HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report - Planning Div Update
MEMORANDUM
DATE: September 19, 2012
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Nick Lelack, Planning Director
Peter Gutowsky, Principal Planner
RE: Planning Division Work Plan Update
Summary
The purpose of this memorandum is to update the Board of County Commissioners (Board) on the
Planning Division’s annual work plan in light of Terri Payne, Senior Long Range Planner’s recent
retirement.
Based on staffing resources after the retirement, the Planning Division still has capacity to maintain
current land use application review services, complete long range projects in process, and perform
ongoing coordination responsibilities and special projects. In addition, upon the conclusion of the
Regional Economic Opportunity Analysis and adoption of the Newberry Country: A Plan for
Southern Deschutes County in early 2013, the Division will have the ability to initiate a new larger
scale project or multiple smaller scale projects.
Staff recommends not filling the Senior Planner vacancy at the current time due to the continued
slow pace of land use applications received by the Community Development Department (CDD),
and the corresponding revenue. It is anticipated that this retirement will save approximately
$74,600 in the current fiscal year.
The memorandum summarizes:
A. Planning Division’s current resources;
B. Status and timelines of existing projects;
C. Adopted work plan projects not yet begun and estimated timelines and resource
requirements; and
D. Ongoing coordination responsibilities and special projects.
Board Direction
Staff seeks direction from the Board on priority projects for the rest of Fiscal Year (FY) 2012/2013
and resources available. The following options are available:
1. Discuss and identify which priority project(s) the Planning Division will initiate in early 2013 with
existing resources (not filling the planner vacancy and not using the anticipated savings for
consultant services).
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2. Discuss and identify which priority project(s) the Planning Division will initiate in early 2013 with
additional resources – either filling the planner vacancy or using the anticipated savings for
consultant services. This option provides opportunities for the Division to initiate additional
projects.
3. Do not fill the planner vacancy and return in January 2013 at the conclusion of the Regional
Economic Opportunity Analysis to revisit Planning Division’s capacity to take on new projects.
A. Planning Division Resources
Table 1 below provides the Planning Division’s FY 2012/2013 budget. It is anticipated that the
Senior Planning position, if left unfilled, will save approximately $74,600.00 in the current fiscal
year. First quarter financial results will be available in October, but early indications are that
planning revenues are coming in below budget.
Table 1 – Planning Division FY 2012/13 Budget
Direct Expense Indirect Expense Revision Totals
Current Planning $642,315.00 $245,789.00 $888,104.00
Long Range Planning $463,401.00 $145,009.00 ($74,600.00) $533,810.00
Total $1,105,716.00 $390.798.00 $1,421,914.00
Table 2 below summarizes the Planning Division by person, position, and priority project or special
area of responsibility. It does not include all tasks performed by each staff member or the Division,
such as writing land use decisions and recommendations among other permits (noise, outdoor
mass gathering, etc.), serving as the counter planner, internal coordination, or participating on
numerous regional and statewide committees.
Table 2 – Planning Division Staff
Staff Position Priority Project / Special Area of Responsibility
Nick Lelack Planning Director
Policy and technical guidance and support for Long-range and
Current Planning
Staffs Planning Commission and Historic Landmarks
Commission
Analyzes and coordinates responses to Oregon legislative land
use bills
Deschutes River high flows, Harper Bridge, Sisters Airport,
Redmond Southwest Area Plan, Bend Airport Master Plan, and
other coordination duties
Supports Properties and Facilities Department on the Old
Demo Landfill Development Plan, and Solid Waste Department
on the Knott Landfill public outreach program
Current Planning Section
Kevin Harrison Principal Planner,
Current Planning Reviews all land use decisions and recommendations
Paul Blikstad Senior Planner Addressing
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Table 2 – Planning Division Staff
Staff Position Priority Project / Special Area of Responsibility
Will Groves Senior Planner
Serves as County’s Floodplain Manager
Provides support for Deschutes River high flows project
Provides support for Harper Bridge project
Cynthia Smidt Associate Planner
Serves as staff coordinator with Historic Landmarks
Commission and State Historic Preservation Office
Provides support for Harper Bridge project
Long Range Planning Section
Peter
Gutowsky
Principal Planner,
Long Range
Regional Economic Opportunity Analysis
Sage grouse coordination
Newberry Country: A Plan for Southern Deschutes County
Knott Landfill public outreach
City coordination (City of Bend growth management )
Portland State University Housing Unit & Population
Questionnaire
Peter Russell
Senior
Transportation
Planner
Bend Airport Master Plan
Traffic Study Code Amendment
System Development Charge (SDC) Update
Update Deschutes County Bicycle Guide
Tumalo Trail Conditional Use Permit Application
Administrative Support
Sher Buckner Administrative
Secretary
Primary administrative secretary for the Planning Division
Prepares, mails, scans all current and long range planning
documents including notices, staff reports, and decisions
Serves as the Planning Commission secretary
B. Existing Planning Projects
Table 3 describes the Planning Division’s projects referenced above.
Table 3 - Existing Planning Projects
Project Description Estimated
Completion
Long Range Emphasis
Newberry
Country:
A Plan for
Southern
Deschutes
County
Two public hearings are scheduled before the Planning Commission
on.
October 25, 2012 in La Pine
November 8, 2012 in Sunriver
Following the public hearings, the Commission may conduct
additional hearings or work sessions. The Planning Commission will
make a recommendation to the Board, likely in December or
January, followed by Board public hearings.
4 to 6 months
(March 2013)
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Table 3 - Existing Planning Projects
Project Description Estimated
Completion
Regional
Economic
Opportunity
Analysis
The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) will
consider amendments to administrative rules to recognize Central
Oregon’s short-term need for large lot employment land. LCDC’s
public hearings on the proposed rules are scheduled for:
Thursday, September 27 in Redmond.
Thursday, November 15 in McMinnville.
Once LCDC adopts the rules, Deschutes County will adopt a new
ordinance justifying in its Comprehensive Plan, Central Oregon’s
short term need for six sites. Optimally, a hearing before the Board
of County Commissioners will occur in mid-December or January.
3 to 4 months
(January 2013)
Sage Grouse
Coordination
Cooperating
Agency
This past summer Deschutes County signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to
become a cooperating agency. BLM is conducting an environmental
analysis and preparing a draft and final programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for amendment of federal land use plans to
incorporate conservation measures for the Greater sage-grouse in
Central and Eastern Oregon.
24 months
(Sept. 2014)
Sage Grouse
Coordination
Harney County
Sage-Grouse
Conservation
Partnership
The state of Oregon is working with local and federal agencies and
private partners to undertake efforts that will sufficiently protect Sage-
grouse in Oregon from the threat identified by the USFWS and
NMFS. Sage-grouse Conservation Partnership (SageCon), an
Oregon Solutions Project convened by the Governor’s Office, BLM
and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), is currently
underway to establish an all-lands approach to managing Sage-
grouse habitat.
The purpose of this Department of Land Conservation and
Development (DCLD) Grant project is to complement the SageCon
effort by facilitating a regional approach for the consideration of local
land use planning policies to protect Sage-grouse habitat identified in
Oregon’s Sage-grouse Conservation Strategy. Harney County is the
project manager.
8 months
(May 2013)
Transportation Emphasis
Deschutes
County Bicycle
Guide
The purpose of this project is to update the County’s 10-year old
bicycle guide with Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC),
as called for in the newly adopted Transportation System Plan.
4 to 6 months
(Spring 2013)
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Table 3 - Existing Planning Projects
Project Description Estimated
Completion
System
Development
Charges
(SDCs)
Planning staff is assisting the County Road Department in reviewing
and revising as necessary the County’s transportation SDC based on
the projects identified in the Transportation System Plan, Table
5.3.T1, “County and Highway Road Projects.”
4 to 6 months
(Spring 2013)
Traffic Study
Code
Amendment
Currently, County traffic study requirements are located in Deschutes
County Code (DCC), Title 17. This part of Title 17 deals with
subdivisions and master plans, although the traffic study requirement
is cross-referenced in Site Plan Review at DCC 18.124.080(J) under
Other Conditions. Placing the traffic studies’ requirement in a stand-
alone section will alleviate any potential confusion. Some applicants
have argued the traffic study requirements do not apply to them if
their land use was not a subdivision.
4 to 6 months
(Spring 2013)
Tumalo Trail
Land Use
Application
The Road Department and Planning Division successfully competed
for a Recreational Trails Program grant from the Oregon State Park
and Recreation Department. Planning staff will prepare for the Road
Department the conditional use application to construct the trail.
4 to 6 months
(Spring 2013)
C. FY 2012-13 Projects Not Yet Begun
Table 4 provides an overview of projects listed in the Planning Division’s adopted FY 2012-2013
Work Plan but not yet initiated due to available resources. Project rankings, shown as “required,”
“priority” and “discretionary” are referenced that way in the Work Plan to underscore their relative
importance. The projects are not listed in priority order within each category.
Table 4 - FY 2012/2013 Planning Projects Not Yet Begun and Status
Project Description
Work Plan Priority,
Est. Timeline and
Resources
Larger Scale Projects
Statewide
Planning Goal 11
(Public Facilities)
Support the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) led
South Deschutes/North Klamath Groundwater Protection
Project, and initiate implementation of recommendations in
collaboration with state agencies, residents and stakeholders,
and upon direction by the Board. This project may consist of
supporting, coordinating or leading a process to apply for an
Exception to Goal 11 to permit sewers in rural areas.1
o Required
o 6 – 12 months
o 0.35 FTE
1 This project would not be initiated until the DEQ Advisory Committee completes its final report and DEQ has evaluated
and endorsed the report’s recommendation. It is expected that DEQ will make a formal request to the Board to initiate
this and possibly other recommended projects.
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Table 4 - FY 2012/2013 Planning Projects Not Yet Begun and Status
Project Description
Work Plan Priority,
Est. Timeline and
Resources
Big Look (HB
2229)
Implementation
Implement the Big Look Task Force recommendations in
House Bill (HB) 2229, including Section 36, if authorized by
the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC)
in coordination with DLCD. DLCD is not expected to have the
resources available to undertake HB 2229 implementation
with Deschutes County until the Southern Oregon Pilot Project
to examine farm and forest definitions is completed.
o Required
o 18 – 24 months
o 1.25 FTE, may
require
consultants,
and GIS
Non-Resource
Lands Program
The program would be comprised of criteria, procedures and a
new Comprehensive Plan Map designation for areas with
exceedingly low capacity to be managed for commercial
agricultural and forestry activities that do not deserve to be
protected for resource (farm or forest) uses, but do not qualify
for an exception to the applicable statewide planning goals
and implementing administrative rules. Eligible property
owners would then be able to utilize this new program to
change the designation of their lands to a new Non Resource
Lands designation.
o Required
o 18 – 24 months
o 1.25 FTE and
GIS
Deschutes
Junction Master
Plan
Initiate a Deschutes Junction Master Plan process.
o Priority
o 18 – 24 months
o 1.25 FTE and
GIS
Deschutes River
Woods
Community Plan
Develop a Deschutes River Woods Community Plan.
o Discretionary
o 18 – 24 months
o 1.25 FTE and
GIS
Horse Ridge
Subzone
Develop and initiate a work program to review and update the
Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) Horse Ridge Subzone, including
provisions for non-farm dwellings
o Discretionary
o 9 – 12 months
o .15 FTE
Update Goal 5
Inventory of
Natural & Cultural
Resources
Develop a work program to update Goal 5 inventory of natural
and cultural resources.
o Discretionary
o 18 – 24 months
o 1.25 FTE, may
require
consultants,
and GIS
Smaller Scale Projects
Review Fees for
Limited Site Plan
Reviews
The Board directed the Planning Division to evaluate fees for
minor Site Plan Reviews, and to add it to the annual work
plan.
o New
o 4 to 6 months
o 0.25 FTE
Code Enforcement
Text Amendments
Initiate a text amendment to prohibit the issuance of land use
and building permits if a property has a pending code violation
or is in violation with conditions of approval from a prior land
use decision.
o New
o 4 to 6 months
o 0.15 FTE
Small Destination
Resort
Amendments
Initiate text amendments to allow small destination resorts,
and/or revise destination resort siting criteria.
o New
o 4 to 6 months
o 0.20 FTE
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Table 4 - FY 2012/2013 Planning Projects Not Yet Begun and Status
Project Description
Work Plan Priority,
Est. Timeline and
Resources
Adult
Entertainment /
Business
Amendments
Initiate adult entertainment and adult-oriented business code
amendment, to create clear and objective standards that are
content neutral and do not restrict free expression, to separate
such uses from religious and educational uses. Adult
entertainment and adult-oriented businesses would exhibit the
same high standards of site planning and landscape
management zone requirements as all commercial or
industrial developments
o New
o 9 – 12 months
o 0.15 FTE
Medical Hardship
Amendment
Initiate a text amendment to address medical hardship
dwellings and building height measurement methods for
consistency with the Building Code.
o New
o 6 – 9 months
o 0.15 FTE
Wildfire Protection
Text Amendments
Add standards and criteria that require defensible space for
wildfire protection.
o New
o 6 – 9 months
o 0.15 FTE
Grading
Ordinance
Work with the Building Division to investigate the potential
benefits and drawbacks of adopting a County Grading
Ordinance, and assist in the process to develop and adopt
such an ordinance if directed by the Board of Commissioners.
o New
o 9 – 12 months
o 0.15 FTE
D. Ongoing Coordination Responsibilities / Special Projects
Planning staff coordinates with Bend, La Pine, Redmond and Sisters as required by state law in
addition to other regional projects, as shown in Table 5 below. The table provides a summary of
CDD’s significant planning and transportation-related coordination activities. These activities fluctuate
prior to and during legislative sessions, and as cities request County assistance in pursuing growth
management and/or airport-related projects.
Table 5 – Statutory / Regional Coordination Duties / Special Projects
Project Description
Bend Airport Master
Plan
Coordinate with the City to update the Airport Master Plan, and update the
County’s Comprehensive Plan to incorporate.
City of Bend
Growth Management
Coordinate with the City to complete Urban Growth Boundary (UGB)
Amendment. Upon state acknowledgment of a UGB amendment, discuss
initiating an Urban Reserve Area (URA) work program for the City of Bend.
Old Demolition Landfill
Development Plan
&
Knott Landfill Public
Outreach
Support County’s Property and Facilities Dept. to amend the Bend Area
General Plan Map designation and zone map amendment for the Demolition
Landfill on the west side of Bend from Public Facilities and Surface Mining
designations to mixed use zones.
Support the County’s Solid Waste Dept. efforts to conduct a robust public
outreach program to engage residents and stakeholders in a discussion about
the potential for renewable energy stemming from the landfill.
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Table 5 – Statutory / Regional Coordination Duties / Special Projects
Project Description
Deschutes River High
Water
In August, the Board directed staff to help facilitate a public meeting to address
questions/issues raised about high summer flows in the Deschutes River. Staff
is coordinating with all of the participating organizations – Oregon Water
Resources Department, Bureau of Reclamation, Deschutes Basin Board of
Control, and Deschutes County to plan/prepare for a public meeting
anticipated for later this fall. The group will discuss meeting logistics – where
and when to meet, meeting format and length, public notification, etc.
Harper Bridge
Coordinate with property owners, residents, river users, state agencies,
Sunriver, and other stakeholders to develop a solution for safe river access in
the Harper Bridge area.
Historical Landmarks
Commission
Provide staff to the Historic Landmarks Commission for any county related
applications or policy issues. Certified Local Government (CLG) grants
administered with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) are
announced in November 2012. Grant applications are due in January 2013,
awarded in March, and then administered through August 2014.
Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT)
Refinement Planning
Projects
Participate in ODOT funded refinement planning projects for Highway 97 and
Highway 20. These projects may include planning for U.S. 97 at the north end
of Bend, Quarry Road interchange and the Wickiup Junction interchange or
bypass.
Regional Trail Plan
Coordinate with local, state and federal agencies through the Deschutes
County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to develop a regional trail
plan. Upon completion of a trail plan, amend the TSP to include the routes.
Also work with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to develop an
online trail guide.
Sisters Airport Support to the City of Sisters and Sisters Airport owners to expand the Sisters
UGB to include the airport property
City of Redmond
Southwest Area Plan
Participate in the City of Redmond’s newly initiated Southwest Area Plan on
lands around the new Ridgeview High School in the City limits, UGB and
Urban Reserve Area.
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Table 5 – Statutory / Regional Coordination Duties / Special Projects
Project Description
Committees
Association of Oregon County Planning Directors
Bend Airport Master Plan Update Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization TAC
Central Oregon Area Commission on Transportation TAC
Central Oregon Transportation Options Plan TAC
Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian TAC
Deschutes River Mitigation and Enhancement Committee
Governor’s Urban Growth Advisory Committee
Highway 97/20 Project TAC
La Pine Transportation System Plan (anticipated)
Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Spring 2013
Conference Program Committee
Oregon Planning Institute Program Committee
Planning representative on regional water planning discussions, headed by
irrigation districts, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, Oregon
Consensus and others
Project Wildfire
Regional Economic Opportunity Analysis Advisory Committee
Southern Deschutes County / Northern Klamath County Groundwater
Protection discussions with DLCD, DEQ, and DEQ Advisory Committee
South Redmond Collaborative Group
US 20 in Tumalo Project TAC
Wickiup Junction/97 TAC
Others