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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHigh Groundwater Community OutreachDeschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 1 Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report Comprehensive Plan Update Deschutes County is updating the County Comprehensive Plan, the document that guides local land use and development regulations, for the first time in a decade. The current plan includes some chapters that have not changed since they were written in the late 1970s. The County is committed to involving citizens in the update process, to ensure the new plan reflects today’s community values. The County’s planning process focuses on key community issues: including roadways, rural development, farms and forests, destination resorts, public health, fish and wildlife habitat, fire protection, and water quantity and quality issues. Comprehensive Plan Update – Schedule Community Conversations October 2008 – May 2009 Draft Goals & Policies May – December 2009 Planning Commission Recommendation February 2010 Board Adopts New Comprehensive Plan April – May 2010 High Groundwater Lots One issue unique to the South Deschutes County involves development of lots that have groundwater less than two feet below ground. There are about 1,500 high groundwater lots covering nearly 900 acres in South Deschutes County. Many of the lots are located in or near floodplains, wetlands, riparian areas and wildlife corridors. Development of these lots could also affect roads, drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, schools, and fire protection plans. The Comprehensive Plan Update will reconsider potential development of the high groundwater properties. In 1998, after hearing from thousands of residents, Deschutes County adopted a policy prohibiting development in these areas. In 2008, the County Commission adopted an ordinance known as the “local rule” to formalize the protections. Voters rejected the ordinance in March 2009. Community Conversations A series of public workshops – or Community Conversations – was scheduled in South Deschutes County to consider topics of greatest interest to South County residents regarding the County’s Comprehensive Plan update. To ensure all interested residents would have an opportunity to participate, the first sets of workshops were offered on two different nights: at Three Rivers Elementary School (in Sunriver) and La Pine High School (in La Pine). The final session was a joint meeting held at Three Rivers Elementary School. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 2 The events were co-hosted by the Deschutes County Community Development Department, the Upper Deschutes River Coalition and Project Wildfire. The Community Conversations were funded, in part, through a grant from Oregon Department of Land Conservation & Development. The Community Conversations were open to South Deschutes County residents, property owners in high groundwater areas – or any interested citizen. Attendance ranged from 40 to 120 participants per session, and more than 200 different South County residents attended one or more of the forums. Additional opportunities for public input were offered via on-line surveys posted on the County’s website, for those who could not attend the meetings. Fifty-seven surveys were completed by community members. Dates and topics for the five Community Conversations: March 17-18 Community Values April 15-16 South County Futures May 12 Policy Concepts Discussion at the forums focused on four topics that March participants identified as most important: · Natural Resources · Wildfire Protection · Rural Development · High Groundwater Areas Several methods were used to provide information to participants and capture their views on the four focus topics. The March and May forums utilized electronic polling technology to test South County residents’ support for various community values, priorities and policy options covering each topic. Results The Community Conversations in South Deschutes County began on March 17-18 with an orientation on local issues spotlighted earlier through the Regional Problem Solving process (in 1998). Participants in the Community Conversations returned to the broadly held community values which were discerned earlier and are incorporated in Deschutes County’s current Comprehensive Plan. While only a few of the March 2009 attendees had participated in the 1998 process, most of the values identified at that time proved to be enduring. There was substantial convergence among participations on community values, with 16 values rated as “very important” by forum attendees. Leading values are: Involve the community in decisions affecting South Deschutes County. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 3 Reduce wildfire hazards. Maintain / protect drinking water supplies. These and other key community values continued to inform citizen deliberations throughout the Community Conversations process. In the April 15-16 forums, participants considered various South County Futures (or “scenarios”) to help shape decisions affecting South County over the coming decades. The futures considered were: Natural Resources Status quo: Continue current pattern of development contributing to gradual loss/degradation of fish/wildlife habitat and decline in water quality. Preservation: Adopt new policies to prevent further loss/degradation of habitat and water quality. Strategic protection: Identify high priority natural resources and adopt new policies that protect these key resources, while allowing development to proceed at other locations. Wildfire Protection Status quo: Continue current firewise development standards for new subdivisions (three units or more) and destination resorts. Extend firewise standards: Adopt mandatory requirements that apply firewise standards to all properties, including single family homes and vacant lots. Voluntary program: Through public education, encourage property owners to adopt firewise practices: construction methods and materials, vegetation management, fuel reduction, water systems, access, defensible space. Rural Development Status quo: Continue current pattern of gradual infill of undeveloped lots; allow destination resorts and other developments. Preserve rural character: Continue pattern of gradual infill of undeveloped lots at low density (1 unit per 1-5 acres); take proactive steps to preserve open space and retain South County’s rural character; limit/restrict destination resorts. Conservation: Adopt new policies for development; take proactive steps to preserve open space and natural amenities; prohibit destination resorts and other large developments, directing growth to cities. High Groundwater Areas Status quo: Continue the current practice to prohibit development of high groundwater lots. Allow development: Permit development in high groundwater areas, in accordance with state and federal regulations. (Removes County prohibition). Increase protection: Adopt stricter policies to protect natural resources in high groundwater areas. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 4 Participants were also invited to develop their own preferred scenarios, on their own or in collaboration with other workshop participants. Results of the participants’ feedback revealed clear consensus for two topics. For Natural Resources, attendees favored greater protection of South County’s sensitive resource areas. For Wildfire Protection, participants called for more public education to encourage fire-safe practices. The culmination of the Community Conversations considered policy concepts (or “strategies”) at the final May 12 forum. Strategies were generated from input received at the April 15-16 forums. May forum attendees agreed on 16 policy concepts acceptable to a majority, consistent with the community values and South County futures revealed in earlier workshops. Results of the five Community Conversations held in South Deschutes County in March-May 2009 are further detailed in the next sections. Appendices · Community Values · South County Futures · Policy Concepts · Meeting Flyers · Meeting Agendas · Media Releases · High Groundwater Fact Sheet · March 17, 2009 – Electronic Polling Results (Three Rivers ES) · March 18, 2009 – Electronic Polling Results (La Pine HS) · March – online survey results · April 15, 2009 – South County Futures (Three Rivers ES) · April 16, 2009 – South County Futures (La Pine HS) · April – online survey results · May 12, 2009 – Electronic Polling Results (Three Rivers ES) · Participant Roster Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 5 Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations March 17 (Sunriver Elementary School) and March 18, 2009 (La Pine High School) COMMUNITY VALUES* Sunriver ES La Pine HS VERY IMPORTANT 6.8 Involve the community in decisions affecting South Deschutes County 6.3 Reduce wildfire hazards 6.1 Protect the Deschutes River 6.1 Maintain/protect drinking water supplies IMPORTANT 5.9 Conserve forest lands for forest uses 5.9 Protect fish habitat 5.8 Preserve/protect water quality 5.7 Maintain the area’s rural character 5.7 Protect wildlife habitat 5.7 Maintain property owners’ rights to develop 5.6 Preserve/protect air quality 5.4 Preserve open space 5.3 Protect public health 5.3 Maintain affordability in South Deschutes County 5.2 Preserve/expand outdoor recreation opportunities LESS IMPORTANT 4.9 Concentrate urban development in cities 4.4 Preserve agriculture land 4.1 Accommodate new development in South Deschutes County VERY IMPORTANT 6.8 Involve the community in decisions affecting South Deschutes County 6.0 Reduce wildfire hazards 6.0 Maintain the area’s rural character 6.0 Preserve open space 6.0 Maintain affordability in South Deschutes County IMPORTANT 5.9 Maintain/protect drinking water supplies 5.9 Maintain property owners’ right to develop 5.8 Conserve forest land for forest uses 5.6 Protect the Deschutes River 5.6 Preserve/protect water quality 5.6 Protect public health 5.5 Protect fish habitat 5.4 Protect wildlife habitat 5.4 Preserve/protect air quality 5.2 Preserve/expand outdoor recreation opportunities 5.1 Concentrate urban development in cities LESS IMPORTANT 4.8 Preserve agricultural land 3.7 Accommodate new development in South Deschutes County * Mean score of participants on a scale of one (not important) to seven (very important) Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 6 Deschutes County Community Conversations Three Rivers Elementary School – April 15, 2009 South County Futures FUTURES Natural Resources A. Status quo B. Preservation C. Strategic protection D. Own suggestion A. 3 B. 6 C. 14 D. 4 Combination: C,D 1 A,D 1 ? 1 B,C 1 Wildfire Protection A. Status quo B. Extend firewise standards C. Voluntary program D. Own suggestion A. 1 B. 9 C. 9 D. 1 Combination: B,C 8 B,C,D 1 Rural Development A. Status quo B. Preserve rural character C. Conservation D. Own suggestion A. 4 B. 9 C. 10 D. 3 Combination: C,D 1 B,C 1 High Groundwater A. Status quo B. Allow development C. Increase protection D. Own suggestion A. 2 B. 12 C. 11 D. 2 Combination: B,C,D 1 Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 7 STRATEGIES Natural Resources · Economic development; tourism · Recreational uses · Access to river; boat ramps · Sewage treatment; sewer systems; utilize federal stimulus · Funding; funding strategy; grantsmanship · Coordinate state and federal agencies · Manage seasonal water flows in Upper Deschutes · Adopt new regulation to protect wetlands, water resources · Modify existing regulation to allow adaptive management strategies · Education for landowners: riparian habitat protection; natural resource BMPs · Outreach; inform public; listen; earn public support; brochure, workshops and PSAs · Local wetlands inventory · Transferable development credits; reimburse owners of undevelopable lots · Modify existing regulation to allow adaptive management strategies · Develop mitigation practices to support development, yet protect resource · Stricter zoning; prohibit new destination resorts · More enforcement · Follow sate rules for septic systems and drinking water Wildfire Protection · Adopt/enforce firewise standards that require property owners to reduce fire loads · Deschutes County clean up its own lots · Funding for property owners to provide for fuel reduction, defensible space; stimulus funding for risk abatement · Enforce existing regulations · Enforce Senate Bill 360 · Inform, educate absentee property owners and residents to take responsibility; BMPs; community meetings; education through schools · Concentrate on high risk areas; wildland/urban interface areas · Oregon Department of Forestry assist communities with funds to plan evacuation routes and inform neighborhoods · Charge property owners for cost of fire suppression · Better define firewise standards · Limit destination resorts · Employ aircraft to fight fires Rural Development · Seek federal and state funds to build roads, parks, bike paths for safe routes to schools · Strategically plan the locations for new development Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 8 · Economic development and workforce: equals jobs, good income, tax revenues, infrastructure and services · Provide sewer systems to protect water quality · Allow development of all South County lots; grandfather development rights for all property owners · Prohibit; more carefully regulate; allow more destination resorts · Apply destination resorts requirements to other development: e.g., provide recreational amenities · Solve the nitrate problem in South County · Information: problems and possible solutions · Outreach: steps to preserve economy, quality of life · Develop new full service communities · Review developable lots in South County to identify other candidates for development: apply “intelligent zoning” with input for scientists, planners, others · Identify areas for job growth · Provide infrastructure · Limit lot size to minimum one acre · Enforce current zoning requirements · Ban development of high groundwater lots High Groundwater · Swap “red lots’ for County-owned sites · Prohibit water suppliers from developing more wells · Allow development by providing sewer systems · Remove County development prohibition on high groundwater lots · Establish site-specific development criteria for high groundwater lots; list practices that achieve water quality standards · Inventory / map natural resources in high groundwater lots; additional data collection · Information / education for owners of red lots · No more septic systems; prevent development on red lots; stop current practice of allowing waivers · County purchase the red lots · Pursue state / federal grants for sewer systems; assist low income household with sewer development costs · Better / clearer maps of high groundwater areas Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 9 Deschutes County Community Conversations La Pine High School – April 16, 2009 South County Futures FUTURES Natural Resources A. Status quo B. Preservation C. Strategic protection D. Own suggestion A. 0 B. 4 C. 6 D. 14 Wildfire Protection A. Status quo B. Extend firewise standards C. Voluntary program D. Own suggestion A. 1 B. 11 C. 7 D. 2 Combination: A,B,C 1 B,C 1 Rural Development A. Status quo B. Preserve rural character C. Conservation D. Own suggestion A. 1 B. 5 C. 8 D. 5 Combination: B,C 4 High Groundwater A. Status quo B. Allow development C. Increase protection D. Own suggestion A. 4 B. 11 C. 4 D. 4 Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 10 STRATEGIES Natural Resources · Protect wetlands · Create specific codes that protect wildlife – not just a policy in the Comprehensive Plan · Be specific about what areas can be developed · Create equitable development policies · Prohibit destination resorts; reduce County’s budget to compensate loss of revenue · Enforce current ordinances: wildlife, septic, water quality · Don’t use data models to influence actions · Don’t make any changes · Prohibit hunting · Identify high priority natural resources; adopt new polices that protect key resources; keep development a low priority · Allow development of single lots with allowances for natural spaces on each lot that allows wildlife access · Maintain river at higher level of flow · Complete local wetland inventory; distinguish vulnerable from less vulnerable Wildfire Protection · Make mandatory clearing plan for vacant properties · Ban open burning of brush piles: utilize materials for biofuel · Extend firewise standards without fines · Continue education sessions; programs for property owners; educational materials, updates, newsletters · Inspections to assist homeowners in keeping home area fire safe · Promote volunteerism: neighborhoods work together to protect property · Help low income; older residents; handicapped owners with fire protection activities: costs, labor · Continue with current practice of fire reduction practices on public land adjacent to residential development. · Apply for grants to educate and pay for clearing properties, etc. · Don’t take out so many trees Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 11 Rural Development · Install sewer infrastructure · Remove Goal 11 exception requirements from South Deschutes County · Support and encourage localization; direct growth to cities; keep apartments and multi- family structures in the cities · Apply chip cover and maintain County roads; use road district fee to maintain private road district for safety and emergency vehicles; street lighting at major intersections; sell bonds to cover costs. · Allow existing landowners to develop · Prohibit new destination resorts, golf courses · Proactive approach to preserve open space and natural amenities · Protect current water right holders · Don’t stop developments that enhance economic well-being of area but take into account environmental, economic, social impacts · Don’t make exceptions for resorts · Stop all development High Groundwater · Address water quality, public health issues, groundwater protection before updating the Comprehensive Plan · No development until there is a plan to address the groundwater issue in South Deschutes County · Develop Comprehensive Plan policies to address groundwater pollution · Apply same standards to destination resorts; identify high groundwater areas in destination resorts · Do not allow development in wetlands and floodplains · Make code that specifically implements values from the Comprehensive Plan; address nitrate mitigation · Stop allowing sewage to be pumped from one lot to another · Provide assistance to owners who can’t build on their lots · Provide better mapping of lot locations · Identify alternative sewage disposal systems; install sewer infrastructure · Develop scientifically based guidelines to protect groundwater · Restrict all development until affordable sewage treatment system is developed · Complete cost / benefit studies on every project Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 12 Deschutes County South Deschutes County – Community Conversations Policy Concepts Natural Resources Community Conversations participants identify wildlife habitat, fish habitat, rivers and streams, wetlands, forests, groundwater quality and quantity and air quality as high priority natural resources that most need protection. Although there is strong support for protecting these resources, participants say they prefer a strategic protection program to a total ban on development in natural resource areas. Strategic protection would safeguard the high priority areas / resources, but allow some activities to occur in less sensitive areas. Policy Concepts · Create accurate and up-to-date natural resource mapping that identifies high priority areas and is accessible to the public. Completing a local wetland inventory is an example of natural resource mapping that could help property owners make informed development decisions. · Protect identified high priority natural resource areas from development impacts through zoning and other standards. · Allow development to occur on sites outside the high priority natural resources areas or where impacts to resources can be mitigated. Setting aside high priority areas to offset development impacts in less sensitive areas is an example of community-supported mitigation. · Conduct public education to promote voluntary stewardship of high priority natural resources areas. Showcase benefits of protecting and preserving high priority resources. Wildfire Protection Wildfire protection is a topic of great interest to area residents; reducing wildfire hazard is a top community value. Most Community Conversations participants say they already use firewise practices at their homes and businesses, and they support more stringent requirements to ensure all properties are protected. The favored approach is a mix of voluntary encouragement and mandatory requirements. South County residents recommend starting with a public outreach / education program to encourage voluntary adherence to firewise standards. Enactment of mandatory requirements would follow if outreach does not produce the intended results. Participants say the voluntary program should be given three to five years – or longer– to prove it is effective before mandatory requirements are implemented. Policy Concepts · Encourage voluntary compliance with firewise practices through a community outreach program that utilizes a variety of outreach methods and tools, employed in partnership with Project Wildfire and other community partners. Allow this program to operate for several years before considering mandatory standards. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 13 · Adopt and enforce firewise standards for areas and situations where the voluntary program has not proven effective. Consider developing a program that allows charging non-conforming and vacant lots property owners for cleanup activities. · Apply firewise practices on County-owned lots in the South County area as a model for private property owners. Rural Development Preserving rural character and taking proactive steps to conserve open space and natural amenities ranks high with participating community members. There is support for maintaining the current prevailing pattern of low-density development, but residents also want new policies that promote conservation of open space, trees and forestland, rivers and stream, peace and quiet and other rural characteristics. There is little support for new destination resorts. Participants in the Community Conversation s want no new destination resorts, with a few saying they would support tighter restrictions on resort development instead of an outright ban. No single strategy for preserving South County rural character stands out, but many suggest focusing development in areas already developed, and using zoning and other standards to guide development. Sanitary sewers is another topic of interest in South County, with varying degrees of support for installing sewer systems. Community members are split among those who support construction of sewers throughout South Deschutes County, construction of sewers only where proven cost- effective, expansion of existing sewer systems in Sunriver and La Pine, and those who oppose sewers and further rural development in South County. Participants think a yet unformed sewer district, DEQ or another organization should lead the exploration of sewers for South County. Maintaining rural roads is also important to community members and most agree policies should support some level of road construction and paving, with Deschutes County expected to lead the effort. Policy Concepts · Encourage new development to occur in cities or at strategically selected locations: areas of low natural resource value, or those areas already developed at higher densities or currently served by urban infrastructure. · Create zoning that requires buffers and open space for rural development and protects wetlands, riparian habitat, trees and wildlife habitat. · Support DEQ and other organizations in conducting a sewer feasibility study for South Deschutes County. · Support efforts to construct, pave and maintain roads in South Deschutes County. High Groundwater Areas High groundwater areas are lots where groundwater rises to within 24 inches of the surface. There are around 1,500 high groundwater lots in South Deschutes County. Because high groundwater lots have direct connections to rivers and wetlands and the Upper Deschutes and Little Deschutes Rivers are vulnerable to contamination, community members say protecting groundwater from contamination is important. At the same time, Community Conversation s participants want to ensure that high groundwater property owners have the ability to develop their property to the extent practicable, especially if impacts to groundwater can be reduced or eliminated. Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan Update Community Conversations – Summary Report C:\Documents and Settings\sherb\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK3\Summary Report_Community Conversations.doc 6/2/2009 12:51:02 PM 14 The desire to safeguard both water quality and property rights leads to two options supported by participants. One option increases protection of high groundwater lots; the second option permits development of high groundwater lots, as long as state and federal regulations are met, while removing the County’s current measures to protect groundwater quality. There’s ambivalence on the best regulatory strategy. Half of the Community Conversation participants want no development in high groundwater areas, while the other half support limited development under certain conditions. Two-thirds of the Community Conversations participants favor some form of compensation for high groundwater lot owners who cannot develop their property. Policy Concepts · Delay development of high groundwater lots until an effective groundwater protection program and/or sewers are available. · Establish site-specific development criteria for high groundwater lots, allowing for a case-by-case review of lot development proposals. Ensure water quality standards are met and development criteria are applied consistently to all high groundwater lots. · Conduct public education and outreach to landowners informing them of current conditions and development options. · Investigate feasibility of some form of compensation – transferable development credits, land swaps, or other options – for owners of high groundwater lots that cannot developed due to impacts to groundwater quality. · Create a program to permanently preserve County-owned high groundwater lots for wildlife habitat, open space and public access.