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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - DLCD Grant Applications MEMORANDUM DATE: August 23, 2011 TO: Deschutes County Board of Commissioners FROM: Nick Lelack, Planning Director Peter Gutowsky, Principal Planner Terri Hansen Payne, Senior Planner MTG: August 31, 2011 RE: Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) Technical Assistant (TA) Grant Applications for the Regional Economic Opportunity Analysis (REOA) Phase 2 and South County Community Plan BOCC Direction The Community Development Department is seeking Board of County Commissioner support to apply for two DLCD TA Grants for the Regional Economic Opportunity Analysis (REOA) Phase 2 and South County Community Plan. The REOA grant application is proposed to be a joint endeavor between Deschutes County and Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC). It is anticipated that other local governments will also have a significant role. Staff has discussed both grant applications, which are summarized below, with DLCD’s regional coordinators. DLCD announced that it would begin accepting applications for the 2011-13 biennium on July 25. The grant deadline is September 1, 2011. At the time of the writing of this memorandum, staff is developing cost estimates for both applications, which will be provided to the Board at the work session. Technical Assistant Grant Overview DLCD provides resources to help Oregon communities prepare and update local land use plans to respond to growth management and development. DLCD’s 2011-2013 budget is now approved by the legislature, and the department invites grant applications. About $1.7 million is expected to be available for grants to local jurisdictions during the biennium, similar to the amount available in 2007-2011. According to DLCD staff, this grant cycle is expected to be extremely competitive. The priorities for use of Technical Assistance grant funds are as follows: -2- 1. Economic development 2. Streamlining planning and zoning processes 3. Pre-2007 Periodic Review work programs 4. Update coordinated county-wide population projections 5. Infrastructure/public facility financing plans Projects outside of these priorities are also encouraged to apply; project proposals will be evaluated and awarded based on the merits of the application. Grant Application #1, Regional Economic Opportunity Analysis / Phase Two Background Empowered by a 2009-2011 DLCD technical assistance grant, Deschutes County hired Johnson-Reid, an economic development consultant team who, along with regional planners, economic development specialists and state agency representatives, identified and articulated a strategy and process to create a regional large lot industrial land supply that enables Central Oregon (Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties and their primary urban areas) to be a competitive region for industrial recruitment. The Regional Economic Opportunity Analysis (REOA) recommends six 50-acre sites in three different jurisdictions, based on market choice for diversity of sites in different locations (one 200 acre site is for a regional hub). Long-term supply calls for a total of seventeen sites. As a result of the REOA, Deschutes County is currently proposing adopting it and several regional economic development policies into Deschutes County’s Comprehensive Plan. Upon adoption, this policy framework will enable Crook and Jefferson Counties to undertake similar legislative amendments. Furthermore the REOA and economic development policies provide a regional platform to implement a large-lot industrial siting program in Central Oregon that has the potential to be a model statewide. Grant Concept A 2011-2013 Technical Agreement will assist Central Oregon’s effort to implement a regional large-lot industrial lands program. As noted above, adoption and implementation of the REOA is supported by a Regional Advisory Committee as the roadmap to resolve a large-lot industrial land supply shortage and strengthen the region’s economic development efforts. This collaborative REOA process now directs the tri-county region to coordinate as a single entity promoting candidate large lot industrial employment sites that best serve Central Oregon. Establishment and maintenance of a competitive portfolio of large lot industrial properties in Central Oregon requires a management structure as well as regional coordination between the counties and their member jurisdictions. A Central Oregon management and governance structure will be unique because it addresses large-lot industrial sites made available through justifications in the REOA under a series of comprehensive plan policies and ultimately Memorandums of Understanding among participating jurisdictions. The purpose of a 2011-2013 Technical Assistance Grant builds on the momentum established by the REOA while also recognizing that additional tasks remain to: A. Formalize a management and governance structure; and, B. Identify large-lot industrial candidate sites. To date these issues are being addressed in a piecemeal fashion, including: -3- Finalizing a regional authority; Finalizing memorandums of understandings with local governments; Performing buildable lands inventories and reconnaissance-level public facility / infrastructure assessments; Conducting open houses to engage property owner and stakeholders; and, Updating the Oregon Land Conservation and Development and Oregon Transportation Commissions. Grant Application #2, South County Community Plan During a recent update of the Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan (Plan) there was considerable discussion about removing the 1998 Regional Problem Solving (RPS) section. Many residents stated they believe the section to be inaccurate and outdated. This section was the result of a 1996 DLCD grant that initiated an extensive RPS process. Staff noted that because of the extensive work done under the RPS program another extensive public process would be needed to replace it. After more discussion there was agreement that upon adoption of the Plan, staff would initiate a work program that ultimately replaces the RPS section with a South County Community Plan. The purpose of this grant application is to fund two specific outreach techniques. First, a statistically-significant survey of south County area residents and businesses; and, Second, advertising in the Newberry Eagle for community plan public meetings A survey will allow input from residents not able or inclined to attend community meetings. This will be combined with input at those meetings, stakeholder interviews and possibly focus groups, to assist in crafting a vision for the community plan that reflect the values and concerns of South County residents.