Area Listening Sessions South MA Concern was expressed over the south county position on the Planning Commission being held by someone not from south county. It was noted that the county should do a better job of enforcing dock requirements, since illegal docks affect water quality. A moratorium on destination resorts was recommended and various negative impacts from resorts were noted by many of the participants. A number of residents noted that south county residents feel like they have no control and are treated differently than residents in other parts of the county. It was stated that there are many problems in La Pine but also many involved and active residents. The negative impacts of resorts came up again. Comments were made on the importance of promoting local businesses. The local rule was discussed. Suggestions • Send out a questionnaire to understand community opinions on destination resorts • Enact a moratorium on destination resorts • Develop a code to encourage the use of graywater East MA Concern was expressed over the restrictiveness of the farm zoning in east county. It was noted that the overlay for wildlife is too restrictive and the required fencing does not work. Concern was expressed over the lack of respect for farmers shown by recreational hunters, hikers and motorcycle riders. The large size of the parcels makes it harder to watch over your property and posting doesn't help. Some noted that allowing more homes and a community would help wildlife and the additional children would allow the school to operate. Others objected to additional development. There were mixed opinions over whether to protect large ranches or allow them to subdivide. It was noted that the county needs better light requirements and enforcement to allow the observatory to operate. There were objections to the county land use processes and comments that the community does not trust the county. Suggestions • Amend fencing and wildlife overlay requirements • Require and enforce cut-off lights Northeast MA #2 It was noted that much EFU land is hard to farm. The importance to the community of natural resources was discussed. Concern was expressed because access to the river at Eagle Rock swimming hole has been closed. A discussion was held over water tables and the impacts of destination resorts. Various traffic concerns were noted, including the lack of enforcement of speed laws and no -parking zones. Suggestions • Protect natural resources and promote growth in urban areas • Before selling County -owned lands, engage in public outreach • Create water management plans • Coordinate with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon Department of Forestry to protect natural resources and ensure logging of downed timber Pg 3 December 2, 2008