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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHO Decision - Tree Farm 5FILE NU APPUI M B DEC ERS: CANT: IS PROPERTY OWNS ON OF DE CH UTES CO 247-14-00 025 UNTY HEARINGS OFFICER 0-C U, 247-14-00 The Tree Farm LLC 409 N.W. Franklin Avenue Bend, Oregon 97701 R: Miller Tree Farm 110 N, F. Greenwood Avenue Bend, Oregon 97701 APPLICANT'S NT' ATTORNEY: Jeffrey G. Condit -; Miller Nash 111 S.W. 5th Avenue, Suite 340 Portland, Oregon 97204 OPPONENTS' ATTORNEYS: REQ u EST: STAFF R H ''VI EWE EARING DATES RECO RD CLOS E Do 0251 -TP L Myles A. Conway - Marten Law 404 S,W, Columbia Street, Suite 212 Bend, Oregon 97702 Attorney for Rio Lebo Investments Paul Dewey M Central Oregon Land' atch 50 S.W. Bond Street, Ste. Bend, Oregon 97702 Attorney for Central Oregon L ndW teh The applicant requests conditional use, tentative plan and site plan approval for a ten -lot cluster/planned unit develops ent (PUD) on a 107.0 -acre parcel in the RR -10 and WA Zones north of Skyliners Road and west of Skyline Ranch Road on the west side of Bend. This proposal is Identified as "Tree Farm 5 " It is part,, of a proposed 50 -lot diluter/PUD on five contiguous legal lots totaling approximately 533 acres, identified as "The Tree Farm." The applicant submitted four other applications for The Tree Farm (Tree Fares 1, 2, <3 and 4), with the following file numbers Tree'. Farm 1.. 247 -14 -000242 -CU, 247 -14 -000243 -TP Tree Farm 2. 247 -14 -000244 -CU, 247 -14 -000245 -TP Tree Farm 3.. 247 -14 -000246 -CU, 247 -14 -000247 -TP Tree Farm 4: 247 -14 -000248 -CU, 247 -14 -000249 -TP, Anthony I Raguine, Senior Planner ovember 6 and 20, 2 Ja n ua ry 13, 2015 Tree Farm 5, 247>-14-000250-C , 4 -000251 -TP 014 Page `1' of 91 .APP I..ICA LE TANDARD AND CRIT RIA' Title 17 of the Deschutes County Code, the 8 Chapter 17. 08, Definition sand 'kte u bdiviaion/Pa rpretation of Section 17.05.630, Definitions Generally Chapter 17.16, Approval of Subdivision Development Plan Section 17.16.100, Required 'Findings for A *'Section 17,16,105, Access to Subdivisions * Section 17.16.115, Traffic Impact Studies Chapter 17.3 6, Design Standards an rliti rs Ordinanc g as Tentative' p pre a ns a Ind baster Section 17.36.020, Streets *Section 17.36.040, Existing Streets * Section 17.36.050, Continuation of Streets * Section 17.36.060, Minimum Right -of -Way and Roadway Width • Section 17.36.€ 70, Future Resubdivialon • Section 17.36.080, Future Extension of Streets * Section 17.36.100, Frontage Roads * Section 17.36.110, Streets Adjacent to Railroads, Freeway and>Parkways * Section 17.36.120, Street Names * Section 17.36.130, Sidewalks * Section 17.36.140, Bicycle, Pedestrian and Transit R guirements * Section 17.36.150, Blocks * Section 17.36,160, Easements *Section 17.36.170, Lots — Sze and Shape * Section 17.36,160, Frontage >Section 17.36.190, Through Lots *Section 17.36.200, Corner Lots • Section 17.36.210, Solar Access Performance * Section 17.36.220, Underground Facilities * Secton 17.36.260, Fire Hazards *"Section 17.36.280, Water and Sewer Lines * Section 17.36.290, individual Wells *''Section 17.36.300, Public Water System 4. Cha Fite r 17.44, Park Development * Section 17.44.010, Dedication of Land Section 17.44.020, Fee in Lieu of Dedication 5. 5, Chapter 17.48, Design and Construction 5 * Section 1 * Section 1 7,48.140, Bikeways 7.48.160, Road Deve Tree Farm 5, ; 47 -14 -000250 -CU, 247-14- 300251-T pment R pecifications equire en s -- Stan d a d Page 2of91 Ti esti ecti on 17,48.180, Private Roads on 17.48.190, Drainage tie 10 of the Deschutes County Code, the Deschutes County Zoning Ord 1. Chapter 18.04, Title, Purpose and Deflniti * 'Section 18,04,030,, Definitions Chapter 13.6 ons 0. Rural Residential Zone — RR i0 * Section 18.60.030, Conditional Uses Permitted *Section 18 60.040, Yard and Setback Requirements * Section 18,60,000, Dimensional Standards Chapter 10,88, Wild life Area Combini Zone—, * Section 10.88.010, Purpose * Section 13.33,020, Application of Provisions *'Section 18.88.040, Uses Permitted Condition *"Section 10,80,050, Dimensional Standards *Section 18.68°060, Siting Standards *Section 10,80.070, Fence Standards c bapter 18,12 Gond itional Uses ally,' *'Section 10,128.01 , General Standards Gove * Section 13,128 040, Specific Use Standards * Section 18 128,200, Cluster Development (Si Only) * Section 18.123,210, Planned>Developnnent rral'ng Title 22 of the Deschutes County Cod 1. ha pter 22,04 l ntrod e, the Dev&lo ucfion and Definitions Section 22.04.020, Defi 2. Chapte nitions r 22.0 8, Gen era Provisions Conditional finance; se nle-Family Residential Uses pane rat Procedu * Section 22.03.020, Acceptance of Application * Section 22.00,030, incomplete Applications, Section 22.08.030, False Statements on Application Documents ' Section 22.03.070, Time Computation Chapter 22.20 * 8 c , Review of Land Use Action Ap action 22.20.05 pliafio 5, Modification of Application hapten 22 24 Land Use Action Tree Farm 5, 247-14-00025 U, 247 -14 -000251 -TP 00251 -TP Hearings a s es Ordinance and Supporting Page 3of91 Section 22.24A 40, C nuances and Record Extensions D schutes County Comprehensive Plan,, c hapter 2 Oregon Admi Development Resource Manag ement raistrative Rule (OAR) Chapter 660, Land Co .servation and omni ssion 1. Division 4, Goal 2 * OAR 660-004-0 Residential Areas Exceptions Process 040 (7), Application of Goal Division 11, Public Facilities P1a * OAR 66 0-011 -0065, VVa ronin g 14 (Urbanization' to R ter Service to Rural Lands It>' FlNDlN S OF FACT.: A, Location: The, Tree Farm including Tree Farm 5 has an ass! ne Bkyliners Road, Bend. The Tree Farm consists of, Tax Lots 6202 6209" 6210, 6211 and 6213 on Deschutes County Assessors Map 1 u a d address of 1890€3 , 6205, 6207, 62€ 3, 7-11. Zoning and Plan Designation: The western approximately 393 acres of The Tree Farm are zoned Rural Residential' (RR -10) and Wildlife Area Combining Zone (WA) associated with the Tumaio Deer Winter- Range, and are designated Rural Residential, Exception Area (RREA) on the Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan reap. The eastern approximately 140 acres of The Tree Farm are zoned Urban Area Reserve (UAR-10) and are designated Urban Area Reserve (UAR) on the Bend Area Genera Plan map. Tree Farm 5 is zoned P.P.-10 and WA and is designated RREA. Site Description; The Tree Farm, of which the proposed Tree Farm 5 is a part, is approximately 533 acres in size, irregular in shape, vacant, and with varying topography The dominant topographical feature is a ridge ra. nning southwest to northeast forming the southeast rim of Tunalo Creek Canyon. The top of this ridge is generally flat to rolling, with steeper slopes in he northwest where it drops off toward Tunalo Creek. There are views of the Cascade Mountains from the western part of this centre l ridge and views of Bend from the southeast side of the central ridge. The property has scattered rock outc€ops. Elevation ranges from approximately 3,700 feet above mean sea level (AMSL) on the east side of the property to approximately 4,000 feet AMSL in the center of the property. The western part of the property drains west to Turnalo Creek; the eastern part drains east to the Deschutes River.1 The western portion cat The. l me Farm is covered with _a nature forest consisting of ponderosa pine and western juniper trees and native brush and grasses, The record indicates The Tree Farm property has been managed for timber production. The The Tree Farm topography is described in d December 8, 2014, and included in the record. e €i in th H earings Office "s ite visit report dated Tree Farm! 5, 247>> -14 -000250 -CU, 247-14--000251-TP" Page 4 of 91 applicant's burden of proof states, and the Hearings Officer s site visit observations confirmed, that there is very little old growth timber on The Tree Farm, Much of the eastern part of The Tree Farm is covered with sage -steppe vegetation and few trees. This part of the property was burned in the 1990 Awbrey Hall Fire, Portions of the burned area have been replanted with trees, although my site visit observations confirmed these trees are too small to be harvested. The property is traversed by dirt roads that were part of a logging road network. These roads can be seen on aerial photographs included in the record and l observed them during my site visit. The applicant proposes to obliterate much of this dart road network and to revegetate the old road beds. The property has wire fencing, most of which would be removed. Tree Farm 5 is 107.6 acres in size and is the most western of the five clyster/PLDs' making up The Tree Farm. It abuts Tree Farms 3 and 4 on the east, Shevlin Park on the west, Skyliners' Road on the south, and undeveloped UAR-13 zoned property on the north and northeast. Su rrounding Zoning and Land Uses West. Abutting The Tree Farm on the west is Shevlin Park, a ''652 -acre regional park consisting of open space, an extensive trail network, and some developed' amenities. Shevlin Park is owned and managed by the Bend Metropolitan Park and Recreation District (park district), and is zoned Open Space and Conservation (OS&C), Near the southwest corner of the subject property is the City of Bend's Outback Water Facility, consist ng of groundwater wells, pumps, above -ground water storage facilities, and water pipes conveying water into the city. Existing utility poles and overhead lines run along the north side of Skyliners Road to serve this facility. To the west and''' southwest across Skyliners Road is public forest land zoned Forest Use (F-1) and managed by the USFS as part of the Deschutes National Forest (DNF). West of Shevlin Park is private forest land zoned F-1. As of the date the record in this matter closed, the largest part of this private forest land, approximately 33,000 acres in multiple tax lots, was owned and managed by Cascade Timberlands Oregon LLC (Cascade Timberlands), Other private Barest -zoned parcels to the northwest of Shevlin Park are much smaller. North. To the >>north of The Tree Farm is a 376 -acre tract of vacant land zoned UAR-10 and owned by Rio Lobo Investments LLC (Rio Lobo). East. To the east are Tree Farms 1, 2. 3 and 4, and vacant land owned by tiller Tree Farm and zoned UAR-10. Farther east are three public schools within the Bend-LaPine School District (school district) . Miller 'School, Pacific Crest Middle School (under construction), and Summit High >School. The, schools are located within the Bend Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and city limits and are zoned Public Facilities (PF). Also to the east within the Bend UGB is NorthWest Crossing, a mixed-use development including residential,, commercial, industrial, and public facility uses on land within multiple city zoning districts. South, To the 'southeast across;Skyliners Road is The H!€ghlan s at Broken A1Top PUO, zoned UAP -10 and developed with thirty-seven roughly > 10 -acre lots with dwellings. Farther southeast is the Tetherow Destination Resort developed with sss dwellings, a golf' course, and a lodge. Tree Farr? 5, 247 4 -000250 -CU, 247.14 -000251 -TP" Page 5 of 9 Land Use History: The Tree Farm property has been owned by the 'Miller family since the 1950's. The record indicates this property historically was managed, for timber production as part of the larger Miller Tree Farm, including periodic harvesting and thinning activities. Approximately the eastern half of The Tree Farm was in the path of the 1990 Awbrey Hall Fire which ''burned several tho €s and acres between the northern edge of Shevlin Park and U.S. Highway 97 to the southeast. In June 2014. the applicant obtained lot -of -record determinations for The Tree Farm" property recognizing five legal lots of record (LR -14.13, LR -14-17, LR -14-13, LR -14-19, LR -14-20). The applicant also obtained approval of ten lot line adjustments reconfiguring boundaries for the five legal lots of record (LL -14-17 through LL -14-26 . Deeds reflecting the adjusted boundaries of the five legal dots were recorded on October 17, 2014. Procedural History The Tree Farm applications were submitted on August 5, 2014,, The Planning >Division sent the applicant an incomplete letter on September 9, 2014, identifying certain missing information and allowing the applicant 30 days to submit additional information, The applicant submitted the missing information on September 19, 2014, However, the staff report states that because the incomplete letter was not provided to the applicant wi hin 30 days of the date the applications were submitted, as required by ORS 21.427(2) and Section 22.08,030 of the Development Procedures Ordinance, the county considers the applications to have been deemed complete on September 5, 2014. Therefore, the 150 day period far iss€.aance of a fin& local and use decision under ORS 215A27 would have expired on February 2, 2014. A consolidated public hearing on the five Tree Farre applications was scheduled for November 6, 2014. On November 4, 2014, the Hearings Officer conducted a site visit to the subject property accompanied by Senior, Panner Anthony >Raguine. Due to work occurring on the nearby utility lines, some roads adjacent to and within the Tree Farm were not accessible, so the site visit was terminated. By a letter dated November 4; 2014, the applicant requested that the hearing be continued to November 20, 2014. At the November 6, 2014, hearing the Hearings Officer disclosed my limited observations from the abbreviated site visit, received testimony and evidence, and continued the hearing to November 20, 2014. At the continued public hearing, the Hearings Officer announced my intention to conduct another site visit and to issue a written site visit report. I also received testimony and evidence, left' the written evidentiary record open through December 23, 2€ 14, and allowed the applicant through December 30, 2014 to submit final argument pursuant to ORS 197.763. On December 3, 2014 the Hearings Officer conducted another site visit to the subject property and vicinity, again accompanied by Mr. Raguine, and on December 8, 2014, I issued a written site visit report. On December 19, 2015, Mr. Raguine issued a staff memorandum >>addressing the status of the proposed private roads in the Tree Farm. By a letter dated December 22, 2014. the applicant requested that the written record be extended to allow additional time to respond to the staff memorandum. By an order dated December 23, 2014, the Hearings Officer extended the written evidentiary record through January 6, 2015, and allowed the applicant to submit final argument through January 13, 2015. The applicant submitted final argument on January 13, 2015 and the record closed on that date. "tree Fa rn 5, 247 -14 -000250 -CU 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page of 91` Because the applicant requested that the public hearing be continued from November 6 to November 20, 2013 (a period of 14 days), and agreed to leave the written record open from November 20, 2014, through January 13, 2015 (a period of 54 days), under Section 22.24.140 the 150 -day period was tolled for 68 days and now expires on April 13, 2018 i As of the date of this decision there remain 27 days in the extended 150 -day period. Proposal: The applicant requests conditional use, site plan, and tentative plan approval to establish a 50 -lot cluster/PUD to be called The Tree Farm ori approximately 533 acres west of the Bend t B. The Tree Farm would (include five contiguous cluster/PUDs with a total of 100 acres of residential lots, 422.8 acres of open space tracts, and 10.6 acres, of road right-of-ways. The boundaries of the five cluster/PUDs coincide' with the boundaries of the five legal ;lots of record recently reconfigured through the aforementioned lot lire adjustments. Each clusterrPUD would have ten -acre residential lots, an open space tract, segments of the public and private road system, and mixed- use trails connecting, to trails in Shevlin Park and the DNF. Tree Farms 1 through 4 would include land in the UAR-10, RR -10 and WA Zones. Tree Farm 5 would'' be located entirely within the RR -10 a€1d WA Zones. The subject application is for Tree Farm 5, consisting of 107.6 acres with ten dwellings on ten 2 -acre lots (Lots 41-50) clustered along the eastern boundary of Tree Farm 5 in the western portion of The Tree Farm. Tree Farm 5 would have an 87.4 -acre open space tract and 0.2 acres of right-of-way.3 The residential lots in The Tree Farm would have access to Bkyliners Road, a county collector road, via one public road, Sage Steppe Drive, and five new private roads — Tree Farm Drive, Ridgeline Drive, Rldgeline Court, Golden Mantle Loop, and Canopy Court -- over which the applicant proposes to dedicate permanent public access easements. Tree Farm Drive, Golden Mantle Loop and Rid€gellne Drive in Tree Farms 1, 2 and 3`>.would comprise the main PUD road. The applicant proposes to develop Tree Farms 1, 2 and 3 concurrently to establish this road Access to the residential lots in Tree Farms 4 and 5 would' be from Skyliners Road, 'Tree, Farm Drive, Golden Mantle Loop, and Canopy Court The applicant also proposes to construct a gated temporary emergency access road on an easement extending from the southern terminus of Sage Steppe Drive at the southern boundary of Tree Farm 1 south across the adjacent Miller Tree Farm property to Crosby Drive, a public street within the Bend UB that connects to Bkyliners Road. 2 Becar weekend 5 the 150th day falls on Saturday Apr 11, 2015, and because under < Section 22.08.070 nd holidays are excluded from Berle c;or; putations, the 11501h day is April 13, 2015. s Tree Farms 1, 2, 3 and 4 would have th e foils racteristics: -tree Farm 1: Lots 1-10; 105.3 acres total; 81.1 acres of open spa be in the RR-`'0/NVA Ion . s, and 4.2 acres of right-of-way, Tree Farm 2. Lots 11-20; 104.2 acres total; 82.8 acres of open space, of which 67.7 be in the RR-10/WA Zones, and 1,4 acres of right-of-way; Tree Farm 3: Lots 21-30; 106 9 acres total; 83.8 acres of open space. of which 82 ac in the RR -1 WJA Zones; and 3.1 acres of right-of-way; and Tree Farre 4: Lots 31-40; 109.5 acres total; 87.7 acres of; open space, be in the RR -1€ NVA Zones; and 1.7 acres of right-of-way. �f which 39.9 acres would acres would Tree Farr » 8, 247--14-00828 0 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP would be f which 85.7 acres would Page 7of91' The emergencyaccessLid operate until the Mille r Tree Far ry€ property is developed with public roads to which Sage Steppe Drive would connect.''''' Lots in Tree Farm 5 would be served by on-site sewage disposal systems, They would receive domestic water from one of three alternative sources: (1) extension of and connection to the City of Bend water system; (2) service from Avion Water Company; or (3) water pumped from one or more private groundwater wells on The Tree 'Paan and/or the ad'acent Miller Tree Farm property{, Tree Farm 5 dwellings would have fire protection from the Bend Fire Department and police protection from the Deschutes County Sheriff. The applicant proposes that the entire Tree Farm development would comply with the ":Firewise Community" standards for fire prevention. The Tree Farm 5 open space tract would be, subject to deed restrictions preventing future development thereon. Public/Private Agency Comments: The Planning Division sent notice of the, applicant's proposal to a number of public and private agencies and received responses from: the Deschutes County Road Department (road department), Property Address Coordinator, Building »Division, Senior Transportation Planner, and Forester; the City of Bend Fire Depart€pie it (fire department); the park district; and the Oregon Department of Fish and t'ildlife (ODP `). These comments are set forth verbatim at pages 3-9 of the Tree Farm 4 staff report and are included in the record. The following agencies either did not respond to the request for comments or submitted no comment" responses: the Deschutes County Environmental Boils Division, Assessor, and Surveyor; the City of Bend Planning Division, Engineering Division, and, Public Works Department (public works); the UFS DNF; the Oregon Department of Water Resources, Watermaster- District 11; the school district, Bend Broadband; Cascade Natural Gas; Century ink; and Pacific Power. Agency comments are addressed in the findings below. Public Comments: The Planning Division mailed individual written notice of the applicant's proposal and the initial public hearing to the owners of record of all property located within 250 feet of the subject property's boundaries. The record indicates this notice was mailed to the owners of twenty-sic tax lots, In addition, notice of the initial public hearing was published in the Bend "Bulletin' newspaper, and the subject property was posted with a notice of proposed land use action sign. As of the date the record in this matter closed, the county had received thirteen letters from the public in response to these notices. In addition, four members of the public testified at the continued public hearing. Public, comments are addressed in the findings below. Lot of Record: The county determined' Tree Farm 5is a legal lot' of record pursuant to a 2014 lot-of-record determination (LR-14-20). The current configuration of Tree Farm 5 is the result of a series of 2014 lot line adjustments (LL-14-17 through LL-14-26). 4 The tentative pan for Tree Farm 1 also shows potential right-of-way for future extension of Skyline Ranch Road, a designated county collector dedicated and improved in north and south of the Miller Tree Farm and Rio Lobo properties. The potential right-of-way would extend north from Crosby Drive through the Miller Tree Farm property and the northeast corner of Tree Farm 1 and onto the Rio Lobo;. property. Tree Fara 5, 247-14-OOO25O-CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 8 o 91 qplicLusioNs OF LA A. SUMMARY: The Hearings Officer has found that with two significant exceptions, Tree Farm 5 satisfies, or with inn position of conditions of approval will satisfy, the applicable approval criteria in the relevant administrative rule and the provisions of Title 17, 18, 19 and 22 of the Deschutes County Code I have found the applicant has not demonstrated compliance with a number of criteria related to wildlife habitat and wildfire risks. Specifically,, € have found the applicant's proposed Wildlife Assessment and !Management Plan (WMP) and Wildfire Protectian and Management Plan (wildfire plan) are not adequate, and cannot be made adequate through imposition of conditions of approval, to demonstrate the risk of wildfire can be reduced to an acceptable level>'while protecting winter deer range habitat. For these reasons, I cannot approve the application for Tree Farm;, 5. However, I anticipate this decision will be appealed to the Board of County Commissioners (board). Therefore, in order to assist the board and county, staff in the event of such appeal, !' have included in this decision findings of fact and conclusions of law on all applicable standards and criteria. as well as recommended conditions of approval. B. P R ELI MINARY IS SUES: 1. Completeness and Status of, pplication. FINDINGS: In June of 2014, the county issued lot -of -record deters inatio s written by Associate Planner Cynthia Srnidt and confirming the existence of five legal ots of record comprising The Tree Farm ((LR -14-16 through LR -14-20). Ms. Smidt also issued a series of decisions approving lot fine adjustments for the five legal lots of record creating the current configurations of the five Tree Farm developments (LL -14-17 through LL -14-26). Each of the lot -line- djustment decisions included the following six conditions for final approval: (a) obtaining approval of all lot line adjustments; (b) obtaining surveys of the reconfigured lots and filing the surveys with the Deschutes County Surveyor; (3) submitting to the Planning Division legal descriptions of the newly reconfigured lots; (4) recording new deeds reflecting the new lot configurations;, (5) paying all property taxes for the affected tax lots; and (6) complying with all development setbacks from the reconfigured lot lines. The record does not indicate whether or to what extent these conditions of approval had been met at the time The Tree Farm applications were filed and the record for the applications closed. The record indicates the deeds required pursuant to Condition 4 of the lot -line -adjustment decisions were recorded on October 17, 2014, nearly ten weeks after the applicant submitted its Tree Farm applications and nearly six weeks after the applications were deemed complete. Mr Raguine's September 9, 2014 incomplete letter for The Tree Farm applications does not refer to compliance with the lot -line -adjustment conditions of approval. The record does include a copy of an October 29, 2014 electronic mail message from the applicant's representative Romy Mortensen to Ms. Smidt, copied to Mr. FRagu€ne stating the deeds had been recorded. The burden of proof for each of the five Tree Farm applications states the property subject to the application is a legal lot of record as configured on the submitted tentative plan. However those statements were not. correct'` because not tot line adjustment conditions of approval had been satisfied and therefore the lot line adjustments were not final. The question is whether these misstatements affect the Hearings Officer's consideration of The Tree Farm applications. Section 22.0 8.03 5 of the development proved res ordinance state Tree Farm 5. 247<-14-00025 -CU, 247.14 -000251 -TP" Page 9 of 91 If the applicant or the applicant's representative or apparent representative makes isstteent of fact on the application regarding property ownership, authority to submit the, application, ; acreage, or any other fact material to the acceptance or approval of the application, and such, misstatement is relied upon by the Planning Director or Hearings Body in making a decision whether to accept or approve the application, the Planning Director may upon notice to the applicant and subject to an applicant's right to a hearing declare the application void. The Hearings Officer finds the applicant's misstatements concern facts material to acceptance or approval of the Tree Farm,applications,— Le. the legal status and configuration of the five lots comprising the five proposed Tree Farm developments. However, the record indicates all five Tree Farm applications were deemed complete as required by ,law. Moreover, the Planning Director has not declared the applications void, and I find he is not likely to do so since he referred The Tree Farm applications for a hearing, and the required deeds were recorded before the record closed. For these reasons, I find I may consider' The Tree Farm applications. Nevertheless, I find that to assure all lot -line -adjustment conditions of approval are satisfied, the applicant will be required as a condition of approval, and before submitting the final plat of any Tree Fare development for approval, to demonstrate to the Planning Division that all such conditions have been met 2. plod ification'>;of A ppllcation. FINDINGS: As discussed in the findings be ow concerning compliance with the PUD requirements in Title 19, the applicant has requested approval of a number of exceptions to the standard regulations for Tree Farm 5. Several exceptions were identified in the applicant's burden of proof, and several additional exceptions were requested through subsequent correspondence from the applicant. Section 22.20.055 allows an applicant to modify an application up to the close of the record, but prohibits the Hearings Officer from considering a modification without the filing of a modification application. Section 22.20.055(D) authorizes me to determine whether an applicant's submission constitute a modification, defined in Section 22.04.020 as: * the applicant's submittal of new information after an application has been deemed complete and prior to the close of the record on a pending application that would modify a development proposal by changing one or more of the following previously described components: proposed uses, operating,, characteristics, intensity, scale, site layout (incuding but not limited to changes in setbacks, access points, building design, size or orientation, parking, traff€c, or pedestrian circulation plans),, or landscaping in a manner that requires the application of new criteria to the proposal or that would require the findings of fact to be changed. It does not mean an applicant's submission of new evidence that merely clarifies or supports the pending application. The Hearings Officer finds the applicant's requests for exceptions, and its arguments in support, thereof, submitted following the date the application WaS deemed complete do not constitute modifications. That is because they do not change the development proposal. Rather, they seek approval of various aspects of the applicant's proposal as shown on the tentative plans and in the burden of proof statements. '''I also find they constitute new evidence that clarifies and supports the applicant's proposal. Therefore, I find I can consider all of the applicant's requested exceptions without the need for modification applications. Tree Farre 5, 247 i4 -000250 -CIU. 247,14 -0002.5 -TP Page 10 of 91 Effect of Split Zon big FINDINGS: S: The Tree Farm includes land in three zones _m R-10, ; and UAR-1 €O �y established and governed by three separate zoning ordinances -'Title 18 (RR -10 and WA) and Title 19 (UAB -1O). In the Hearings Officer's decisions in Tree Farms 1 through 4, l made findings concerning how these three zones would be addressed considering this split zoning; the complexity of The Tree >>Farm applications, and the large number of applicable standards and criteria in Titles 18 and 19. I found l must determine whether applying the standards in Titles 18 and 19 only to those portions of Tree Farms 1 through 4»located within the RR -10 and UAR-1O Zones, respectively, would allow meaningful review of each cluster/PUD as >;a whole. I found it would not, and therefore where feasible and appropriate for Tree Farms 1 through, 4, would apply the provisions of both the UAR-10 and, RR 10 Zones to each cluster/PUD as a whsle. Because Tree Farm 5 is located entirely within the RR -1 and WA Zones, l will riot review it under the provjisions of the ''UAR-1 O Zone or the Bend Area Genera Plan ADMINISTRATIVE RULES B Oregon Administrative R Commission ides, Cha Ater 60, Lan d Con e rva tion and Develo prnent Division 4, Goal 2 Exceptions'Proces OAR 660-004-0040, Application of Goal 14 to Rural Residential Areas (1) (2) The purpose of this rule is to specify how Statewide Planning Goal 14, Urbanization, applies to rural lands in acknowledged exception areas ,planned for residential uses. (a) This rule applies to lands that are not within an urban growth boundary, that are planned and zoned primarily for residential uses, and for which an exception to Statewide Planning Goal 3 (Agricultural Lands), Goal 4 (Forest Lands), or both has been taken ° Such lands are referred to hi this as rural residential areas, (b) Sections (1) to (8) of this rule do not appy to the creation of a tot or parcel, or to the development or use of one single- family home on such lot or parcel, where the application for partition or subdivision was filed with the Kcal government' and deemed to be, complete; in accordance with ORS 215.427(3) before the effective date of Section (1) to (8) of this rule, (c) This through (A) rule does not apply to (H) of this subsections land inside an ac b oundary; Trey Fara , 247 -14 -000250 -CU, 247`14-00 251 -TP ypes 0 and listed in (A) knowledged urban growth Page 11 of 91 and inside an acknowledg ed unity boundary established pu Chapter 660, Division, 022; ed unincorporated (C) land''' in a established 021; acknowledged pursuant to OAR Cha urban rsua nt to OAR reserve area pter 660, Division (D) and in acknowledged destination pursuant to applicable land use state (E) resource l' (F) d as d efin ed n OA e stables tes and goals; R 660-004-0005(2 nonresource land, as defined in OAR 66 (G) marginal land, as defined Edition; 0-004-00 )s 5(3); £l hed in ORS 197.247, 1991 (H) and planned and zoned prima commercial or ,public <use. ily for ru ind striae FINDINGS: The applicant and staff identifiers this administrative rue as applicable to Tree Farm 5 because the proposed cluster/PUD is on land located outside the Bend UGB, zoned RR -10>' and' `A, and designated RREA. The Hearings Officer is aware the county's RR -10 zoned lands were acknowledged as exception areas at the time the county's comprehensive pian initially was acknowledged in 1979. Therefore, l find he RR -10 zoned land within The Tree Fare constitutes a "rural residential area'' subject to this administrative rule because it is not included in any of the exceptions in Paragraph (2) (c). (7) (a) The creation of any new of or parcel smaller than two acres in a rural residential area shall be considered an urban use. Such a lot or parcel may be created only if an exception to Goal 14 is taken. This subsection shall not be construed to imply that creation of new lots or parcels two acres or larger always complies' with Goal 14. The question of whether the creation of such lots or parcels complies with Goal 14 depends upon compliance with al l> provisions of this rule. (b) Each local government m specify a minimum area for any new lot or parcel that is to be created in a rura residential area. For the purposes of this rale, that minimum area shall be referred to as the minimum lot size. (c) If, on the effective date of this rule, a local government's land use regulations specify a minimum lot size of two acres or more, the area of any new lot or parcel shall equal or exceed that minimum lot size which is al'ready in effect. (d) lf, 0 land'' use n the effe ctive date of this rule, a local government's Mations specify a minimum lot size smaller than Tree F , 217 -i4 -000250 -Cis, 247 -14 -009251 -TP feud 12 f 91 two acres, the area of any new eq ual or exceed two acres. of or parcel created shall e) A local government may authorize a planned snit development (PUD), specifythe size of lots or parcels by averaging density across a parent' parcel, or allow clustering, of new dwellings In a rura residential area only if all condition ' set forth in paragraphs (7)(e)(A) through (7)(e)(H) are met: A. The num develope ber of new dwelling units to be clustered or d as a PUD does not exceed 10. FINDINGS: Each of the ten proposed residential lots in Tree Farm 5 would be at least two acres, in size, and the lots would be clustered along the eastern border of Tree Farm 5 and in, the western part of The Tree Farm. As discussed above, Tree Farm 5 would' be one of five contiguous clusterIPUDs comprising The Tree Farm, and establishing a total of 50 dwellings on approximately 533 acres. The applicants five burden of proof statements assert each subdivision can be approved as a stand-alone development. The Hearings Officer disagrees. l find the five cluster,PUDs effectively would function as a single development because each cluster/PUD is dependent on one or more of the other cluster/PUDs for roads and other infrastructure. For example,, Tree Farm 5 lots will not have access to Skyliners Road without concurrent development of Tree Farms 1, 2, 3, and 4 and the main PUD road. The applicant appears to have chosen to develop The Tree Farm through five separate cluster/ PUDs in order to maximize the number of dwellings on the property. Although this approach is somewhat unconventional, the Hearings Officer finds nothing in the county's land € €se regulations that prohibits it. Each individual > Tree Farm development is a legal lot of record,5 and the applicant is entitled to develop each legal lot of record consistent with applicable zoning ordinance(s) and the subdivision/partition ordinance. I am not aware of any code provision that requires the applicant to consolidate its five legal lots as a prerequisite to cluster/PUD development. Neither have I found any prohibition against developing a cluster/PUD where, as here, roads and other infrastructure necessary to serve the new subdivision lots are dependent upon extension of and connection to such facilities on contiguous or nearby land. In such cases, subdivision approval may be conditioned on extension of and connection to existing, roads and other infrastructure before final plat' approval'. For the foregoing reasons, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 d maximum number of dwelling units for a cluster/PUD under this administrat B The nur ber of new lots or pa not exceed 10. oes not exceed the, ve rule rcels to be created does 5 As discussed above, the Hearings Officer has found the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to demonstrate to the Planning Division that all conditions of approval for the lot Iine adjustrents creating the proposed configurations for Tree Farms 1 through 5 have been met before final plat approval for any of the Tree Farm developments Tree Farm 5, 247-14--000250--CU, 247.14-i 00251 -IP> Pa ge 3of91 FINDINGS: The applicant proposes ten new residential lots in Tree Farm 5. Staff questioned whether the applicant's proposed open space tract must be counted as a lot for purposes of the maximum density calculation. Staff discussed this question with the applicant and with Jon Jinnings, >>Corr€rnu€nity Services Specialist with the Department of of Land Conservation and Development ( LCD). Based on those conversations, staff concluded the ten -lot maximum applies only to new residential lots and not to the proposed open space tract. In an October 27, 2014 electronic mall message, the applicant's attorney Jeffrey Condit agreed with staffs interpretation, offering the following analysis: 'There are two rules of statutory construction that come into play.. First, a statute is construed based upon text and context (i.e its relationship to other provisions in the ordinance). Second, if possible, a statute should be construed to avoid a conflict rather than create one. The rule (subsection 7(e)) allows up to ten, dwellings on up to ten new lots, so that assumes that there can be up to ten buildable lots. The rule (subsection 7(h)) also contemplates that there could be an `open space lot, parcel, or tract.' if the open space tract is as counted as a lot for the purposes of subsection 7(e)(B), then an applicant will never be able to construct more than 9 dwellings, which will violate the express text of the rule. It ^gill be possible, of course, to include the common area within the boundary of one of the ten parcels, and limit the development on the open space portion via covenant, but what is the policy basis for allowing that and not allowing the open space to be located on a separate unit of land as long as it can't' be developed? (Particularly considering that the latter arguably provides better lore -term protection to the open space parcel.) l think the better reading, which doesn't create a conflict or a distinction without a difference, is that the ten parcel limit in Subsection 7(e) (B), when read in context with the 7(e) (A) dwelling unit limit; was intended as a limit of up to ten buildable parcels, and that subsection 7(h) allows an additional unbuildable lot, parcel or tract' restricted to open space as long as the requirements in that section are ret. This is the only interpretation that reconciles potential conflicts and makes overall sense when read in context. irk similar reasoning applies to the County Code interpretation. The issue arose in, the context of Tree Farm #1, which is proposed for a 105 acre property. Under the existing UAR-10 zoning, the property could be divided into ten lots each with a house on it. The Tree Farm's proposal under the county PUD statute is to cluster this development on ten two -acre lots and preserve the remainder of the property as open space in a separate tract, x x x First, the express purpose of the PUC' is to allow exceptions from the standard requirements of the zone in order to `accrue benefits to the County and the general public in terms of need, convenience, service and appearance.' DCC 19.104..070. The preservation of t vast majority of the property in an open space tract is the chief public benefit ti justifies the exception to the standard. Second, DCC 19.104.070 provides that 'dei planned unit development shall not be approved in any R zone if the housing density of the proposed development will result in an intensity of land use greater than permitted by the Comprehensive Plan.' As the underscored language indicates. the P€.)) ordinance is not concerned about number of parcels. but about overall housing density. Under the current zoning, no more than ten dwelling units can be sited on the 105 -acre property. Under the PUD as proposed in Tree Para 1, no more than ten dwelling units can be sited on the 105 acre property. The fact that the open space is being preserved in a separate I the Tree Farr 5, 247'-14-000250€-C , 247< -14 -00O251 -TP Page 14 of 91 ti t dog not affect compliance with the requirements of tine PUD Code (and is a very common practice in planned developments)." The Hearings Officer concurs with tlr. Condit's>analysis. Tree Farm 5 is not counted in the ten -lot maximum, an ten residential lots does not exceed, that maximum. Fl N DINGS: Al eside d find the;, proposed open space tract in therefore the applicant's proposal for Ca None of the new lots or two acres. tial lets i n Tree Farm 5 II parcels will be s tslier than be two acres in size, satisfying this criterion. D. The development is not to be weaved by a new community sewer system law The development is not to be served by any new, extension of a sewer system from within ;,an urban growth boundary or from within an unincorporated community. FINDINGS: The applicant proposes to serve the ten residential lots in Tree Farm 5 with; individual on-site septic systems, therefore satisfying these criteria. The overall density of the development;, ill not exceed one dwelling for each .snit of acreage specified hi the local government's land'''' use regulations on the effective date of this rule as the minimum lot size for t he area. FINDINGS: The FSR -10 Zone in which Tree Farm 5 is located establishes a general density of one lot per ten acres under Section 18.60.60. The RR 10 Zone permits higher density for cluster/PUDs through Section 18.60.60. As discussed above, the Hearings Officer has found the 10 -lot maximum density in the administrative rule applies to residentiat lots and does not include open space tracts. Therefore, I find the applicant's proposal complies with this requirement, G. Any group or cluster > of two or more dwelling, units will not force a significant change in accepted farm or forest practices on nearby lands devoted to farm or forest use and will not significantly increase the cost of accepted farm or forest practices there. FIND lNGS: Farm Use, The record indicates there are no nearby lands devoted to farm;, use and n i practices occurring on nearby lands. Therefore, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 will not force a significant change in, or significantly increase the cost at, accepted farm practices on nearby lands devoted to farm use, Tree Farrn 5, 247 -14 -000250 -CU, 247.14 -000251 -TP Page 15 of 91 Forest Use. Required Analysis. The Hearings Officer finds this paragraph requires me to determine: (1) whether nearby forest -zoned land is "devoted to forest use;", (2) if so, what is the nature of that forest use; and (3) whether that forest use conflicts, or has the potential to conflict, with residential uses in the proposed clusterlPUD to the degree that the residential uses will significantly affect, or significantly increase the cost of, accepted forest practices on the nearby forest -zoned lands. Study Area. The record indicates public forest land in the DNF is located southwest across, Skyliners''Road. In addition, private forest land is located west and northwest of Shevlin Park. The DNF forest lands are managed by the USS and extend west to the crest of the Cascade Mountains. The private forest lands west and northwest of''Shevlin Park were once part of the "Bull Springs dock" of public forest land conveyed by the USFS to private owners. The largest' of these private forest land holdings was owned and managed by Cascade Timberlands, and according to Assessor's data consists of 17 tax lots totaling approximately 33,000 acres.' Assessor's data indicate there are several smaller private forest -zoned parcels northwest of Shevlin Park, some of which' have dwell in s,8''' The Hearings Officer finds I must establish a "study area" for the analysis required by this rule. I agree with the argument presented by Central Oregon LandWatch (LandWatch), that because impacts from certain forest practices, such as smoke from prescribed burns, can extend beyond adjacent properties, the appropriate study area should include ''both DNF lands and private' forest lands west and northwest of Sheviin Park. However, the administrative rule requires en analysis of impacts on "nearby" lands devoted to forest use. The ordinary definitions of "nearby", and "near" are. "close at hand;" at a short distance in space or time; close in distance or time; close in relationship." >.Webster's New World Dictionary and Thesaurus, Second Edition. In light of these definitions, I ''find the appropriate study area should include public and private forest - zoned parcels located in whole or in part within one mile of the western boundary of The Tree Farm. The record indicates that because of the large size of these parcels; this study area includes thousands of forested acres in public and private ownership tier 18 04.030 defines 'forest lands"' and "forest uses" as fol "Forest lands"` means lands which are suitable for commercial fore adjacent or nearby lands which are necessary to permit forest operation other forested lands that maintain soil air, water and fish and wildlife t uses includin or practices an rces. u "Forest uses" include production of trees and the processing of forest prod space; buffers from nose and visual separation of conflicting uses;watershed and wildlife and fisheries habitat; soil protection from wind and water; maint clean air and water; outdoor recreational activity and related support sery wilderness values compatible with these uses; and grazing for livestock. g d ucts; opens giro Lection ' The Hearings Officer is aware that after the close of the record Cascade Tirmrberlands sold its D County holdings. l will continue>to refer to these lands as Cascade Timberlands property. 8 The Hearings Officer finds 1 may take official notice of data collected and maintained by the D County Ass essor`concernincg real property in Deschutes County:. 4 This study area is equivalent to the county's one -mile -radius study conditional' use approval' requiring a similar analysis of the impact from such practices in the surrounding area. Tree Farm 5, 247-1.4-00025 U 247 -14 -000251 -TP eschute ea for nonfarm dw dwelling on accepted Mage tes lino r- 6of91 Accepted Forest Practices on Nearby Lands Devoted to Forest Use. 1. Deschutes National Forest. The applicant's burden of proof for Tree Farm 5 notes the portion of the DNF southwest of The Tree Farm includes the heavily -used "Phil's Tral1" mountain, biking trail,' network, The burden of proof goes on to state: "The 1990 Deschutes National Forest plan (as amended identifies the lands adjacent to The Tree Farm property as Management Area 9 — Scenic Views. The goal of this management area is to provide visitors with scenic vistas, representing the natural character of central Oregon. Specifically, landscapes which are visible from selected travel routes and places` which are frequently visited will be managed to € aintain or enhance their appearance. The proposed trail network will provide a variety of scenic vistas for visitors. The proposed 1 o€nesites in The Tree Farm project overall and in Tree Fara 1 specifically are all located well away from the travel corridor of Skyliners Road within the Deschutes National Forest, and thus will have no negative visual impact on the forest Ilse identified in the Forest Plan, In addition, use of the PUD to cluster development' allows hornesites to be sited at a further distance from the boundary than would development of ten -acre lots. The open space tract must €ernain in that state and will be subject to deed restrictions," The Hearings Officer finds that under the broad definition of "forest use"' in Title 18, the DNF is land 'devoted to forest use." I find the uses occurring on and planned for that land recreational, and preservation of open space and scenic vistas — are of relatively low intensity compared with timber harvesting. ''I also find the nature of these existing and planned uses for this portion of the DNF reflects the land's proximity to the Bend urban area and its function as a gateway, 'to millions of acres of public recreational, land west of Bend, Nevertheless, in his November 21, 2014 comments on the applicant's proposal, County Forester Ed Keith state: "I would note that the Forest Service does have an approved project called West Bend' that will be active for the coming several years an lands immediately west of the property. Planned activities include corrrnercial''' and non-commercial thinning, brush mowing, pile and broadcast burning. In his December 10, 2014 comments in support of the applicant's proposal attached to Jeffrey Condit's December 11, 2014 letter, Gary Marshall, former City of Bend Fire Marshal, stated the USFS has begun implementing the 'gest Bend Plan" which he describes as involving the, restoration of 26,000 acres of the DNF adjacent to The Tree Farm for the dual purposes of improving wildlife habitat and reducing wildfire risk. Mr. Marshall stated the methods utilized in the "West Bend Plan' are essentially the same as those previously employed, and proposed to, be continued, on The Tree Farm property. Based on this information, the Hearings Officer finds it appropriate to assume these nearby DNF lands also wifl be managed for forest health and fire prevention through periodic thinning by logging and controlled burns. Impacts from these higher -intensity forest practices would include noise from tree cutting, noise and drifting dust from log truck traffic on unpaved roads, and drifting of chemicals and smoke from prescribed burns and pileislash burns. On behalf of LandWatch, 'Paul Dewey claims the presence of homes in The Tree Farm will cause the DNF to abandon forest practices such as "aggressive fuel treatment and fire suppression techniques," He cites a research paper on wildfire risks from Headwaters Tree Farm 5, 247-14- 250 -CU, 247-14- 251-IP Page 17 of 91 Bcornornnics, included in the record as Exhibit ,;F', to Mr. Dewey's November 19, 2014 submission, This paper is based on case studies of eight communities. none of which includes Bend or ''Central Oregon. Although these studies provide useful general information, the Hearings Officer finds they are not a substitute for site-specific analysis of the impact of the ten proposed dwellings in Tree Farm 5 on DNF lands within the study area. Moreover, the evidence in this record does not support Mr. Dewey's assertion that the DNF is undertaking, or planning to undertake, '"aggressive' fuel treatment and fire suppression techniques." Mr. Dewey acknowledges that since the management plan for the DNF lands closest to The Tree Farm includes preservation of scenery, any logging will be done "in a more visually -sensitive way'* than in the General Forest." which the record indicates is located approximately five miles southwest of The Tree Farm.' ° Finally, Mr. Keith stated that in his opinion: * rather than restricting management because of development, this project ['West Bend)] is going on because of development and the recognition of risk that the current condition of these lands pose to the greater Bend area Existing development` near the DNF includes both Shev+lln Park and two large rural residential developments — The Highlands at Broken Top and Tetherow. Based on Mr. Keith's comments, the Hearings Officer believes it is appropriate to assume the management plans for the nearby DNF lands already have been influenced to a significant degree by the presence of these land'' uses, as well as nearby developments within the Bend UGB. The record indicates that at its closest points, the portions of the DNF engaged in, and planned for, scenic preservation and recreation are located approximately 3,500 feet from Tree Farm Lot 50, the most southwestern lot. The staff report suggests, and the Hearings Officer agrees, that because of the combination of the intervening distance and the low -intensity uses on the nearest DNF lands, current and planned management practices on nearby DNF lands will result in few if any impacts on Tree Farm 5 residential uses. 1 find the lack of comment on The Tree Farm from the USFS strongly suggests it has no concerns about the impact of dwellings in Tree Farm 5 on its management practices. For the foregoing reasons. the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 and its residential uses' will not force a significant change in, or significantly increase the cost of, accepted forest prect' on DNF lands in the study area. Private Forest Land. The private forest lands west and northwest of Shevlin Park are part of the "Bull Springs Block" that was once part of the DNF. These lands were transferred to Crown Pacific, and following its bankruptcy were conveyed to other owners including Cascade Timberlands. They form much of the forest land visible to the west of Bend. The record indicates that before Cascade Timberlands sold its Deschutes County holdings, the company, and other stakeholders had discussed long-term planning for this land — referred to as `Skyline Forest" -- to include a combination of preservation of open space and scenic views, recreation, and sustainable timber production, not unlike the plan for nearby DNF lands. The record does not indicate what types of uses currently are occurring on the Cascade Timberlands property or on the smaller private forest -zoned parcels northwest of The Tree Farm. In the Hearings Officer's previous decision in Taylor (MP -05-31, CU -05-106. SMA -05-41, 10 nc uded as Exhibit "H' to Mr. Condit's December 11, 2014 letter is O,NF west and southwest of The Tree Farm, and showing the more d Forest" — i.e., the area planned for timber production Tree Farm 5, 247 -14 -00x0250 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP color -coded map depicting the nt location of the DNF "General Page 18 of 91 MA -6-1,, MA -06-8), involving an application for a large -tract dwelling on a forest -zoned parcel northwest of The Tree Fan -n, I made the following findings concerning accepted forest practices on the Cascade Timberlands > property: °`LandWatch argues that although current forest practices in the study area are of loci intensity, the Hearings Officer should include within the 'accepted forest practices' in the study area much more intensive practices that could occur in the future if reforestation occurs on a large scale and mature trees are harvested in greater numbers. LandiWatch's predecessor Sisters Forest Planning Committee (SFP made the same argument in Hogensen_ in that decision, I made the Tollovving pertinent findings: The Hearings Officer concurs with the appellant that it is reasonable to assume the terra 'accepted' forest practices includes not only those practices currently taking place, but those that could occur in the future. Nevertheless, I find it is not reasonable to speculate from this record that all land in the study area will be reforested and harvested to the nest" intense degree possible — particularly where, as here, the record indicates Crown Pacific [the predecessor of Cascade Timberlands] has been selling tracts of its forest -zoned land for residential development purposes rather than for timber management and harvest. Therefore, I find it appropriate to evaluate the impacts of the proposed dwelling on those forest practices that are most prevalent currently and in the recent past — Le., selective harvesting of trees, log hauling, slash and prescribed burning, and some chemical spraying., These findings were challenged by SFPC and upheld on appeal. Sisters Forest Planning' Committee v. Deschutes County.' The Hearings Officer adheres to these findings here. "' On appeal of the Hearings Officer's decision in Taylor (Central Oregon LandWatch v. Deschutes County 53 Or LURA, 290 (2007), LUBA found that the scope and intensity of accepted forest practices is a "fact -specific inquiry," and upheld my findings. There is no evidence in this record that Cascade Timberlands continued its predecessor's practice of selling individual forest -waned parcels for residential use. However, it appears from this record that in the ten years since my Taylor decision the general nature of accepted forest practices on the Cascade Timberlands property has not changed. Therefore, I find it is appropriate to assume accepted forest practices on these lands would include selective harvesting of trees, log hauling, slash and prescribed burning, and some chemical spraying. I have found potential impacts from such uses include noise from logging, noise and drifting dust from operating log trucks on unpaved roads, drifting of chemicals, and drifting of smoke from prescribed burns and pile/slash'' burns, The tentative plan for Tree Farm 5 shows its moat western lots Lots 48, 49 and 50 -- would be located at least 4,000 feet from the nearest point on the Cascade Timberlands and and farther from the nearest smaller private 'forest -zoned parcels to the northwest. The intervening land''' includes targe open space tracts in Tree Farms 4 and 5 a s well as Shev1 n Park. As with the nearby DNF lands, the Hearings Officer finds it likely the presence of Shevlin Park has influenced, and `>will continue to influence, the intensity of forest practices on the nearby private forest lands. I find impacts,, if any, on Tree Farm 5 from forest practices on the nearby private forest lands would be significantly attenuated by distance and intervening open space: Tre Farm 5, 247 -14- 50 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 --TP Page 1 9 of 91> For the foregoing reasons, the Hearings Officer finds Tree, Farm 5 will not force a significant change in or significantly increase the cost of, accepted forest practices on the nearby private forest lands. Therefore, I find the applicant's proposal satisfies this rule requirement. H. For any open space or common area provided as a part of the cluster or planned unit development under this subsection, the owner shall submit,, proof of nonr'evoc ble deed restrictions recorded m the deed, records. The deed restrictions shall preclude all future rights to construct a dwelling on the lot, parcel, or tract designated as open space or common area for as long as the lot, parcel, or tract remains outside an urban growth boundary. FINDINGS: The applicant proposes to make the Tree Farm 5 open space tract subject to deed restrictions as depicted in Exhibit "L': to its burden of proof. However, the sample deed restrictions included in this exhibit do not state they would permanently prohibit development of, the open space tracts. Rather, they use language similar to that set forth above in Paragraph (H} — I ., development of the open space tract would be prohibited'' for so long as the property is outside he Bend UGB. As discussed in findings throughout this decision, the applicant has stated it intends that The Tree Farm and Tree Fara 5 never will be included in the Bend UGB, and has proposed that the development create a "permanent" transition area between urban uses to the east and Shevlin Park and forest land to the west. Accordingly, the Hearings Officer finds the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to record non€revocable deed restrictions for the Tree Farm, 5 open space tract stating that no portion of the open space tract will be used for a dvvelling or any other use in perpetuity. In addition, the applicant will be required as a condition of approval, and prior to submitting for final approval any plat for Tree Farm development, to provide to the Planning Division for county review and approval a copy of the required deed restrictions, as well as copies of the recorded deed restrictions after recording. I find that with imposition of these conditions of approval the applicant's intent will be accomplished and the open space tract in Tree Farm 5 will be preserved as open space as required by this paragraph,;, (f) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this, section, a local government shall not allow more than one permanent single- family dwelling to be placed on a lc or parcel in a rural residential'' area. Where a medical hardship creates a need for a second household to reside temporarily on a lot or parcel where one dwelling already exists, a Kcal government may authorize the temporary placement of a manufactured dwellig or recreational vehicle, FINDINGS; The applican. satisfying this criterion. Tree Farm 5 proposes one single-family dwelling Division 11, Public Facilities Pllanning OAR 660-011-006 5, VVa per residential ter Service to Ru a Lands 1) As used in this rule, unless the context req 247`_14 -000250 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP usres o ot, therefore the e: Page 20 of 91 (a) "Establishment" ent" means the creation of a new water system and all associated physical components, including systems provided by public or private entities; "Extension of a water system" means the extension of a pipe, conduit, pipeline, remain, or other physical component from or to an existing water system in order to provide service to a use that was not served by the system on the applicable date of this rule, regardless of whether the use is inside the, service boundaries of the public or private service provider, (c) "Water system" shall have the same meaningas provided In Goal 11, and includes all pipe, conduit, pipelirne, mains, or other physical components of such a system. (2) Consistent with Goal 11, Decal and use regulations applicable to, lands that are ..:oglide utter) growth__ bounctarre ....; r d unincorporated co€rit boundaries shall not: AtigN an increase ire a base density in a residential zone due to the availability of service froma water system; b' Allow a hl her densit for residential development served by a water system than will be authorized without such service, or (c) Alloyv an increase in, the allowable densit of residential development due to the presence, establishment, or extension of a water system. (3) Applicable provisions of this rule, rather than conflicting, provisions of local acknowledged zoning ordinances, shall' immediately apply to local land use decisions filed subsequent to the effective date of this rule. (Emphasis added. ) FINDINGS; The applicant proposes to provide domestic water to the Tree Farm 4 lits through one of three options; (1) extension of City of Bend water service, (2) securing water service from Avion Water Company; or (3) pumping water from one or more wells on The Tree Farm or adjacent property. The Hearings Officer finds both Bend's and Avian's water systems constitute 'water systems" for purposes of this ruleo The base density of the UAR 1O Zone will allow the creation of up to ten new residential lots in Tree Farm 5, as proposed by the applicant. The Hearings Officer finds the applicant's proposal' will not allow an increase in the IJAR-10 base density, allow higher residential density than �vou€ld be authorized'without $rvt to r service, or allow an increase in allowable dk. n city due to the presence or extension of a water system.Therefore, 1<find Tree Farm 5 satisfies this criterion. For the foregoing reasons, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 satisfies, or with i€n pos€t€on of the conditions of approval described'above will satisfy, all applicable provisions administrative miles in Divisions 4 and 11 of OAR Chapter 660. of the Tree Farm 5, 247' -14 -000250 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 21, of 91 C. Title 16 of t he Deschutes RR$O ZONE STANDARDS 1. Chapter 18,80, Ru FIN DING unty Cod ral Reid e, the D ential Zone Section 18.60x030, Conditional U chutes County Zoni RR -10 ses Permitted, The foil ing uses may be allowed su Cluster develo S: Section 18.04.030 d pment, bje efines "clusterdevelopment„ as ct to DCC 1 ng Ordinance 12 "* * * a development permitting the clustering of single or multi -family residences on a part of the property, with individual Iota of not les than two acres in size and not exceeding three acres in size. No commercial or Industrial uses not allowed by the applicable zoning ordinance are permitted." The Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 falls within this definition and therefore is a use permitted conditionally in the RR -10 Zone. Compliance with the provisions of Chapter 18.128 is addressed in the findings below. Tree Farm 5 b. Section 18,00.040, 'Yard and In an RF -10 Zone, the fail rraaintahneci, etba e k lowing Reg uirements yard and setbacks shall be r The front setback shall be a minimum of 20 feet from a property line fronting on a local street right-of-way, 30 feet from a property line fronting on a collector right-of-way and 50 feet from an arterial right-of-way, There shall be a minifMIMI 'side yard of 10 feet for all uses, except on the street side of a corner lot the aide yard shall be 20 feet. C. The minimum rear yard s hal'; be 20 feet. D. The setback from the north lot'' line s setback requirements in DCC 18,116.180. hall meet the so ar In addition to the setbacks sot forth herein, any greater setbacks required by applicable building or structural codes adopted by the State of Oregon and/or the County under DCC 15.04 shall be met. 247 -14 -000250 -CU, 241 -14 -000251 -TP Pag e22<ofS1 FINDINGS: The tentative plan for Tree Fain 5 shows all residential lots will front on local ,road, rights-of-way, and therefore the minimum front yard setback for dwellings Is 20 feet. Section€, 18.04.030 defines "corner lot" as: a lot adjoining two or more streets, other than alleys, at their intersection provided the angle of the intersection of the adjoining streets does not exceed 135 degrees. The tentative plan shows Tree Farm 5 Lots 42 and 47 constitute "corner lots" because they are located at the intersection of Golden Mantle Loop and Canopy Court. Therefore, the minimum side yards for these two lots are 20 feet, and the minimum side yard for the other eight lots is 10 feet. The minimum rear yard for ail lots is 20 feet. The Hearings Officer finds the applicant will be >>required as a condition of approval to assure dwellings on the Tree Farm 5 lots meet these minimum setbacks and yards. c. Section 18.6 In a r 0.06 0, Dimensional Standards Zone, th e fol lowing dimension al standards shall apply: J Minimurmr last size shall be 10 acres, except planned and chaster developments ,shall be allowed an equivalent density' of one unit per 7.5 acres. Planned and chaster developments within one mile of an acknowledged urban growth' boundary shall be allowed ' a five acre minimum of size or equivalent density. For parcels separated by new arterial rights of way, an exemption shall be granted pursuant to DCC 18.120.020. FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer has found Tree Farm 5 satisfies the maximum um density under OAR 660-004-0040, which allows lots as small as two acres. The applicant proposes ten 2 -acre resides ial lots and one 87.4 -acre open space tract for Tree Farm 5. As discussed in the findings below under the WA Zone, Section 18.88.050 requires that all residential lots within the WA Zone be clustered and a minimum of 80 -percent open space be preserved. The burden of proof for Tree Fara 5 states the applicant chose to plat all residential lots in The Tree Farm >— including all lots in the UAR-10 Zone uu at two acres in size, and to cluster the residential lots, in order to maximize open space and to create a consistent development pattern throughout The Tree Farm in spite of its split zoning. For the foregoing reasons, the Hearings Officer find applicable criteria in the RR -10 Zone. WA ZONE STANDARDS Ch a pter 18.80, Wil the applic :rat's proposal satisfies all dlife Area Combining Zone u-- WA a Section 18.88 .010, Purpose The purpose of the Wildlife Area Combining Zone is to conserve important wildlife areas In Deschutes County; to protect an important environmental, social) and economic element of the Tree Farm 5. 247 -14 -000250 -CU, 247- 0251-T€ Page 23 of 91 area; and to permit development ent compatible with the protec of the wildlife resource. Section 18.8 8.02 0, Application of Provisions The provisions of DCC 18.88 s the Comprehensive Plan habitat, antelope Uninc rp DCC 18.8 h II apply to al nter deer r range or deer orated cbn°€€munitiee are exempt 8. (Emphasis added.) 1; areas identified in n, a significant elk migration corridor, from the provisions of FINDINGS: The tentative plan for The Tree Farm shows the western 333 acres of development, and all of Tree Farm 5, are within the WA Zone associated with Tu winter range. Therefore, the Hearings Officer finds the WA Zone applies to all of Tree Section 18.8 F NDlNGS: Cluster develo they are allowed' condition cluster development stand 8.040, U es Permitted C'onditionellg the entire €halo deer Farm 5. Except as provided in DCC 18.88.040(B), in a zone with which the WA Zone is combined, the conditional uses permitted shell be those permitted conditionally by the underlying zone subject to the provisions of the Comprehensive Plan, DCC 18.128 and other applicable sections of this title. pments are permitted conditionally in the RR -10 Zone and therefore ally in the WA Zone and in Tree Farm 5. Compliance with the specific ards in Chapter 18.128 is addressed in the findings below; Section 18.88.88 0, D imensionaI Standards n a WA Zone, the following dimensional sten dard s shall a p P1Y: A. In the Tum.lo, Metolius, North Paulina and Grizzly deer winter ranges designated in the Comprehensive Plan Resource Element, the minimurrti lot size for new.. ?arc&ls shall be 40 acres except as provided in DCC 18'88 0 0(D). TIDINGS; Section 18.04.030 defines "parcel" as "a unit of land created by a partitioning of and." The applicant does not propose the creation of any new parcels, and therefore the Hearings Officer finds this criterion is not applicable. In any case, Tree Farm 5 would be 107.6 acres in size, exceeding the minimum lot size for new parcels. RN DIN D. Residential land divisions, including partitions, in deer winter range where the underlying zone is FIR -10 or MUA-10, shall not be permitted except as a planned development or cluster development conforming to the following standards: GS: The applicant proposes a residential and division consis' of cluster/RID on property zoned RR -10 and UAR-10, therefore satisfying this criterion, 1„ The minimum a development shall Tree Farm 5, 247 -14 -000250 -CU, 247-14 000251 -TP rea be at ten -lot er a planned or du t 40 acres. Page24of9l FINDINGS: : According to the submitted tentative pia,. Tree Farre 5 would consist of 107.8,' acres, all of which would be in the WA Zone, therefore satisfying this minimum area standard. The planned or cluster development shall retain a minimum of 80 percent open space and conform with the provisions of DCC 18.128,200 or 210 FINDINGS: According to the submitted tentative plan, Tree Farm 5 would have 20 acres of residential lots (ten 2 -acre lots), 87.4 acres of open space, and 0.2 acres of right-of-way. Based on this acreage, approximately 81 percent of Tree Farm 5 would be open space, therefore, satisfying this criterion. Notwithstanding the provisions of DCC 210, or DCC 18.60.060(C), the tote residences in a cluster development may 18A'28 .200 or number of not exceed the density permitted, in the underlying, zone, FINDINGS: The, general density in the R.R.-10 Zone is one dwelling per ten acres. The applicant' proposes that the 107.6 -acre Tree Farm 5 be developed with ten residential lits and one open space tract. The Hearings Officer has found the open space, tract is of included in the residential density calculation, and therefore Tree Farm 5 satisfies' this standard. d, Section 18,88.060, Siting Standards A. Setbacks shall be those described in th with which the WA Zone is combined, FINDINGS: As discussed in the findings above, the Hearings Officer ha be required as a condition of approval to assure all dwellings in Tree Farm Zone setbacks un de ly g z s s found the applicant will Tree Fara 5 5 satisfy the RR -10 Ba The footprint, including decks and porches, for new dwellings shall, be located entirely within 300 feet of public roads, private roads or recorded easements for vehicular access existing as of August 5, 1992 unless it can be found that: 1, Habitat values (Le.,,;browse, forage, cover, access to water) and migration corridors are afforded equal or greater protection through a different developrent pattern; or, The siting within 300 feet of such roads or easements for vehicular access will force the dwelling to be located on irrigated land, in which case, the dwelling shall be located to provide the least 'possible impact on wildlife habitat considering browse, forage, cover, access to water and migration corridors, and, minimizing length of new access roads and driveways; or, 247 -14.000250 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 25 of 91 The dwelling is set back no more than 50 feet from the edge of a driveway that existed as of August 5, 1992. For purposes of DCC 18,88 060(B): 1, A private road, easement for vehicula driveway will conclusively be regarde existed prior to August 6, 1932 if the appl any of the following; r access or having, ubmits d as icant A copy of an easement recorded County', Clerk prior to August establishing a right of ingress and e vehicular use; with the 5, 1''932 g res for An aerial photograph with proof that it was taken prior to August 5, 1992 on which the road, easement or driveway allowing vehicular access is visible, A map published prior to August 5, 1992 or assessor's map from prior to August 5, 1992 showing r; the road (but not showing a mere trail or footpath). An applicant may submit any other evidence thought to establish the existence of a private road, easement for vehicular access or driveway as of August 5, 1992 which evidence need not be regarded as conclusive. FINDINGS: Section 18.04,000 defines `'road" "a public, or private way created to provide Ingress or egress to one or more lots, parcels, areas or tracts of land." The applicant's ' burden of proof for Tree Farm 5 states all building envelopes except those on Lots 41 and 42 are located entirely within 300 feet of roads that were in place prior to August 5, 1992. In support of that statement the applicant submitted as part of its '''WMMMP``''in€ Exhibit'" to the Tree Farm 5 burden of proof two aerial photos of The Tree Farm property dated July 28, 1990. These photos show a network of dirt roads on the property referred to in the burden of proof as former logging roads. n addition, the WIMP includes a diagram prepared by the applicant's engineer WH Pacific that superimposes the dirt roads on the Tree 'Fara 5 lots. The Hearings Officer has examined these photos and diagram and l find they provide conclusive evidence that the building envelopes on Lots 40 and 43-50 in Tree Farm 5 are located entirely within 300 feet of one or more dirt roads that appear in the 1990 photographs, and therefore dwellings on those lots can be constructed n compliance with this paragraph. For these reasons, l find Tree Farm 4 satisfies the criteria in this section. With respect to the building;' envelopes "on Tree f=arm Lots 41 and 42, the VV P states in" relevant part: ,=Although the structures on these two Iets could potentially be located farther than 300 feet from an existing road, the proposed locations were selected by the project team wile considering input from the, biologist to maintain a clustering of, Tree Fara 5, 247.14 -000250€ -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP rage 26 of home sites and prevent additional > disturbance to wildlife habitat that would occur if they were placed in a different area on the property within the WA Zone. Their location maintains not only the north -south corridor among the home sites, but it also preserves the larger contiguous area of mule deer winter range to the west and south of the development within the property boundary, much of which is also located within 300 feet of an existing road. This proposed lot arrangement roteots the wildlife habitat values and, migration corridors to a higher degree than alternative plans that` would more diffusely develop the property within the WA Zone, and therefore, it maintains compliance with DCC 18.88.060." Based on the WMP, the Hearings Officer>.finds placement of Lots 41 and 42 farther than 300 feet from one of the former logging roads satisfies this criterion because "'habitat values (i.e,, browse, forage, cover, access to water) and migration corridors are afforded equal or greater protection through" this alternate development pattern. For the foregoing reason, the He section, ring s Officer finds Tree Fa e. Section 18 88.070, Fence Stan da d rm 5 e a es the crite ria in this The following fencing, provisions shall apply as a condition of approval for any new fences constructed as a part of develop€et of a property in conjunction Frith a conditional use permit or site plan review. A New fences in the Wild designed to permit wiled and guidelines shat Tree Farm 5, 247 14-000'50 which provides eq the County a Fish and Wild Exe life Area Combining Zone shall be Ile passage. The follow ng standards apply unless an alternative fence design uivalent 'wildlife passage is approved by nsltation with the Oregon Department of tier cis life: The d strand stance between the ground and the bottom or, board of the fence shall be at least 15 inches. The height of the fence shat above ground levels yet exceed 48 nches Smooth wire and wooden fences that allow passe wildlife a e preferred. Woven wife fences d iscouraged. ptionse e of are, Fences encompassing leas than 10,000 square, feet which surround d or. ; :are adjacent to residences or structures are exempt from the above fencing,, standards. Co r Is sedl U. 247 -14 -000251 -TP orki g live tock. Page 27 of 91 FINDINGS: The applicant does not propose any new fencing for Tree Farm 5, and therefore the Hearings ''Officer finds these criteria are not applicable. However, to assure compliance with these standards, 1 find that as a condition of approval the applicant will be required to install any fencing in theWA-zoned portion of Tree Farrn 5 in accordance with these standards. As noted above, the applicant proposes to remove most of the existing wire fencing on The Tree Farm., For the fore stand and going reasons, the Hearings Officer find s in the WA Zone, CONDITIONAL USE APPROVAL CRITERIA 3 Ch apte r 18 12 8, Cond itioal Section 18.1 aO10, 0 Use perations s Tree Fe rr 5 atisfies 11 a pplic ble A. A conditional use listed in DCC Table 18 shall be permitted,, altered or denied in accordance with; the standards and procedures of this title, DCC Title 22, the Uniform Development Procedures Ordinance; and the Comprehensive Pan. Section 18.12 8.015 General Standards Governing Conditional Uses Except for those conditional uses permitting individual single family, dwellings, conditional uses shall comply with the following tandards in addition to the standards of the zone hi which the conditional use is located and any other applicable standards of the chapter: FINDINGS: The applicant argues the general conditional s se standards in this section do not apply to Tree Farm 5 because the proposal ,includes individual ''' single -fancily dwellings. The Hearings Officer disagrees. I find these criteria are applicable to Tree Farm 5 because the proposed conditional use is a cluster development, not an "individual single-family dwelling." 1 FINDINGS: The H of Tree Farre 5, A. The site under consideration shall s uitable for the proposed use based be determined to be on the following factors. eanngs Officer finds the site for evaluation of the propos 5 te, design and ope ed rating character's steriPUD isa ics of the use; 11 Site. Tree Farm 5 would be 107.6 acres in size. It is very irregular in shape, the result of the irregular shape of The Tree Farm and the configuration of its five legal lots of record. The topographical information on The Tree Farm tentative plans shows the configuration of Tree Farms 1 through 5 generally followys the contours of the property., an. in particular the central ridge that runs generally in a southw rest -to -northeast direction. Tree Farm 5 is the most western of the legal lots that make up The Tree Farm. R extends from the middle of The Tree Farm in a 11 The applicant did not address these criteria in its burden the staff report submitted a rnernorandu€m dated October 2 Tree F rrn 5, 247 -14 -000250 -CU, 247-14-00 025 TP proof 14, ad for Tree Farre dressing the crite t in response t Pag 28of91 generally southwest direction to the western boundary of The Tree Farm. The topography of Tree Farm 5 is mostly sloping with a relatively level ridgetop area near the southeast orn€er: Vegetation consists of a moderate cover of ponderosa pine and juniper trees and brush. Tree Farm € b does not have frontage on Skyliners Road; it is separated from€, the road by the most, southwestern portions of Tree Farms 2 and 3Tree Farm 5 is separated from the Bend GB by Tree Farms 1, 2, 3 and 4, and a vacant parcel owned by Miller Tree Farm. Design and Operating Characteristics. The proposed ten € esidential lots in Tree Farm 5 would be clustered nea the middle of The Tree Farm on higher ground. All lots would have frontage on Canopy Court or Golden Mantle Loop which connects to Ridgelin€e Drive in Tree Farm 3 and thereafter with Skyliners Road at the southern property boundary. The applicant proposes to develop Tree Farms 1, 2 and 3 concurrently to provide access from Skyliners Road to the lots in those three cluster/PUDs. Construction of Tree Farm Drive in Tree Farms 1, 2 and 3 would allow the connection to Golden Mantle Loop in Tree Farm 5. The topographical'' information on the tentative plans shows the private roads will be constructed primarily on the central ridge, thus minimizing steep road cuts and gra€es. A gated temporary emergency access road would extend from the southern terminus of Sage Steppe Drive in Tree Farm 1 south across the adjacent Miller Tree Farm property to Crosby Drive in the Bend UGB. This secondary access would be in place until the adjacent Miller Tree Farm property is developed with paved streets to which Sage Steppe Drive could connect. Sage, Steppe Drive would be a dedicated public road with 60 ''feet of right-of-way and would' be stubbed off at the northern boundary of Tree Farm 1 to provide future road access to the adjacent Rio Lobo property. With development of Tree Farms 1, >2 and 3, lots in Tree Farm 5 would have a connection to the secondary access road. The applicant proposes that each dwelling would be constructed within a designated building', envelope, would be served by an onsite septic system, and would receive water from the City of Bend, Avion Water Company, or one or rmore groundwater wells. The majority of Tree Farm 5 (87.4 acres) would be set aside as perrnanent open space. The public would have access to this open space through a combination of a permanent trail easement' on the primary trails within The Tree Farm and a license granted by The Tree Farm homeowners' association (HOA) for use of trails within the residential lot areas. The multi -use paths and recreation/mountain bike trails in Tree Farm € 4 would connect with trails in the rest of The Tree Farm and Shevlin Park and the DNF to the west and southwest. The Heanngs Officer finds the site for Tree Farm 5 is suitable for the proposed ten -lot cluster/PUD because of the nature of the site and the design and operating characteristics of the proposed development. ''1 find the property is large enough to accommodate the proposed resident al lots,, open space tract. and private roads. 1 find the clustering of dwellings in the middle of The Tree Fern will preserve the maximum amount of open space and will allow the dwellings to be sited primarily on the only levet ground on Tree Farm 5. l find the design of the private roads in Tree Farm 5 has taken into account the site's topography so the roads can be constructed without steep slopes or road cuts and tight curves. As discussed in the findings immediately below, l have found soils on the site are suitable for installation of on-site septic systems. t also have found the proposed dwellings will have adequate access to Skyliners Road with concurrent development of Tree Farms 1, 2 and 3. For the foregoing reasons, the Hearings Officer finds the site of Tree Farm 5 is suitable for the proposed ten -lot cluster/PUD considering the site and the design and operating characteristics of the proposed development, Tree Farm 5, 247-14-0002 -CU, 247 14-00025 -TP Paget cif91 2. Ad eco u acy, of tra nsporta tion access to the site; and FINDINGS: Access to Tree Farm 5 will be from Skyliners Road via a system of public and private roads. The main access road, Tree Farm Drive, will connect with all other Tree Farm roads at an intersection in Tree Farm 3.''The segment of Tree Fara Drive from Skyliners Road north to a point near this intersection would be unproved with a 26 -foot -wide paved surface to accommodate both vehicular and pedestrian/bicycle traffic. The remaining segrnent of Tree Farm Drive and the other Tree Farm Roads would be improved with 20 feet of paved surface. The applicant proposes a gated temporary emergency access road from the southern end of Sage Steppe Drive, a dedicated public road, in Tree Farm '1 south through the adjacent Miller Tree Farm property to Crosby Drive, a dedicated public street within the Bend UGB. This secondary access would be in place until the adjacent Miller Tree Farm property is developed wltl paved streets to which Sage Steppe Drive could connect. Traffic Study. In support of The Tree Farm proposal, the applicant submitted a traffic impact analysis ("traffic study" prepared by Kittelson & Associates, dated July,, 2014, and included in the record as Exhibit "H" to the burden of proof statement for Tree Farm 5. The traffic study indicates the Institute of T .nsporrtation Engineers Trip Generation Manual, 9th Edition (1TE' Manual) predicts eac single-family dwelling will generate 9,5 average daily vehicle trips (ADTs). Accordingly, the traffic study predicts the 50 single-family dwellings proposed for entire Tree Farm would generate 476 ADTs, of which 50 would be during the p.m. peak hour (4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays). The traffic study analyzed the impact' of this traffic on the proposed Skyliners Road/Tree Farm Drive intersection, and found sight distance at this intersection would be adequate in both directions. The traffic study recommended the placement of a stop sign on Tree Farm Drive at Skyliners Road and maintenance of clear vision areas at this intersection. The traffic study also analyzed '''Tree '''Farm traffic im intersections on the west side of Bend: p c on he following five existing O Skyliners Road and CrosbyDrive; Skyliners Road and Skyline Ranch Road; • Skyliners Road and Mt. Washington Drive Mt. Washington Drive and Northwest Crossing Drive; and • Mt. Washington Drive and Simpson Avenue. The traffic study found these existing intersections currently operate at acceptable levels of service, and that with the addition traffic generated, by The Tree Farm, and including traffic volume growth of three percent and additional traffic anticipated from development in progress (including the new Pacific Crest Middle School and a large church under construction, and continuing development of Northwest Tossing), these intersections will continue to operate at acceptable levels of service in 2017 and 2022. In its comments on the applicant's proposal, the, road department did not identify any concerns or recommend any improvements to Skyliners Road or other existing roads to handle traffic generated by The Tree Farm. 1'n his August 29, 2014 comments on the applicant's proposal, Senior Transportation Panner Peter Russell stated he had reviewed the applicant's traffic study and agreed with its methodology and conclusions. Several opponents argued traffic from The Tree Farm would cause 'unacceptable levels of congestion on affected streets and intersections on the west sidle of Bend, and would cause Tree Farm , 247-14-00 2 -CU, 247-14-000251 -TP Pa 30of91 serious deterioration to 'yliners Road. The Hearings Officer finds no merit to these argu in light of the traffic study's conclusions and the lack of road improvement recommend from the road department. ments ations Opponent Connie Peterson suggested the traffic study should have included in its analysis traffic generated',. from a future Oregon State University (OSU) Cascades campus near the Mt. Washington Drive/Simpson Avenue intersection, The Hearings Officer is aware the city's approval of a ten -acre OSU Cascades campus is on appeal to LURA and the approval therefore is not final. For this reason, I'''find the OSU development and its potential traffic impacts are too speculative to be included in The Tree Farm traffic study. Opponent Rio Lobo submitted a memorandum dated December 11, 2014 from its ;,traffic' engineer, Lancaster Engineering, suggesting the applicant's traffic study was deficient in failing to include projected traffic from urban -density development of the adjacent 376 -acre Rio Lobo property. Rio Lobo's engineer predicted up to 1,100 'dwellings could be developed, on the property, and they would generate over 9,000 ADTs and 948 p,n-i. peak hour trips. The Rio Lobo property is outside the Bend UGB, has no county land use approvals for the type of low-density residential'' development' permitted in the UAR410 Zone s, i.e., up to 37 dwellings LL4 and has limited road access. E2 Therefore, l find potential traffic impacts from urban -density development of the Rio Lobo property also are too speculative to be included in the traffic analysis for The Tree Farm. Emergency Access. The applicant proposes a gated temporary emergency access road from, the southern terminus of Sage Steppe Drive south through the adjacent Miller' Tree Farm property to Crosby Drive, a public street in the Bend UGB. Sage Steppe Drive would be a p€€blic road within a dedicated 60. -foot right-of-way and improved with a 20 -foot -wide paved surface, The emergency access road would be gated at both ends, and constructed with an all-weather surface meeting the fire department's standards for emergency vehicles. The temporary access road would provide a means of ingress and egress for Tree Farm 5 lots following construction of the private roads in Tree Farms 1, 2 and 3. In his November 20, 2014 comments on the applicant's proposal, County Engineer George Kolb stated the emergency access road roust have a 24 -foot -wide surface, and on that date'' the applicant submitted a revised tentative plan for Tree Fara 1 showing the ernergency access road would be 24 feet wide. Crosby Drive provides access to the three nearby public schools — Summit High School, Miller Elementary School, and the new Pacific Crest middle school under construction. The tentative plan for Tree Farm 1 shows the proposed route of this emergency access road across the adjacent property, and the topographical information on the tentative plan indicates that for the most part the route would be on level or slightly sloping ground. The exception is a small' area just north of Skyliners Road where there is a steep ridge. However, the proposed road alignment' appears to skirt the steepest part of that ridge, In an October 31, 2014 electronic mail message, the applicant stated the emergency access road will be constructed with grades not exceeding 8.5 percent, less than the 12 -percent maximum slope permitted for emergency vehicle access. in his November 20, 2014 comments, George Kolb stated the proposed emergency access would require a county gate permit. At the public hearing, the Hearings Officer questioned how the locked access gates would operate and whether residents and guests would be able' to open the gates. Gary Marshall stated such gates generally are designed to be operated by the fire department with "Knox" �2 In his Decernber 19, 2014 comments on the applicant's proposal, Peter Rt€ssell correctly noted that without any land use approvals or current applications for development of the Rio Lobo property, 'the` potential trip generation from the Rio Lobo property is zero. Tree Farm 5, 247 -14 -000250 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Fez e 1 of 91 locks, but that additional options are available>.for "residential access," including special keys, key codes, and auto€Taatic gates. I find the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to install one or more of these "residential access' measures on the Tree Farm side of the gate at the southern terminus of Sage Steppe Drive. At the public hearing, the Hearings Officer also questioned whether the proximity of the three schools would cause Crosby Drive to become so congested during a large-scale emergency, evacuation, such as for a wildfire, that Tree Farm residents would not be able to use the emergency road for egress. in his January 6, 2015 submission, Mr. Dewey stated the applicant's proposed secondary emergency access is, "fundamentally 'inadequate" for evacuations because it must be assumed all three schools and all Tree Farm residents will be evacuated at the same time. Mr. Marshall responded to, these concerns in a letter dated December 10, 2014, included in the record as Exhibit "B' to Mr. Condit's December 11, 2014 letter. Mr, Marshall stated that in his opinion such congestion would not occur because it is highly unlikely every person in the three schools and every resident in The Tree Farm would evacuate at the same time and by the same roads. The Hearings Officer agrees with Mr. Marshall's' assessment. The Tree Farm would have two points of egress — Tree Farm Drive and the secondary emergency road -- and the record indicates the schools have >>several points of access. I find the existence of multiple points of egress for The Tree Farm and for the schools' would serve to reduce congestion in the event all three schools and The Tree Farm were evacuated simultaneously. Moreover, I find that in light of Mr. Marshall's extensive experience; including dealing with wildfires on the , est side of Bend, his opinion concerning likely evacuation scenarios is credible and reliable, In a November 4, 2014 letter, included in the record as Exhibit "P" to Pau Dewey's November 10, 2014 submission, LandWatch's fire expert Addison Johnson suggested the secondary emergency access road should be constructed to run in the opposite direction faom the main PUD access road — i.e., to the northeast. However, as discussed elsewhere in this decision, the tentative plan for Tree Farm 1 shows there is steep terrain northeast of Tree Farm 1, and there are no existing public roads with which such a secondary access road could connect. Therefore, find an emergency access road to the northeast likely would not be feasible. Skyline Ranch Road, The tentative plan for Tree Farm 1 shows "potential future Skyline Ranch Road right-of-way" running from Crosby Drive north and northwest across the adjacent Miller Tree Farm property and the northeast corner of Tree Farm 1 east of the cul-de-sac bulb for Ridgeline Drive. !n the Hearings Officer's decision in Tree Farm 1, 1 discussed concerns expressed by county staff' and Rio Lobo about the location of this right-of-way. I held' the applicant will be required as a condition of approval for Tree Farm 1 to include a notation on the Tree Farm 1 final plat stating possible adjustments to the open space and right-of-way" calculations if a segment of Skyline Ranch Road is dedicated in Tree Farm 1. For the foregoing reasons, and with imposition of the condition of approval described above. the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 is suitable for the proposed ten -lot cluster/PUD considering the adequacy of transportation access to the site. 3. The natural and physical features of the site, including, but not limited to, general f:opogr� hy, not wal hazards 'ards and natural resource values, Tree Fara a 5, 24714 -000250 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 32 of 91 FI N Di NGS: General Topography., The Tree Farm tentative plan shows. and the Hearings Officer's site visitobservations confirmed, that the Tree Farm 5 site has varying topography. The dominant feature of Tree Farm 4 is the central ridge running from southwest to northeast. The applicant's burden of proof states ,> and my site visit observations confirmed, that the higher ground atop this ridge is relatively level to robing, with steeper slopes in the northwest where the terrain drops toward Tu€malo Creek. The tentative plan for Tree Farm 5 shows the proposed residential lots would be >located atop this ridge. Topographical information for The Tree Farm indicates the central ridge is at its narrowest in Tree Farm 5, resulting in the most western lots — Lots 43-50 — being at least partially on slopes. The tentative plan indicates the slopes from the central ridge down to the west range from 10 to 20 percent grades. As discussed above, the private roads in Tree Farm b would align with the natural topography rather than cutting across slopes. As discussed in the findings below concerning the steeper slopes in Tree Farm 5 and it nt's wildfire plan does not adequately ad ap,lica the, applicant has not demonstrated development considering its topogra natural hazard a 5, the Hearings Officer has found may increase the risk of wildfire, and the dress this additional risk, For this reason, find the site for Tree Farm 5is suitable for the proposed duster phy. Natural Hazards. The identified natural hazard affecting The Tree Farm is wildfire. There is no dispute The Tree Farm is in a wildfire hazard area.13 if is located in the "Wildland Urban Interface (Will) i.e,, the transition area between human, development and'''wildland, in this case forest lands. The eastern half of The Tree Farrn was in the path of the 1990 Awbrey Hall fire that burned, approximately 3,500 acres from the north end of Shevlin Park southeast to a point hear Highway 97. The ,lune. 2014 Two Bulls Fire burned severa thousand acres of Cascade Timberlands property west and northwest of Shevlin Park. The Hearings Officer finds the nature of the wildfire hazard is 'two -fold: (a) residential uses in The Tree Farm could ignite a fire that spreads to adjacent land, and (b) wildfire ignited elsewhere in the V `UI, such as in the DNF, could spread to residential uses in The Tree Farm, diverting fire -fighting resources to The Tree Farm, The applicant's burden of proof states the Awbrey Hall Fire removed much of the forest overstory in the eastern part of The Tree Fara, resulting in that area having fewer trees and primarily shrub steppe vegetation. The applicant states that since the Awbrey Hall Fire, Miller Tree Farm has worked with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and others to reduce fire fuels on the entire Tree Farm property, including tree thinning and brush removal. ''l observed evidence of this thinning activity during my site visit. However, as I noted in my site visit report, observed that the forested part of The Tree Farm, including all of Tree Farm 6, rota ns a relatively dense tree cover, visible in aerial photographs in the record.14 The photos show the interface between the denser forest and the more open shrub steppe runs roughly along the line between Sections 33 and 34'' and the RR -10 and UAR 10 Zones. The denser forest also covers a small portion of UAR-10 zoned property in Tree Farms 2 and 3 and the most southwestern ,3 The parties disagree as to the degree of that hazard. Paul Dewey describes it as 'extreme."The applicant notes the Greater Bend CWPP (Cornmunity Wildfire Protection Plan) Boundary Map, included in the record in Exhibit "0' to Mr. Dewey's November 19, 2014 submission, categorizes The Tree Farm and surrounding land as "high risk" — the lowest category of risk :_ while other areas on the map are categorized as higher risk — i.e.; 'extreme" and 'high density extreme." t4 E g., the Tree Farm Master Pian, Exhibit 'A" to the Tree Farm 5 burden of proof. Tree~" Far€m 5, 247-14-000250- U, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 33 of 91 portion of Tree 'Farm 1 The shrub steppe vegetation in Tree Farms 1, 2 and continues north onto the Rio Lobo property and east onto the Miller Tree Fara property. LandWatch argues that no part of The Tree Farm property or Tree Farm 5 is suitable for the proposed cluster/PUDs considering the risk of wildfire. Paul Dewey describes The Tree Farm as 'not a safe place to build" and "an inappropriate place for people to live," He states further development in the WUI is not appropriate because "no development can be made `safe' in the face of catastrophic wildfires." In support of his position, Mr. Dewey submitted into the record several letters from LndWatch°s fire expert Addison Johnson, as well as dozens of pages of articles, studies, and research papers discussing the risks of wildfire in the WUI, In response, Mr. Condit argues in his December 30, 2014 letter that 'The Tree Farm properties are zoned for rural development and the applicable criteria have to be construed in that context." In his January 6, 2015 final argument, Mr. Condit stated: "While [the applicant's proposed, wildfire plan] will obviously not eliminate all risk from wildfires, it does not, however, follow that all development should be prohibited. Deschutes County regulates developments in areas subject to natural hazards (including wildfires) pursuant to Statewide Land Use Planning Goal which provides that 'fflocal governments shall adopt comprehensive plans * * * to reduce risk to people and property from natural hazards.' There is' no requirement that all risk be eliminated.`' 3 indeed, such risk would be impossible to eliminate in the Bend area. The greater Bend area Community Wildfire Protection Plan Boundary, attached as the last page of Exhibit 0 to LandWatch`s November 19, 2014, submittal shows that The Tree Farm properties, the territory within the City of Bend, and most of the surrounding territory are rated 'high' for wildfire risk. And there are significant areas near the City rated 'extreme` or 'high- density extreme' for wildfire risk. The fire hazard risk within the City and on roost of the surrounding territories is thus the same or even higher than on The Tree Farre properties.' Condit goes on to state: "By requesting and obtaining an exception to Goals 3 and 4 to designate The Tree Farm properties as Rural Residential or Urban Area Reserve in 1988, the County made the policy decision that these are developable lands. This decision was acknowledged to be in compliance with the State Land Use Planning Goals, including Goal 7. That doesn't mean The Tree Farm doesn't have to comply with the applicable criteria. See PGE/Gaines, cited in the Applicant's prior testimony. lir Dewey argues that, because the Applicant cannot guarantee absolute protection from wildfires, no development should be allowed. Such a reading would srallorf the Code.'', The Hearings Officer agrees the county made a policy decision that the RR-10/WA zoned lands west of the Bend UGB are developable; Any change to the uses permitted in the RR -10 and UA -10 Zones west of Bend — e.g., dlim€inating dwellings due to fire risk -- would require legislative action by the county, such as a text amendment to Titles 18 and 19, and cannot be, accomplished through individual quasi-judicial land use decisions. Tree Farm 5, 24 -. 4-0 00250 U 00251 -TP 1-T Page 34 of 91 However, The Tree Farm proposal includes land divisions providing for multiple dwellings,,, and therefore is subject to the subjective and discretionary standards in Title 17 -- e.g., contributing to "orderly development' -- and the equally subjective and discretionary conditional use and cluster/PUD standards in Titles 18 and 19. Section 18.128.010 (A), set forth above, makes clear the county may deny a conditional use application if it finds the 'proposal does not satisfy the applicable approval criteria, In addition, Section 18.128.020 authorizes the county to impose conditions of approval in order to assure compliance with the approval criteria. Nevertheless, the Hearings Officer finds nothing in Title 18, 19, or 22 that requires the county to impose conditions in order to make a proposed conditional use approvable. Accordingly, I find the question before me is not whether the residential development should'' be prohibited on The Tree Farm or Tree Farm 5 site. Rather, it is whether the site for Tree Farm 5 is suitable for the proposed custerIPUD considering the wildfire hazard. The unusual configuration of Tree Farm 5 restricts placement of dwellings to the higher ground near the middle of The Tree Farm where most of the lots world be loped. The applicant proposes to cluster the dwellings on the high ground, and to address wildfire risk through its wildfire plan, included in the record as Exhibit '`J" to the Tree Farm 5 burden of proof. The Hearings Officer agrees with Mr. Condit that in order to find compliance with this conditional use approval criterion l need not find the wildfire plan ellrDi r ales off fire risk for these dwellings. Rather, 1 must determine whether the wildfire plan, in its design and implementation, will reduce that risk to a sufficient degree that the Tree Farm 5 site and configuration are suitable for the proposed 10 -lot cluster/PUD considering the risk of wildfire. The applicant's wildfire plan' consists of a two-page narrative to which are attached nine pages of information concerning the "Firewise Communities Program" (Firewise) and the "Fire Adapted Communities Program," The, narrative describes the wildfire plan's goals as: further reduction of !add e fuel,< thinning of juniper and srrrall ponderosa trees s evelopment of a fire adaptive ecosystem to preserve old growth • maintenance of a healthy tree stand and reduction of the threa damaged trees; and O enhancement of the;. l andscapewith native %,g s upport wildlife. rasses for a natu The wildfire plan identifies the following means to accomplish th ese g pals: of beet ral I a eki61a ndsca pe nd fire nd to 1. wildland fuel treatments co€Tspleted by the current property owner will continue to be maintained by the developer and future HOA through, a requirement written into the community's' governing documents and guidelines, and will "enhance open space, structure survivability; and firefighter safety: 2 . The Tree Farm wijj„p.rply pit 1 e community safety from fire; €cable. Tree Farm 5, 247.14 -000250 -Cu, 24 -14-000251-TP criteria in th€ s l utas g s €tit code relative to Page 35 of 91 3. The Tree Farrn will become a nationally recognized Firewise/LISA Commuray viewed as a model HOA -managed neighborhood that uses wildfire__ mitigation principles to manage combustible vegetation and incorporates structure fire resistant features and materials to reduce the threat and intensity of wildfire to personal property and the adjacent forest; 4. The Tree Farm will incorporate into its governing documents and architectural and landscape guidelines the requirement to use lire rosiatanttulidir g materials,- 1.1Ar 4gill?i,-1 trq tr epts to reduce the threat of wildfire within the boundaries of the neighborhood and to create a fuel break to slow or stop an approaching wildfire to adjacent properties; 5. The Tree Farm deve oper and HOA will make an annual commitment;, to maintain recognition as a FireiselUA Community, 6. residents and visitors will be familiar with the county's Witdfitre Fire Evao ion Plan addition to The Tree Farm Evacuation Plan; and 7. The Tree Farm's governing documents will address sources of human caused i+ritions and prohibit burning of debris and the use of fireworks. (Emphasis added.) In his written public hearing testimony, Gary Marshall stated the applicant proposes to use the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards in conjunction with regulations from the Oregon Fire Code (OFC) and the Oregon State Residential Code to '`greatly reduce the risk of home ignition from wildfire." Attached to this testimony are several NFPA and Firewise documents, including the 34 -page NFPA "Standards for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire." However, Mr. Marshall's testimony does not indicate which of the Firewise or NFPA standards would apply to The Tree Farm, or when, how, where, or by whom they would be implemented. And indicated in the above -underlined language. most of the wildfire plans proposed implementation measures are general and aspirational. LandWatch questions the effectiveness of the applicant's wildfire Man for two principle reasons, each of which is addressed in the findings below; 1. Reliance on Firewise and NFPA Standards. In his November 21, 2104 comments on the applicant's proposal, Ed Keith noted that to obtain Firewise recognition, The Tree Fai would need to obtain a wildfire risk assessment from ODF or the Bend Fire Department, form a board or committee to identify priorities, and create and implement an action plan. Mr. Keith stated that "since communities are dynamic and vegetation grows back,' Firewise recognition must be renewed annually "so the community shows they are continually working on their priority issues." For these reasons, LandWatch argues Firewise recognition does not constitute a meaningful wildfire plan for The Tree Farm. With respect to NFPA standards, in his December 11, 2014 submission, Mr. Dewey notes these standards begin with disclaimers concerning the need for local evaluation of "products, designs, or installations and local enforcement, He also notes, and the Hearings Officer agrees, that the NFPA standards included in the record are extensive, technical, and detailed. However, applicant's wildfire plan does not identify which NFPA standards apply to The Tree Farm, where, when, how, or by whom the NFPA standards would be ''implemented, or how and by whorr they would be enforced and their effectiveness evaluated, Although Mr. Marshall's written testimony, provided in specific recommendations for implementation of the Firewise several Tree rm 5, 247 250 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP does includesome program and NFPA standards, Page 36 of 91 these recommendations are not described in the applicant's submitted wildfire plan. Rather, the pIan r; appears merely to incorporate the Firewise program and NFPA standards by reference, The Hearings Officer finds that is not sufficient to meet the applicant's burden of demonstrating;, co npliance with this conditional use approval criterion. I also find it is not my responsibility, nor that of planning ;,staff or interested parties, to search through Mr, Marshall's extensive materials — which he describes as "a plethora of fire safety standards" -- in order to identify relevant standards and to craft a comprehensive and coherent wildfire plan therefrom. Neither do the wildfire plan's mere references to Firewise and the NFPA provide a sufficient basis for me to impose clear and objective conditions of approval, I cannot simply condition approval on compliance with the Firewise Community recognition process and the NFPA standards. See, Sisters Forest Planning Comm v, Deschutes County, 48 LUBA 78 (2004), 198 Or App 311, 108 P3d 1175 (2005).15 Finally, the wildfire plan's narrative su€ rr aries state the developer and the HOA will undertake certain wildfire plan activities, but they do not clarify ifrwhen the developer would bow out and the HOA would take over. For;, the foregoing reasons, the Hearings Officer finds the applicant's wildfire plan is not sufficient to demonstrate compliance with this conditional use approval criterion because it simply does not include a meaningful action plan or an explanation of how, when, or by whom the plan will be implemented. And it addresses The Tree Farm as a whole although the record indicates 92there is considerable variation in location, topography, and vegetation in The Tree Farm lots, However, because the Firewise and NFPA standards are nationally recognized, comprehensive and detailed, I believe it is feasible for the applicant to create an adequate wildfire plan based on those standards that includes the critical information missing from the submitted plan. I find such a plan must include, at a minimum, the following information. identification of each residential lot building envelope, the extent and nature of the defensible space around each dwelling, and fire fuel treatments on the building envelope and the rest of the lot; the setback from the upper edg the fuel treatment, will occur on open s drainage, and on wil whether and e df the slope(s) for each building envelope and dwelling; any, on any slope below each dwelling, and if such fuel treatment pace, what impact it will have on that open space, on surface water dlife habitat for lots in the WA Zone; here decks and outlbuiid in ould be permitted on each lot; what specific construction methods and building materials will be required for each dwelling to meet specific, identified NFPA standards: a detailed description of how and by whom the wildfire plan will be implemented, monitored, and enforced, with particular attention to the transition between the developer and the HOA; C d specificmapped evacuation plan 'for The Tree Farrnn and each of the five Tree Farr ev{elopments including directions for operation of the gate on Sage Steppe Drive; and 15 In that appeal, filed by LandWatch's predecessor, the Court of Appeals held a condition of approval requiring implementation of the applicant's expert's recommendations was improper where the recommendations were imprecise, confusing, hypothetical, and/or in conflict with county code, provisions. Tre Farm 5, 247 -14.000250 -CU, 24x7 -14 -000251 -TP Page 37 of a dotal wildfire plan ed description of when and how residents and guests will be infor€pied of the requirements and the evacuation plan. 2. inadequate Recognition of Fire Behavior. The parties disagree as to whether the proposed design and configuration of 1 ree Farm 5 adequately recognize and address wildfire behavior.. For example, Mr. Johnson argues placement of dwellings on th central ride and upland areas above slopes increases wildfire risk because the dwellings would be both upslope and downwind from a wind -driven wildfire starting in the public and private forest lands or Shevlin Park to the west. Mr. Johnson also argues placement of dwellings in the shrub steppe vegetation on the eastern half of The Tree Farm does not reduce the fire risk because fire in that vegetation can produce flame lengths of 10-12 feet. He claims the previously burned portion of The Tree Farm does not create a fuel break between the forested western half of The Tree Farm and the urban and urbanizable lands to the east, as claimed by the applicant, because the Awbrey Nall Fire only changed the type of fuel, reducing the fire risk from "extremely, intense to merely intense," As discussed elsewhere in this decision, Mr. Johnson also argues the proposed secondary emergency access road will not allow timely and efficient evacuation of The Tree Farm in the event of a fire and should be in a different location. Finally,, Mr. Johnson questions the adequacy of water available for fire suppression in light of the uncertainty of The Tree Farm''s water supply and pressure, The applicant responds that The Tree Farm configuration and its iildfire plan adequately) address and minimize' the risk of wildfire, The applicant notes that in his comments on The Tree Farm, Ed Keith stated that he doesn't consider the 10-20 percent slopes on the wet side of the central ridge to be particularly steep, and that many kcal subdivisions have been developed on steeper ground. He stated he believes fire risk can be reduced by setting dwellings and decks well, back rom the top of the slopes, The applicant also submitted several letters from Mr. Marshall, discussed in the findings bove, identifying measures to be implemented in The Tree Farm. However, as discussed above, the Hearings Officer has found the applicant's wildfire plan does not adequately identify what NFPA standards are applicable to Tree Farm lots and dwellings,, how and by whom those standards will be implemented and enforced, and what would be the relative role of the developer and the HOA in implementing the wildfire pian. Tree Fara 5 is the most western of the cluster developments and has the steepest slopes and the most dense vegetation in The Tree Farm. Dwellings in Tree Farm 5 would be located farther west than dwellings in the nearby Highlands at Broken Top PUD. They also would be farther west than dwellings in the Saddleback Subdivision, just north of Shevlin Park, which was evacuated during the 2014 Two Bulls Fire. All of the proposed Tree Farm 5 dwellings are located at the top of a slope. For these reasons, and in the absence of an adequate wildfire plan, the ''Hearings Officer finds applicant has not demonstrated the site and configuration of Tree Farm 5 sufficiently address predicted wildfire behavior affecting residential lots and dwellings. 1 also find it is neither feasible nor appropriate for me to craft conditions in an effort to make the applicant's proposal approvable. For the foregoing reasons, the Hearings Officer finds the applicant has demonstrate the site for Tree Farm 5 is suitable for the proposed use considering hazards, failed to natural, Natural Resource Values. The Hearings Officer finds natural resources on the site of Tree lv vin 5 consist of native vegetation including predominantly shrub -steppe vegetation, scattered rock outcrops, and wildlife habitat including the 'Turnalo winter deer range in, the most southwestern portion of the site within the RR -10 and WA Zones. Tree Farn-a;; , 247-14-00 0250 -CU, 247-14-0 251 -TP Page 3 of 91 a. Vegetation. The majority of The Tree Farm and Tree Farm 5 will be maintained in permanent open space. As discussed above, the record indicates the applicant has undertaken regular brush cutting and tree thinning for purposes of fire fuel reduction and intends that such, vegetation management will continue within the Tree Farm 5 open space tract, In addition, the applicant proposes that each lot in Tree, Farm 5 will have a designated building envelope in which the dwelling must be constructed, preserving native vegetation on the residential' lets outside the building envelopes. As discussed in the findings below, the applicant's wildlife expert testified that in her opinion. management of vegetation on Tree Farm 5 for fire fuel reduction can and will be accomplished in a manner consistent with preservation of wildlife habitat. However, because of the sloped lots and moderate vegetative cover in Tree Farm 5, and the suggestion in Mr. i +iarshall`s testimony that Firewise and NFPA standards might require thinning and/orr removal of vegetation on slopes below the dwellings - potentially within the open space tract .:., the Hearings Officer finds fire fuel reduction in Tree Farm 5 may be more extensive than in the other Tree Pawl cluster PUDs., b. Rimrock and Rock Outcrops. At the outset, the Hearings Officer finds it is not clear any rock outcrops in Tree Farm 5 qualify as "rimrack," defined in Section 18.04.0 30 as a ledge or outcropping of rock that "forms a face in excess of 45 degrees." in any case, the submitted tentative plan and burden of proof statement for Tree Farm 5 indicate the applicant does not intend to remove or alter existing rimrock or rock outcrops. c. Wildlife Habitat, The Hearings Officer finds that because Tree Farm b is located entirely within the WA Zone, its wildlife habitat consists of winter deer range including migration corridors, The applicant's burden of proof for Tree Farm 5 states all of the open space tract would be preserved, no new fences would be established, much of the existing wire fencing wou€Id be removed, and the applicant would eradicate and replant most of the existing network of dirt logging roads. However, all ten Tree Farm 5 dwellings, portions of Golden Mantle Loop and Canopy Court, and portions of the multi -use path and recreation 'trail systems would be established in the winter range habitat. The applicant states the only vegetation removed would be that necessary for dwelling and road construction and for fire fuel reduction. As noted in the findings above under the WA Zone, the stated purpose of that zone in Section 18.88.010 is to "conserve important wildlife areas" while permitting "development compatible with the protection of the wildlife resource." Therefore, the protective measures established in the WA Zone are intended to accomplish those dual', purposes. As discussed in the WA Zone findings above, the Hearings Officer has found Tree Farm 5 will satisfy all applicable WA Zone criteria. Nevertheless, in its August 19 and December 11, 2014 comments on the applicant's proposal, ODFW argued The Tree Farm will not protect the Tumalo winter deer range for the following reasons. development of residences in the winter deer range upland habitats into built structures, including roads, habitat; Il convert native forest and homeowners will be allowed to remove habitat on their ho deer migration torrid Tree Farre 5 ars will be blocked by dwellings; Iting in neeitesi permanent loss of 247 -14.000250 -CU, 24.7.14 -0000251 -TP` Page 39' of 91 trails and open space will promote low impact recreationaluse - e.g., bicycling, walking, and wildlife viewing- that will interfere with deer use of winter range if they are not sufficiently dispersed in the Tree Farm; and the applicant has not identified mitigation measures demons ating "no net loss" of habitat pursuant to ODFW's administrative rules.1'6, The Hearings Officer finds ODFW's habitat mitigation policy, which includes the "no net loss standard., does not establish approval criteria for quasi-judicial land use decisions unless they involve local government land use regulations that require habitat mitigation, or proposed plan' amendments or zone changes relating to habitat protection. OAR 635-415-0015 and OAR 635- 415-0020. 35-41 !0020. l find neither exception applies here. i also find ODFW's concerns about low -impact recreational use on trails are of greater relevance to Tree Farms 4 and >5 than they are to Tree Farms 1. 2 and 3 because all of Tree Farm 5 and most of Tree Farm 4 are located in the winter deer range, Consequently, l find the relevant wildlife issues include development of dwellings, roads, and trails, and the vegetation removal required for those features and for fire fuel reduction. Land titch submitted an article from the USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNWRS) ) entitled "Science Findings" generally addressing the potential impact of residential development on mule deer winter range and migration corridors, The article reviews the work of Jeff Kline, a research forester with'''PNVVRS, on general deer migration patterns in Deschutes County, and in particular on anticipated effects on deer migration from potential future development of the Cascade Timberlands property west of The Tree Farm, The article concludes by listing `.land management implications" for such development, including recommendations that resource managers work with landowners to consider protective measures such as conservation easements to protect winter deer range and migration corridors, The Hearings Officer finds the applicant's proposal addresses the specific winter range qualities on The Tree Farm property including specific migration corridors, and identifies protective measures similar to conservation easements for both the winter range and migration corridors. The '!i:VMP, dated May 19, 2014, and attached to the Tree Farm 5 burden of proof as Exhibit was prepared by Dr, Wendy 'dente, an ecologist and biologist with Mason, Bruce and Girard Natural Resource Consultants (MB&G). The VVIVIP'' includes an overview of The Tree Farm property Dr. Wente's methods for investigation and identification, of existing wildlife habitat and `> use, her assessment of the wildlife uses thereon based on her investigation, a number of specific mitigation and conservation measures, and her opinion regarding wildlife habitat on the portion of The Tree Farm zoned WA, including residential lots and open space tracts, At page 8 of the'" MP, Dr, Wente identified 'genera The Tree Farm in relevant part as follows: "Mule Deer Habitat an d Migration Corridor. wildlife utilization trends" for mule deer on Deschutes County has designated the Tree Farm West property [the part of The Tree Farm located in the WA Zone] within the PSA {The Tree Farm] (Figure 1) as a mule deer i tinter range (WAZone), and dear are also known to migrate rough the area_ Throughout, the field investigation, the MB&G biologist Iii ODFW also raised concerns about a proposed pond in The Tree Farm. However, in her letter dated October 10, 2014, Dr. Wente stated the pond has been removed from The Tree Fare proposal. Tree Farre 5, 247-14- 01'50 247 -14 -000251 --TP Page 4L of 91 observedsigns of diffuse migration through the respective understories of Ponderosa Pine Forests West and East. Wildlife species, especially ungulates, frequently use the PSA in its entirety as evidenced by the presence of deer signs at sample plots and other areas throughout the property. These forested habitats provided minimal evidence of bedding, but they showed signs of significant wildlife use as foraging and corridor habitat. Numerous signs of tip-gradiant and down-gradiant trails/Tracks suggest that forested areas within and throughout the PSA serve as diffuse corridors for traveling to resources located outside of the PSA and for accessing forage and possibly water resources. Key areas identified as travel corridors for deer included the dry draw and parallel minor ridges running northeast to southwest between plots H8 and H9 (Figure 2). This corridor extends northward along the property boundaty where it parallels Turnalo Creek. Deer are, also likely using corridors where they would experience lower gradients, such as along the existing road to the south of plot H7, to move between the Tumalo Creek riparian corridor and upland areas to the east (outside of the WA Zone) that provide bunchgrass and antelope bitterbrush forage. Therefore, the B&G biologist was able to corroborate the WA Zone designation within the PSA elative to mule deer habitat and use." Based on the figures and photographs in the WMP, the Hearings Officer,undertands Dr, Wente to conclude mule deer habitat use and travel corridors are sufficiently diffuse on The Tree Farm property that deer currently move across The Tree Farm, Dr, ''Wente relevant pa als o submitted s follows: a letter d ated October 10, 2014 responding to OD FW's coricerras in "ODFW coraarrrented that the deer migration corridors `could be rpleteiy eradicated or' substantially cut-off [sic], forcing deer to move through the development * * ".' The Tree Farm RR -10 parcel, which is overlain by the deer winter range WA zone, is approximately 393 acres in size. The development plan proposes approximately 30 acres of lots and road right-of-way (combined) within the RR -10 parcel. This maintains the remaining approximately 363 acres (92%) as designated open space; The DCC 8,88.050(D)(2) requires the retention of 80% of an RR -10 zoned area with a WA zone as open space, thus this development far exceeds the proportion of open space required by the code for a cluster development within a WA Zonein addition to providing more open space than required by the code for deer winter range on RR -10, the development team selected a design configuration that would maintain wildlife corridors tl roughout the open space. The plan provides an extensive corridor alt iag the western boundary. preserving, an area where deer would be expected to continue utilizing the Turnalo Creek drainage. The two pods of the cluster development that fall within (TF5) or partially within (TF4) the RR -10 zone are also configured to provide an additional north/south corridor following, the natural lay of the land Finally, the configuration of the development plan supports east/west deer vement patterns along the southern portion of the RR4O zone. This area isclearly maintained as a corridor of habitat between the mead [ kytl iers Road] and the southernmost cluster [in Tree Farms 3 and 51 These corridors, and the open space in general, will continue to provide spacfor deer to move across and to utilize the wildlife habitat provided by the WA zone on the RR4O.' (Bold emphasis added.) Tree Farm 5, 247 -14 -000250 -Cts, 247-14-t1O0251-TP Page 41 of 91 The Hearings Officer understands the above -emphasized language to mean lir. V'Jente concluded > the proposed roads and trails, open space tract, and dwellings in Tree Farm 5 would' not create a barrier to deer movement or habitat use in that area. Each of these development features is discussed in the findings below. 1 Roads and Trails. As discussed in the findings above, there are a number of existing dirt roads on The Tree Farm site. The record indicates these roads and dirt trails in The Tree Farm have been. and continue to be, used by members of the public. The applicant's WMP states with respect to roads and trails in Tree Farm 5: "Where proposed accsss roads intersect' tt e punned [north -scout ] condor, there will be reduced speed signs and signage indicating wildlife cros, ings. " Considering historic human use of these roads and trails, the relatively low volume of traffic predicted for The Tree, Farm Drive in general at buildout --- 476 ADTs — and the very low traffic volume on the segment of Golden iantle Drive and Canopy Court providing access to residentiallots in Tree Farm 5, the Hearings Officer finds that with;;, these measures, the presence, of roads and trails within Tree Fa rn 5 will not interfere with use of winter deer range in general or in particular with migration corridors the PUD roads and trails will cross, (2) Open Space, Tract. At the public hearing, the Hearings Officer questioned whether ongoing fire fuel management in The Tree Farm and the open space tracts can be undertaken consistent wsivith the conservation of the'Tumalo winter deer range. In response, the applicant submitted a letter dated December 5, 2014 from Dr. Wente stating the ' MP and the applicants fire plan "are designed to provide a coordinated solution to serve two goals that can in some cases be in conflict: maintaining the quality of wildlife habitat while also reducing the risk of wildfire."'' Dr. 'dente noted that the fuel reduction treatments proposed for The Tree Farm's open space tracts are a continuation of the treatments already practiced on The Tree Farm property. Dr. Wente stated that in her opinion the proposed fuel reduction treatments would not interfere with conservation of the winter' deer range for three reasons: (1) The Tree Farm open space provides good winter deer range habitat in spite of historic and ongoing fuel reduction treatments thereon; (2) the fuels management techniques will simulate the effects of small-scale wildlife which is an important component of a healthy ponderosa pine ecosystem; and (3) reg rlar brush cutting and removal of juniper trees encourages the orowth of forbs that make up much of the winter forage for deer. Dr. `ente's opinion would support a finding that the applicant's proposed fire fuels management will be consistent with conservation of the Tumalo winter deer range in Tree Fared 5. However, as :discussed in the fundings above, the Hearings Officer has found the record, including the applicant's wildfire plan evidence, suggests that in order to adequately address predicted'' wildfire behavior it may be necessary to remove significant vegetation downslope from dwellings, including from the adjacent open space tract(s) It is not clear; that Dr. Wente considered remove) of vegetation beyond historic fire fuel treatments in forming her opinion about impacts on the winter deer range. Moreover, as discussed above, I have found the applicant's wildfire plan is inadequate because, among other deficiencies, it does not specify what fuel treatments wl be required to reduce the fire risk for dwellings on each Tree Farm lot. (3) Dwellings. The Hearings Officer finds the configuration of Tree Farm 5, with its clustering of dwellings as required in the WA Zone, preserves large swaths of open space as well as leaving the existing migration corridors intact. The WMP states in relevant part: Tree Erre5 247 -14 -000250 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP' Page 4.of91 "The currently proposed lot configuration also allows for a north/south >.deer and other wildlife movement corridor within the residential development,providing connectivity along the eastern edge of Tree Parra West, the portion of the property within the WA Zone. This wildlife corridor is located between lots 43 [in' Tree Farm 5] and 37'''[in Tree Farm 41 on its northern terminus as depicted in the conceptual site plan (Appendix A). * * The corridor is designed to provide at least a 100 -meter -wide passage between structures and should be sufficient for mule deer given the minor topographic relief and habitat type (Sperger 2006). The corridor is also sited to take advantage of natural break in the topography at its northern outlet. Deer likely already use this break in the northwestern ridge to access the flatter portions of the property to the east, and the development corridor will allow them to continue this movent pattern. ' The proposed Tree Farm 5 configuration with ten dwellings also will significantly intensify human activity over more recent human use in this habitat consisting of low -intensity recreation, tree and brush thinning, and historical logging,, In contrast to these mostly seasonal activities, dwellings would create year-round human activity. Opponents question whether developing Tree Farm 5 at the proposed density will create too great an rmpact on the winter range cornpared with lower density development, or no development at al The applicant's WMP does not address this issue, which l find may well be relevant in the context of this very general "suitability" approval criterion. Finally, the WMP includes at pages 9412 a number of habitat € itig .tion and conservation measures. These address factors including dwelling siting and fencing consistent with the WA Zone requirements discussed above, not allowing uses prohibited by Title 18, and several specific measures addressing vegetation monitoring, removal of non-native species and juniper, preserving ponderosa pine trees and downed logs, and keeping dogs on leash. However, the Hearings Officer finds the 'iMP suffers from the same lack of detail and clarity as does the wildfire plan as to how, when, where, and by whom these measures will be undertaken, ''how' their success will be measured, and how and by whom they will be enforced, Rather, the WIMP st imply that certain things „will be done" or swill comply." For example, the WMP states: ate s 'During development, the developer will be responsible for managing the open space that encompasses the wildlife management area. Upon completion. management of the open space' rill ultimately be transferred to either a home owner's association or a non profit or other public entity," The WMP does not explain the meaning of the terms "development" and 'completion" in this context. They could signify that once all Tree Farm infrastructure has been completed by The Tree Farm LLC, management of The Tree Farm open space and habitat shifts to the HOA, which at that point might only exist on paper. As is the case with ti e applicant's wildfire plan, the Hearings Officer finds that to be effective, the WMP must include more detail, such as an action plan that identifies specific measures addressing each residential'' lot in the WA Zone, as well as roles, responsibilities, and timing of measures to implement the ctionplan. And as with the wiiltire plan, l""find it is neither fe:r siblr nor appropriate for me to craft conditions of approval in an effort to make the applicant's proposal approvable. Tree Fara 5, 247 -14 -000250 --CU, 247-1 4-0002 5 1-1- Page 43 of 91 For the foregoing reg demonstrate the site resource values. Fl N D 1NG : sons, the Hearings Officer finds the applicant has failed to r Tree Farm 5 is suitable for the proposed use considering natural The proposed use shall be compati projected uses on surrounding pro factors listed in DCC 1 ,128. 15(A). Existing and Projected Uses. Existing discussed in the findings below. ble with existing and p erties based on the and projected uses ran surrounding properties are 1, East To the east of Tree Farms 1, 2 and 3 is vacant land zoned UAR-1O and owned by Miller Tree Farm. The Hearings Officer finds that in the short term this property could be developed with ten -acre residential ots or with smaller lots through PUD approval. In the longer term, because this property is included in the urban area reserve, it may be brought into the Bend, UGB and developed with urban -density residential uses. Farther to the east within the Bend UGB and city limits are three public schools and Northwest Crossing, a mixed-use development including urban -density residential, commercial, and light industrial development. The Hearings Officer finds these uses will continue in the future. The applicant's burden of proof states, and l agree, that the design of The Tree Farm, with its clustering of dwellings and large swaths of open space, will be compatible with surrounding lands to the east by placing the dwellings closest to the UGB and by serving as a permanent transition between the urban and urbanizable lands to the east and Shevlin Park and forest lands the west. 2. West< Immediately to the west is Shevlin Park, a 652 -acre regional park owned and managed by the park district and which includes developed amenities, large areas of open space, and an extensive trail system. To the southwest is the portion of the DNF planned and managed for scenic dews and recreation, including the "Phil's Trail" mountain biking trail network. The Hearings Officer finds it is reasonable to assume these uses will continue in the future. Farther to the west and northwest are private forest lands including the approximately 33,000 -acre Cascade Timberlands property and several smaller parcels. Evidence in the record concerning, current uses on these lands is scant, so 1 have found it appropriate, for purposes of the suitability' analysis to assume existing uses include those permitted outright in the F-1 Zone, including some timber harvest. However, I'''' am aware '''long-term plans for the Cascade Timberlands holdings have included a mix of timber production, protection of scenic views, and recreation. The Hearings Officer has found Tree Farm 5 will not cause a significant change in, or significantly increase the cost of, accepted forest practices on nearby lands devoted to forest use, However, as discussed in the findings above, I have found the applicant failed to demonstrate the site for Tree Farm 5 is suitable for the proposed cluster/PUD considering natural hazards and natural'' resource values due to deficiencies in the wildlife plan and wildfire plan. The question, then, is whether those suitability findings mean Tree Farm 5 will be incompatible with current and projected uses on public and private forest lands to the west and southwest. I find the primary concerns about incompatibility are the risk' of a fire spreading into and from The Tree Farm, and the lack of an adequate wildfire plan and implementation of that plan making that risk higher. I believe it is feasible for the applicant to develop an adequate wildfire plan, but unless and until the applicant does so, I find Tree Farm 5 is not compatible with existing and proposed uses on Shevlin Park and nearby forest lands'. Tree Farm 5, 247-14- 0250 -CU, 247-14-0002 1 -TP Page 44 of 91 3. South. To the south across Skyliners Road is The Highlands at Broken Top PUD zoned LIAR -10 and including 37 ten -acre residential lots and open space, Farther to the south is the Tetherow destination resort including residential lots, open space, a golf course and clubhouse. The Hearn gs Officer finds these uses wi11 continue in the future, although because it is zoned UAR-1O, The Highlands at Broken Top has the potential to be brought into the Bend UGB and redeveloped at urban density. I find Tree Farm 5 will be compatible with surrounding lands to the south because they are developed with uses similar to what is proposed for The Tree Farm i.e., rural residential subdivisions. 3, North. To the north are large vacant parcels zoned LIAR -10, one of which is 376 acres in size and owned by Rio Lobo. The Hearings Officer finds that in the short term these lands could be developed' with ten -acre lots or with smaller lots through, PUD approval. In the longer term, because these lands are included in the urban area reserve, they may eventually be brought into the Bend UGB and developed at urban density. Rio Lobo argues The Tree Farrn and Tree Farm 5 are not compatible with future development of its property for two reasons. First, in his letter dated December 11, 2014, Rio Lobo's attorney Myles Conway stated the applicant's proposal to create a private road system in The Tree Farm, and to stub off Sage Steppe Drive in Tree Farm 1 at the boundary of Rio Lobo's property, will not be sufficient to support additional through traffic generated by future development of Rio Lobo's land. As discussed in the findings above addressing the adequacy of transportation access, Rio Lobo's traffic engineer predicted that buildout of Rio Lobo's 376 -acre property at urban density would include 1,100 dwellings units generating over 9,000 ADTs. Mr. Conway argues Section 17,36,020(B) requires the applicant to dedicate and construct a public road from The Tree Farm's shared boundary with Rio Lobo's property to Skyliners Road to facilitate future development of Rio Lobo's property. As discussed in the Hearings Officer's decision in Tree Farm 1 and in the subdivision and PUD findings below, I have found the applicant is permitted to develop The Tree Fare with private roads. In addition, 1 have found Section 17.36.020(B) of the subdivision ordinance does not require the applicant to dedicate or construct a public road between the Rio Lobo property and Skyliners Road because none is necessary to accommodate present and future through traffic generated by The Tree Farm and/or development of Rio Lobo's property with its current UAR-10 zoning.1' Second, Mr. Conway argues The Tree Farm is not compatible with projected uses on Rio Lobo's property because the majority of Tree Farre dwellings are proposed, to be clustered along or near Rio Lobo's southern boundary, and the applicant proposes only one street connection between the properties, the future extension of Sage Steppe Drive. In his January 6, 2015 submission, Mr. Conway asserts this configuration will "adversely affect future development of the Rio Lobo property" and these proposed Tree Farm homesites "should be subjected to additional setbacks from applicant's northern property boundary to compliance with the compatibility provisions." Mr. Conway argues Tree Farms 1 through 4 must be reconfigured to provide a future road connection at least'' every 400 feet along the Rio Lobo property boundary, relying on Section 17.36.140(B)(3)(c). However, as discussed in the Hearings Officer's decision in Tree Farm 1 and in, the, findings below, 1 have found Section In a letter dated Deoeember 23, 2014, Charley Miller r=epre.serrtln9 1<>t„li r Tree LLC stated it would illing to commit to the dedication of public road right-of-way in a mutually agreed upon location across the adjacent Miller Tree Farm property in the event Rio Lobo obtains county land use approval for either a destination resort or a 37 -lot` subdivision or PUD on its adjacent property. That dedication would be to allow Rio Lobo to construct the segment of Skyline Ranch Road from the Rio Lobo property across the Miller Tree Farm property to the recently constructed NorthWast Crossing Drive/Skylir e Ranch road intersection adjacent to the new Pacific Crest Middle School. Tree Far 247 -14.000250 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 45 of 91' 17.36.14O(B)(3)(c) of the s€.€bdivision ordinance is not applicable to Tree Farm 5, and therefore the applicant is not required to provide more than one future road connection along the northern boundary of The Tree Farre, Rio Lobo's property and the vacant Miller Tree Farm property east of Tree Farm 1 are zoned UAR-1 g and abut the Bend UGB. Consequently, the Hearings Officer finds the n and>; timing of development on these two properties likely will depend on whether and when they are brought into the UGB and when Skyline Ranch Road, a designated collector, is dedicated and developed north of its current terminus near Skyliners`''Road. Annexation of these properties into the UGB could allow the irban-density development contemplated in Rio Lobo's traffic study. However, I find that as long as the properties >>remain in the urban area reserve, development will be at much tower density. The applicant's burden of proof states The Tree Farm was conceived as a permanent transition area between urban and urbanizable land to the east and Shevlin Park and large areas of forest to the west. That transition is created by clustering most of the dwellings in the UART1 O zoned portion of The Tree Farm, and placing most of the open space on the RR-1€O/VV -zoned property near Shevlin Park and forest lands. For these reasons, I find that regardless of the ultimate development density on the Rio Lobo and Miller Tree Farr properties, the transition area created by The Tree Farm cluster/PUDs will be compatible with their development. LandWatch argues the applicant rnischaracterizes The Tree Farm as a "transition area" because "there are no urban uses for a substantial''' distance to the east,"' and therefore the applicant's proposal represents "an isolated pocket subdivision that doesn't provide a transition to anything." The Hearings Officer disagrees. The properties east and north of The Tree Farm are zoned UARa1O and are planned and zoned for eventual €nclusion in the Bend UGB That these properties are undeveloped does not change the fact that they are urbanizable lands and ultimately may be developed at much higher density than The Tree Farm. Accordingly, I find the characterization of proposed The Tree Farm as a 'transition area' is accurate: For the foregoing reasons, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farb b will be compatible with existing and projected uses on surrounding lands to the north, east and south, but will not be compatible with Shevlin Park and forest lands to the west because of deficiencies in the applicant's wildfire plan and WMP. C. These standards and any other standards of DC 18.128 may be met by the imposition of conditions calculated to insure that the standard wilt be met. FINDINGS: As discussed throughout this decision, the Hearings Officer has recommended that if the applicant's proposal is approved on appeal, such approval should be subject to conditions of approval designed to assure compliance with applicable standards and criteria. F N XI 2 1. Section 18.128.040, Specific Use Sta n dare s A conditional use shall comply with the standard which` it is Located and with the st s of the zone in, anda.rtts andconditions set forth in 28.370 DCC 18.128.045 through DCC 18.1 NGS: Compliance with the specific use standards for cluster developments in Section .200 is addressed in the findings immediately below. TreeF rrr;5 , 247;x14--0 025 CU. 247> -14 -000251 -TP Page 46 of 91 Section 18A>. 8 200, Cluster Developme t (Single Family Res€d Uses Only) ential A. Such uses may be authorized as a conditional use only after consideration of the following factors: FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer finds the language of this paragraph means the factors discussed'' in the findings below do not establish specific approval standards for Tree Farm but rather identify issues 1 must consider. Need for residential uses In the irrrrr€ediate area of proposed devel 0 parent. t he FINDINGS: The applicant addressed this factor by submitting as Exhibit 'X'to the Tree Farm burden of proof reports identifying the homes, lots and land currently for sale, pending sales, and actual sales during the past 12 months in developments in close proximity to The Tree Farm, These developments include NorthWest Crossing, Shevlin Commons, The Highlands at Broken Top, Tetherovv, and >.Shevlin Meadows. The report also includes a copy of the June 12, 2014 "Bratton Report." a monthly compilation of data on residential sales complied by the Bratton Appraisal Group. The staff report summarizes the reports in Exhibit "K" as folic w's: "Out of a total of 131 listings, 81 lots have sold in the past year and nine sales, are pending. This translates to 7.5 sales per north. As of the time of the reports, fire applicant indicates a standing inventory of 41 properties on the market, or just under 5 !„4 ' months inventory. l he applicant notes that since January 2014, the number of sales and pending sales has increased to an average of nearly ten par rrnonth. Assuming current activity levels, the applicant concludes there is just over a 4 month supply of inventory on the market Out of a total of 178 single-family home list €7gs priced up to $2,000.000, 116 homes have sold in the past year and 29 are pending, absorbing inventory at just' over 12 sales per month. Standing inventory includes 33 homes on the market -- a dozen of which are either under construction or to -be -built ---providing fewer than three months of single-family homes on the market. Opponents Connie Peterson and Christine Herrick argue the applicant should have identified and addressed the need for affordable housing. The Hearings Officer understands these concerns. However, 1'''find use of the broad term "residential uses" in this factor does not specify or require analysis of any particular types of housing. For the foregoing reasons, the Hearings Officer finds the applicant has demonstrated there is a need for residential uses in the immediate area of The Tree Farm, and the proposed dwellings in Tree Farre 5 will address that need. Environmental, social and economic impacts likely to result from the development, ' including n impacts on public facilities such as schools and roads. , 247 4 -000250 -CU, 247x14- 0O2.51 -TP" Fags 47 os 91 FI N DINGS Environmental >l pacts. Tree Farm 5 is configured so the ten proposed dwellings, the open space tract, the rnul €-u€se paths, and the private roads are clustered on relatively level land near the middle of The Tree Farm in the WA ''1 0 Zone, Segments of the recreationallrnountain bike trail will be located in the open space tract. The applicant proposes to establish building envelopes on each residential lot in which dwellings must be constructed. Remaining land on the residential lots and the open space tract would be maintained in its natural state except for periodic removal of uniper trees and brush cutting required for fire fuel reduction, As discussed in the findings above, the Hearings Officer has found Tree Farm 5 will not interfere, and will be compatible, with accepted forest practices on nearby public and private forest lands. However, have the applicant failed to demonstrate the site for Tree Farm 5 is suitable for the proposed cluster/PUD considering topography, wildlife habitat and wildfire hazards. I also have found that without an adequate wildfire plan the applicant has not demonstrated The Tree Farm and Tree Farm 5 will be compatible with current and projected uses on Sheulin Park and nearby forest lands to the west. In his Decem environmenta The Tree Farm pro ber 11, 2014 letter, Paul Dewey argues the Hearings Officer should not consider impacts based on a comparison of the impacts of clustering vs. development of perty with the five dwellings that would be permitted under its current zoning, opment patterns such as a traditional subdivision with 10 -acre lots and', hout the 533 -acre property. His letter goes on to state: or with alternate deve dwellings, spread throng `There are apparently only five 'lots, so the current alternative would be five houses. Though the zoning allows a house on a 10 -acre parcel, there is no basis to conclude that 50 10 -acre lots can be created here." (Underscored emphasis, added.) The Hearings Officer disagrees. There are reasons to find a traditional subdivision with ten 10.. acre lots could be approved on each of the five Tree Farm legal lots: First, a similar' development — The Highlands at Broken Top-- was approved immediately south of The Tree Farm. Although this subdivision technically is a PUD,1 it was approved with 37 mostly ten -acre lots on land zoned UAR-10 and adjacent to a large open space area abutting the DNF. Second, traditional subdivisions do not require conditional use approval; in the RR -10 and UAR-10 Zones. They are subject to the 10 -acre minimum lot size in those zones, and to the subdivision standards in Title 17. As discussed in thefindings below concerning compliance with Title' 17, the vast majority of those standards are clear and objective design standards, The exceptions are the subjective and discretionary standards in Section 17.16.100 that require the developer to demonstrate the subdivision would establish orderly development and land use patterns in the area, provide for the preservation of natural features and resources, and not create excessive demand on public facilities and services, and utilities. l find it is possible for the applicant to satisfy those standards with conditions of approval and with the above-described revisions to its wildfire plan and WMP. Accordingly, I find there is nothing unproper in comparing the propose clusteriPUDs to the alternative of a traditional subdivision when weighing the environmental impacts of The Tree Farm and Tree Farm 5. $ The Cascade Highlands decision, included in the record as an attachment to Anthony Ragu November 17, 2014 memorandum, states the 37 lots are all about 10 acres in size (with the ex proposed Lot 22 that will be 18.05 acres)," and "the remaining acreage [approximately 20 acresl wil be platted' as a separate lot" and designated not a part" of the subdivision. Tree Farm 5. 247-14-000250- u, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Fate 48 of 91 LandWatch also argues the applicant has failed to demonstrate The Tree Farm will not have negative environmental impacts on Tumalo Creek. Again, the Hearings Officer disagrees. I find potential impacts on Tumalo Creek wouldbe limited to erosion and runoff from the west side of the central ridge into the creek, and I find the applicant's drainage plan, discussed in detail elsewhere in this decision, demonstrates runoff vvill be contained on site. Because the Hearings Officer has found the applicant failed to demonstrate the site for Tree Farm 5 is suitable for the proposed cluster/PUD considering wildlife habitat and wildfire risk, I also find the applicant failed to demonstrate Tree Farm 5 adequately considers and addresses this duster development factor. Social Impacts. The Hearings Officer has found the applicant demonstrated a need for additional residential uses on the west side of Bend that The Tree Farm will address. Tree Farm 5 will cluster ten residential lots and dwellings in the middle of The Tree Farm, close to Shevlin Park and a considerable distance from the Bend UGB and its urban development. As discussed above, l have found the proposed configuration of Tree Farm 5 will', provide a transition between the Bend urban area and the vast forested land to the west. l find the proximity of Tree Fara 5 to Sheviin Park and to the extensive "Phil's Trail" mountain biking trail network in the DNF will facilitate use of these resources by Tree Farms residents. LandWatch argues The Tree Farm will have negative social impacts on Shevlin >Park. The Hearings Officer finds this argument ignores the record. The park district submitted several comments in support of The Tree Farm. The only concerns the park district expressed were the need to refine the proposed trail alignments between The Tree Farm and Shevlin Park, and the, need to provide for off-street parking for trail' access. In his December 11, 2014 comments, Steve Jorgensen, the park district's Park and Trai Planner, stated that increasing public access to the south portion of Shevlin Park "is a positive development'' that will relieve some of the current and future demands on the limited parking areas at the north end of Shevlin Park, and will serve to discourage transient camps on the southern portion of the park. Mr. Jorgensen recommended several measures to facilitate trail access and off-street parking., These would occur on the adjacent Miller Tree Farm property.; Specifically, Mr. Jorgensen recommended the applicant dedicate a 20' -wide "re locatable `floating' public trail easement' to the park district that abuts and runs parallel to the Skyliners Road right-of-way between Crosby Drive and the proposed intersection between Tree Farm Drive and Skyliners Road. He also recommended the applicant improve a new nrtountain bike trail within that easement in order to provide a connection between the existing West Bend, Trail along Skyliners ''Road >' that terminates on the east side of Crosby Drive and the proposed trail system in The Tree Farm. The Hearings Officer found in my Tree Fara 1 decision that II lack authority to require the applicant;. to create the trail easement or improvements because the tentative plan for Tree Farm 1 indicates the easement and the improvements thereto would be located entirely within the adjacent Miller Tree Fara property. Economic Impacts. The applicant argues, and the Hearings Officer agrees, that The Tree Farm's clustered development pattern is the most cost-efficient manner in which to develop a large rural tract, and much more efficient than pts lic facilities and services to widely dispersed ten -acre lots. For example, clustering of dwellings requires shorter extensions of streets and utilities required to serve residential lots. In addition, I find that if the applicant is able Tree Farm 5, 247--14-000250-CU.l, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 49;.of to secure domestic water throug Water Com pany there will be no h connection to the City of Bend water system or the Avion s. ig need for individual on-site we Public Facilities, Comments on the applicant's proposal from Peter Russell and George Kolb indicate no improvements to existing streets or intersections are necessary. No comments on road improvements were received from the city's public works department. As discussed in the findings above concerning the adequacy of transportation access to The ''Tree Farm, the Hearings Officer has found the development will not create an undue burden on affected transportation facilities. Finally, as discussed in the findings below, incorporated by reference herein, the Hearings Officer has found that providing domestic water to The Tree Farm and Tree Farm 5 will not place an undue burden on city water facilities. Schools. The record indicates the RR 10 zoned portion of the Tree Farm, including all of Tree Farm 1, is located in the Redmond School District. The applicant's burden of proof states the applicant will request that the Bend`LaPine and Redmond school districts allow' the thirteen Tree Farnn homesites in the Redmond School 'District -- three lots in Tree Farm 4 and all lots in Tree Farm 5 -- to be transferred to the Bend -La Pine School district. As discussed,' above, three of the district's schools' -- Miller Elementary, Summit' High School, and the new Pacific Crest Middle School under construction - are located within approximately a mile of Tree Farre 5. The record indicates neither school district was asked to comment on The Tree Farm proposal. However, the Hearings Officer is aware the school districts respond to growth in student populations by expanding school' capacity and/or adjusting school boundaries, and typically' requests that private ,subdivision streets be subject to public access easements to facilitate school bus travel thereon. As discussed above, the applicant proposes to dedicate public access easements over a private Tree Farm roads. For the foregoing reasons, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 will have positive sodal and economic impacts, but €n the absence of an adequate wildfire plan and WMP, the applicant has not demonstrated Tree Farm 5 will have entirely positive environmental impacts. Effect of the level area. opment on the rural charac ter 0t the FINDINGS: Tree Farm 5 is located in a rural area west of the Bend UGB that is characterized' by: (a) large vacant parcels' zoned UAR 10 to the east and north; (b) large UAR-10 zoned parcels to the south across Skyliners Road with low-density residential development (The Highlands at Broken Top) and a destination resort (Tetherow); (c) Shevlin Park; and (d) tens of thousands of acres of public and private forest lands to the west. The Hearings Officer has, found The Tree Farm will provide a transition between the urban and urbanizable lands to the east and;, the vast resource lands to the west. The overall density of development in The Tree Farre will be the same as in The Highlands at Broken Top; The proposed configuration of The Tree Farm will cluster the majority of dwellings in the UAR-1O Zone and will locate the majority of open space in the RR -10 and WA Zones. For these reasons, I find Tree Farm 5 will be consistent with the rural character of the area, The applicant argues'The Tree Farm also wil provide econcnnic benefits byhavingthe HOA own and pR. p maintain PUD roads. thereby relieving the county of such maintenance expenses. However, in his comments on the applicant's proposal, George Kolb noted that the county no longer is accepting roads into its road maintenance network. Tree Fara >5, 247 -14 -000290 -CU, 247-14-0 x0251 -Tl Pape s0 of 91 4. Effect of the deve wild lif opment on agricultural, forestry, r other natural resource uses in the area. FINDINGS: The record indicates there are no agricultural uses in the area. As discussed in the findings above, incorporated by reference herein, the Hearings Officer has found Tree Farm 5 will not force a significant change in, or significantly increase the cost of, accepted forest practices on nearby land devoted to forest use, and will be compatible with such uses. With the exception of vegetation management for fire fuel reduction, the applicant proposes to retain all existing vegetation on The Tree Farm open space tracts as well as on the portions of the two - acre residential lots outside the designated building envelopes. The applicant proposes to site, dwellings on relatively level ground, thus minimizing the need for significant excavation and fill, and to site the private roads to minimize steep slopes and road cuts. Finally, as also discussed above, the Hearings Officer has found Tree Farm 4 will comply with all applicable requirements in the WA Zone, However, 1 have found that in the absence of an adequate wildlife habitat management and wildfire plans, the applicant has not demonstrated The Tree Farm and Tree Farm 5 will be connpat ble with nearby forest lands or with the Tumalo winter deer range; For the foregoing reasons the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 will not have a negative effect on agriculture or forestry. But 1 have found the applicant has failed to demonstrate Tree Farm 5 wilf not have a negative effect on wildlife habitat in the winter deer range. Therefore, 1 find Tree Farm 5 does not satisfy this criterion. B. The conditional use s findings are made: fell be anted u flies the folloina An development and alterations of the natural landscape, will be limited to 35 percent of the land and at least 65 percent shall be kept is open space. In cases where the natural landscape has been altered or destroyed by a prior land use, such as surface mining, dam construction or timber removal, the County may', allow reclamation and enhancement of the open space area if enhancement creates or improves wetlands, creates or improves wildlife habitat, restores native vegetation or provides for agricultural or forestry use of the property after reclamation. FINDINGS: The applicant's' burden of proof for Tree Farm, 5 indicates 87.4 of its 107.6 acres (approximately 81 percent) will be preserved as permanent open space, therefore satisfying this criterion. Tree Farm 5, 247-i4- 0250- 2., The area not dedicated to open space or common use may be platted as residential dwelling;, lots or parcels that are a mini um of two acres and a maximum of three acres in, size. Their use shall be restricted to, single-family use.Single-family use may include accessory ti yea and County authorized home occupations. Uses permitted in the open space area, may include the management of natural resources, trail systems or other outdoor uses that are consistent with the character of the natural landscape. U. 247.1€4-00 2 1 -TP Pag 51 f 91 FINDINGS: The applicant proposes that Tree Farm 5 will have ten 2 -acre residential lots with single-family dwellings constructed within designated building,, envelopes. The applicant proposes that the dedicated open space tracts will be managed for trail systems, wildlife habitat,;, and forest mangennent consistent with preservation of wildlife habitat and the reduction of fire fuels. For these reasons, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 satisfies this criterion. In the Wildlife Area Combining Zone, in addi tion to compliance with the WA zone development restrictions, uses and activities must be consistent with the required Wildlife Management > Plan. The Plan; shall be approved if it proposes all of the following in the required open space area: Preserves, protects and en fiances wild habitat for WA zone protecte specified in the County Compre (DCC Title 23); and life d species as hensiive Plan FIND lNGS: As discussed in detail in the findings above, incorporated by reference herein, the Hearings Officer has found the applicant failed to demonstrate the site for Tree Farm 5 is suitable for the proposed cluster/PUD considering wildlife habitat because the WIMP does not include sufficient information to identify how, when, and by whom the specific measures identified in the WMP will be undertaken, or the timing of those activities. For the same reasons, I find the applicant has not demonstrated the WMP satisfies this criterion b,, Prohibits golf' courses, tennis courts, ming pools, marinas, ski runs or other developed recreational uses of siliar ' intensity. Low' intensity recreational uses such as properly' located bicycle, equestrian and pedestrian traits, wildlife viewing areas and fitness courses may be permitted; and FINDINGS: The only developed recreational use the applicant proposes for Tree Farm 5 open space is the pedestrian/bicycle path and recreational trail systems. The Hearings Officer finds these are low -intensity uses permitted by this paragraph. c. Provides a supplemental, private open space area on home lots by imposing special yard setback of 100 feet on yards adjacent to required open space areas, In this yard, no structures other than fences consistent with DCC 18.88.070 may be constructed, The size of the yard may be reduced during development review if the County finds that, through the review of the wildlife management plan, natural landscape protection or wildlife values will achieve equal or greater protection through the approval of a reduced setback. In granting an adjustment, the County may require that specific building envelope be shown on the Tree E rni 5, 247`-14.00 X25 CU. 247-14-0002 -TP Page 52 of 91 final plat'' or may impose other conditions that assure the natural resource values relied upon to justify the exception to the special yard requirements will be protected. FINDINGS: The tentative plan for Tree Farm 5 shows all ten proposed lots are adjacent to the open space within the WA Zone. As discussed above, the applicant has proposed building, envelopes for all residential lots in Tree Farm 5. Those building envelopes show setbacks of at least 100 feet between the adjacent WA -zoned open space and the building envelope.; d Off-road motor vehicle use shall be pro bled n the open space area. FINDINGS: The applicant's, burden of proof states no off-road motor vehicle use will be, permitted in the, open space tracts, The Ilearin s Officer finds the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to prohibit off-road vehicle use on the Tree Farm 5'' open space tract, and to enforce that prohibition, through the development's CC&Rs. ., Adequate corridors on the cluster property to allow for wildlife passage through the development, FINDINGS: As discussed in the findings above concerning compliance with the general' conditional use standards In Chapter 18.128, the applicant's WMP identified several existing migration corridors in Tree Farm 5, including north -south corridors in the western portion and an east -west > corridor along the southern part of The Tree Farm running parallel to Skylivers Road. As discussed in the findings > above, incorporated by reference herein, the Hearings Officer has found the clustering of dwellings in Tree Farre 5 and the preservation of the open space tract preserve the existing migration corridorsl. FIN 4. Alli lots within the development shall be contiguous to one another except for occasional corridors to callow for human passage, wildlife travel, natural features such as a stream or bluff or development of property divided by a public road which shall not be wider than the average lot width, unless the 'Planning Director or Hearings Body firms that special circumstances warrant a wider corridor, DINGS: The tentative plan for Tree Farm 5 shows m contiguous exce ea Fl N rings'' Office DIN GS: Co pt for the intervening right-of-way for Gol r finds Tree Farm 4 satisfies this criterion.2° ost of the resid den Mantle Loop. Therefore, the ential lots AH 'applicable subdi'ision or partition requirements contained in DCC Title 17, the Subdivision/Partition Ordinance, shall be met< pliance with the criteria in Title 17 is addressed in the find ngs>below. 20 The record indicates the only gap between residential lots ,r thin The Tree Farm, other than thos created by roads proposed between Lot 37 in Tree Farm 4 and Lot 43 in Tree Farr Tree Farre 5, 247.14 -003250 -CU, 247.14 -000251 -TP Page 53 of The total number of units shall be establ'lshed by reference to the lot 'size standards of the applicable zoning district and combining zones. FINDINGS: The RR -10 and WA Zones establish a general density of one dwelling per ten acres. The applicant proposes ten residential lots on the 107.6 -acre Tree Farm 5 property, therefore satisfying these standards. r The open space of the proposed development shall be platted as a separate parcel or in common own ship of some or all of the clustered lots or parcels. For any open space or common area provided as a part of the cluster development, the owner shall submit proof of deed restrictions recorded in the County records. The deed restrictions shall preclude all future rights to construct a residential dwelling on the ot, parcel or tract designated as open space or common area for as long as the lot, parcel or tract remains outside an urban growth boundary. The deed shall also assure that the use of the open space shall be continued in the use allowed by the approved cluster development, plan, unless the whole development is brought inside an urban growth boundary. if open space is to be owned by a homeowner's association or if private roads are approved, a homeowner's association must be formed to manage the open space and/or road areas. The bylaws of the association must be recorded prior to or concurrent with the filing of the final plat If the open space is located within the Wildlife Area Combining Zone, the management plan for the open space must be recorded with the deed restrictions or bylaws of the homeowner's associationr< FINDINGS; The tentative plan for Tree Farm 5 shows the 87.4 acres of open space would be platted as a separate tract, The Hearings Officer the applicant will be required to show the Tree Farm 5 open space as a separate tract on the final plat as a condition of approval. The applicant submitted as Exhibit'''L» to its burden of proof a draft set of deed restrictions for the open space tracts in The Tree Farm. Those deed restrictions would prohibit development within the open space tracts for as long as The Tree Fara is located outside the Bend UGB. As discussed'' in the findings above under the ad€ninistrative rules, the Hearings Officer has found that to carry out the applicant's intent to prevent development on The Tree Farm open space tracts in perpetuity, the applicant will be required as a condition of approval, and prior to submitting for final approval'' any plat for Tree Farm development, to provide to the Planning,' Division for county review and approval a copy of the required deed restrictions, and to provide to the Planning Division copies t)f the recorded ded deed restrictions after recording: Tree Fara 5, 247-14-0 00250 U. 247'1 4-0002 1-TPPage 54 of 91 The applicant also proposes, and will be required as conditions of approval, to record the WMP' along with the required deed restrictions, to form an HOA to own and manage the open space tracts and roads within The Tree Farm, and to develop bylaws for the HOA .21 Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in other parts of the County's land use regulations, roads within a cluster development may be private roads and lots or parcels may be created that front on private roads only. These roads must rneet the private road standards of DCC Title 17, and are not subject to public road standards under DCC Title 17, An agreement acceptable to the Road Department and County Legal >>Counsel shall be required for the maintenance of private reads, Public roads may be required where street continuation standards of DCC Title 17 call for street connections and the County finds that the benefits of street extension are significant and needed in the future, given the established pattern of street development on adjoining properties and 'transportation distribution needs. The area dedicated for pubic road rights of way within or adjacent to a planned or chaster development or required by the County during cluster development review shall be subtracted from the gross acreage of the cluster development prior to calcu&atingr; compliance with open space requirements. F ND! N a. b. GS: The Hearings Officer f rids this subsection ,establishes the foll',o firrq: private roads are permitted in Tree Farm 5 private PU D roads must meet the county's private road standards; c. a road maintenance agreement acce ptable to the county t be executed; a nd d. public' roads may be required in the subdivision where: street continuation standards in Title 17 call for street connections and the county f nds the benefits of street extension are significant and needed in the future, given the established pattern of street development on adjoining properties and transportation distribution needs, 21 Exhibit "0" to the appl'icant's burden of proof indicates -the -applicant has -discussed -potential -acquisition of tl e most western open space tracts in The Tree Farm by the Trust for Public Lands to facilitate future transfer of these tracts to a public entity such as the park district or the UFS. Tree Farm open space not so transferred would continue to be mi raged by the HOA. The Hearings Officer finds that because it is likely any transfer of Tree Farris open space to another entity will require some type of land use approval e g., lot line adjustment, modification of conditions --- l need not address in this decision the legal effect of such a transfer ori conditional use approval of Tree Farm 5. Tree Fano 5, 247-14-5 00250 -CU, 247.14 -000251 -TP' Page ;of 1 The applicant proposes to construct two private roads in Tree Farm 5 - a segment of Golden Mantle Loop, and Canopy CO€.art. Golden Mantle Loop will connect with Ridgeline Drive in Tree Farm 3 which connects with Skyliners Road, Access to Skyli vers Road for Tree Farm 5 lots will be possible once the segment of Tree Farm Drive in Tree Farms 1, 2 and 3 has been constructed. The applicant proposes to improve the private roads in Tree Farm 5 in accordance with the 2O -foot -wide private road improvement standard in Title 17. The applicant proposes that all Tree Farm roads will be owned and managed by The Tree Farm HOA, and the Hearings Officer has found the, applicant will be required as a condition of approval to execute a road maintenance agreement acceptable to the county and to record such agreement prior to submitting for approval the final plat for any Tree Farm development., The record indicates there are no existing streets on surrounding lands for which a connection to allow continuation of such street is required, Section 17.36.020(E3) provides that planned' developments shall include public streets "where necessary to accommodate present and future through traffic." However, as discussed in detail'' in the findings below, incorporated by reference herein, the Hearings Officer has found this section does not require the applicant to dedicate or construct a public road from Rio Lobo's property to Skyliners Road because such a public road is not necessary to adcornr odate present and future through traffic within The Tree Fara or from the Rio Lobo property, Based on the foregoing findings, the Hearings Officer finds that with imposition of the conditions of approval described above, Tree Farm 5 will satisfy this criterion. 9. An service connect' nes ons shall be the minimuminimumlength essary and and erground where feasible. FINDINGS: The preliminary utility plan for Tree Farm 5, Exhibit "F" to the ''burden of proof, shows all new utility services will be located underground within road rights-of-way. The Hearings Officer finds this proposal will assure service connections are the minimum length necessary, therefore satisfying this criterion. 10. The number of raew dwelling units to be clustered does not exceed 10. 11 The number of new lots not exceed 10. parcels to be created does FINDINGS: The applicant proposes ten residential' lots in Tree Farm 5 clustered near the southeast corner of the development and the north -central part of The Tree Farm, therefore satisfying these criteria., 12. The development is not to be served by a new corrnunity sewer system or by any new extension of a sewer system from within an urban growth boundary or from within an unincorporated community FINDING : iAp licant>;proposes to> serve the residential lots in .l..lee Fa To 5 with individual on- site n site septic systems, therefore satisfying this criterion. Tree F 13. The develop r rent will not force a significant change in accepted farm ear fewest practices on nearby lands devoted to farm or forest use, and will not significantly 247-14 000250 -CU, 247.14-OOO251-TP Page 56 of 91 increase the cost of accepted far rr or forest practices there; FINDINGS: As discussed in detail in the findings, above concerning compliance with the applicable administrative rules in OAR 660€-664-040 and the general conditional use standards, in Chapter 18.126, incorporated by reference herein, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Fara 5 will not force a significant change in, or significantly increase the cost of, accepted farm or forest practices on nearby lands devoted to farm or forest use. 14. All dwellings in a cluster development must be setback a minimum of 100 feet from the boundary line of an adjacent lot zoned Exclusive Farm Use that is receiving special assessment for farm use. FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer finds this criterion is not applicable zoned Exclusive Parra Use (E U) adjacent to the subject property. C. An applications shall following inforrmtion be acco because there ar••e no lands panted by a plan, with the A plat map meeting all the subdivision requirements of DCC Title 17, theSubdivision/Partition Ordinance. A draft of the, deed restrictions required by DCC 18A2 8.2 0 0(B)X7)1 FlNDlNGS: The applicant submitted a tentative plan for Tree Farm 5 including a plat map showing all information required u€ der Title 17'. in addition, the applicant submitted as Exhibit „L," to the burden of proof draft deed restriction language for the open space tract. As discussed in the findings above, the Hearings Officer has found the applicants; will be required to submit for county review, and to record, deed restrictions that permanently prohibit development on these tracts. For these reasons, and with imposition of the conditions of approval described above, l find Tree Farm 5 satisfies this criterion, 3. A written document establishing ars acceptable homeowners association assuring the maintenance of common property, if any, in the development. The document shall include a method for the resolution of disputes, by the association membership, and shall be included as part of the bylaws. FINDINGS: The applicant submitted as part of Exhibit "L°' t CC&Rs and HOA bylaws, therefore satisfying this criterion. Tree Pyr rr;; 247-14-0 Tree Farm 5 burden of proof In the WA Combining Zone, the applicant shall subrrat an evaluation ` of the property with a WU:ldlifa Management plan for the open space area, prepared by a wild! fe biologist that Includes the following; 25O CU. 247-14-0 2 A description of the condition of the property and the current ability of the property to Page 57 o 9;< support use of the open space area by wildlife protected by the applicable WA zone during the periods specified in the domprehen iie plan; and A description of the protected species and periods of protection identifiedby the comprehensive plan and the current use of, the open space area; and A € sanagement plan that contains prescriptions, that will achieve compliance with the wildlife' protection guidelines in the comprehensive plan. in overlay zones that are keyed to seasons or particular times of the year, restrictions or protections may vary based on the time of year. The management plan may also propose protections or enhancements of benefit to other types of wildlife that may be considered in weighing use impacts versus plan benefits, FINDINGS: The applicant submitted a WMP as Exhibit 1" to the Tree Farm 5 burden of proof. Based on the findings above, incorporated by reference herein, the Hearings Officer finds the WMP contains the information required in this subsection. 5. Photographs and a narrative description of the natural landscape features of the open space areas o the subject property. if the features are to be removed or developed, the applicant shall explain why removal is appropriate. FINDINGS: The, applicant's burden of proof includes ,>aerial ;,photographs >of The Tree Farm and surrounding property as well as a narrative description of the natural landscape features and proposed open space areas in Tree Farre 5. The applicant does not propose to introduce any landscaping, or to remove any existing landscape features ;in the open space areas except as necessary for ongoing fire fuels treatment, However, as discussed in the findings above the Hearings Officer has found the VVMP is deficient in not addressing potential impacts to wildlife habitat from more aggressive fire fuel treatments that may be necessary to protect ridgetop dwellings. Therefore, l'find the applicant has not fully satisfied this criterion. 6 A description of the forestry or agricultural' u proposed, if any. ses FINDINGS: The applicant's burden of proof states no agricultural uses are proposed for Tree Fara 5, and that the only forestry uses proposed are fire fuels reduction treatment to reduce *viidfi e risk and to ;mprove wildlife habitat. For the foregoing reasons, the Hearings Officer f information required by these criteria. d's the Tree Farre Dimensional Standard Tree Farm 5, 247--14-OOO25O--CU , 24T 4- 00251 -TP s: proposal provides al' Page 58 of 91 Setbacks and height limitations shall be as prescribed in the zone in which the development is proposed unless adequate justification for variation is provided the Planning Director or Hearings;,, Body. FINDINGS: The setback and height limitations in the RR -10 Zones are did in the findings above and below. The Hearings Officer has found the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to meet these standards for the dwellings in Tree Farm 5. FlNDlN Minimum area determined by t for a cluster developrsent s he zone in which it is proposed. hal be GS: The 107,6 -acre Tree Farm 5 meets the 40 -acre rr€lr€itr€uM size for duster develo develo pments in the WA Zone. The RR -10 Zone does establish a minimum size for duster pments Conditions for phased development shall be specified and performance bonds shall be required by the Planning Director or Hearings Body to assure completion of the project as stipulated, if required improvements are not completed prior to platting. FINDINGS: The applicant does not propose to develop Tree Farm 5 i€1 phases, and therefore the Hearings Officer finds this criterion is not applicable. However, as discussed above, the applicant proposes to develop Tree Farms 1; 2 and 3 concurrently' to provide road access for all residential lots in those developments. I have found such concurrent development will be required as a condition of approval for Tree Farms 1, 2 and 3. F. Developments with private ro pedestrian facilities that corn requirements of Title 17. ds s hal provide bicycle and ply with the private road FINDING The applicant' proposes to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic via a network of paved multi -use trails and native surface €recreational mountain biking trails. The applicant > proposes that only the southern portion of Tree Farm Drive would be designed to accommodate bicycle traffic on its paved s€rface. All other paved paths would run parallel to, but be separate from, the cluster/FUD roads. The applicant' proposes, and will be required as a condition of approval; to construct all subdivision roads with the applicable standards' in Title 17 for local public and private roads Bicycle and pedestrian connections shall be provided at the ends of cul-de-sacs, at mid -block, between subdivision plats, etc., in the following situations. Connections shall have a 2O foot right of way, with at least a 10 -foot wide useable surface, shall be as straight as possible, and shall not be mom than 400 feet long. Where the addition of a connection will reduce the walling or cycling distance to an existing or planned, transit stop, .school, shopping center, or neighborhood Tree Farm, 5, 247 -14 -000250 -CU 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 59 of 91 FIND NO : The ap Plan" that shows fo park by availbl 400 feet and by at least 50 e routes. pe rcent ove other For schools or commercial uses where the addition of a connection will reduce the walking or cycling distance to an existing or planned transit stop, school, shopping center, or n lghborhood park by 200 feet or by at least 50 percent over other available routes. For cul de sacs or dead end streets where a street connection is determined by the Hearings Officer or Planning Director to be unfeasible or inappropriate provided that a bicycle or pedestrian connection is, not required where the logical' extension of the road that terminates in a Gaal de sac or dead end street to the nearest boundary of the development will not create a direct connection to an area street, sidewalk or bikeway. The County may approve a 'cluster development without bicycle or pedestrian connections if connections interfere with wildlife passage through the subdivision, harm wildlife habitat or alter land cape approved for protection in its natural state. plicant submitted as Exhibit "C" to its burden of proof for Tree Farm 5 a "Trail u r types of trails within the Tree Farm: 1. a 10 -foot -wide paved section of Tree, Farm Drive from Skyllners Road to a point in Tree Farm 3; 2. several 8 -foot -wide "neighborhood trails" running along the private Tree Farre roads; 3. recreation/mountain bike trails leading across the open s of The Tree Farm and connecting with the existing trail' syst pace in the RR-10NVA zoned portion em in Shevlin Park; and 4, existing "perimeter 'trails"' with "native surface" traversing the open space in the IRR-10MIA zoned portion of The Tree Farm betwee€ Shevlin Park and the top of the central ridge on The Tree Farm property. The tentative plan for Tree Farm 5 shows no cul-de-sacs. Therefore, the Hearings Officer finds no mid -block bicycle connections are required in Tree Farm 5. I found in my Tree Farm 1 decision that construction of a bicycle and pedestrian connection from the cul-de-sac on Rideline Court to the nearby schools and beyond to the retail' and park uses in NIorthWest Crossing would,require crossing the adjacent Miller Tree Farm property to the southeast which is not a part of the proposed Tree Farm development. For this reason, I found in my Tree Farm 1 decision that a bicycle and pedestrian connection at the end of Ridg line Court is infeasible and inappropriate. In my decision in Tree Farm 3, I found a bicycle and pedestrian connection at the cul-de-sac end of Canopy Court is infeasible and inappropriate in light of the lack of through- street connections in the vicinity. However, I note the proposed trail system in The, Tree Farm ,ill connect the Canopy Court cul-de-sac to Shevlin Park and to the DNF to the west. Tree Farm 5, 247-14-00025 0-CLJ 247-1 4--000 0251 -TP Pa 8 60` of A Conditions of Approval Agreement for the cluster development shall be recorded prior to or concurrent with the final plat for the development. FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer finds the applicant grill be required as a condition of a to record a Conditions, of Approval Agreement in accordance with this paragraph. For the foregoing reason satisfy all applicable condi D. Title 17 of the pproval s, the Hearings Officer has failed to demonstrate Tree Farm will tional use criteria in Chapter 18.128. Deschutes County Cod SUBDIVISION STANDARDS Fl N DIN 1, Chapter 17.16, Ap Dev&iopment, plans GS: P e, the Subd ivision/Partition Ordinance' oval of Subdivision Section 17.16A00, Required Find gn Tentative Plans and Master cgs for Approval A tentative plan for a proposed subdivision shall not be approved unless the Planning Director or, Hearings Body finds that the subdivision as proposed or rrmodified will meet the requirements of this title and Titles 18 through 21 of this code, and is in compliance with the comprehensive plan. Such findings shall include, but not be limited to, the following: A. The, subdivision >.contributes to orderly development and land' use patterns n the area, and provides for the preservation of natural features and resources such as streams, lakes, natural vegetation, special terrain features, agricultural and forest ands and other natural resources. Orderly Development and Land Use Patterns in the Area. The applicant proposes to develop Tree Farm 5 as cluster/PUD with an overall density of one dwelling;, per ten acres as permitted in the RR -10 Zone. This density is the same as that in The Highlands at Broken Top PUD located south across Skyliners Road, However, unlike that development with 37 ten -acre lots and dwellings scattered throughout the 390 -acre site, Tree Farm 5 would have 2 -acre residential' lots clustered In the north -central part of The Tree Farre in order to preserve a large tract of open space. Tree Farm dwellings' would be sited within designated building envelopes, retaining the rest of the lots in native vegetation._ As discussed above, the applicant intends The Tree Farm to provide a permanent transition between urban and urbaniable 'land to the east and Shevdin Park and vast public and private forest lands to the west, The also applicant intends that The Tree Farm never will be annexed Into the Bend UB or redeveloped. PUD roads would connect with Skyl`€ners Road, and eventually with roads developed on the 'Rio Lobo property to the north and the Miller Tree Farm property to the east. As also discussed above, the Hearings Officer has found affected transportation facilities will continue to operate at acceptable levels of service with the addition of traffic generated by The Tree Farr. Each residential lot will be served by an on-site septic system and domestic water from the City of Bend, Avion, or Tree Farre 5, 247-14-0 00250 -CU, 247-14-0 00251 -TP Page 61' of 91 groundwater wells. For these reasons, I find and land use patterns in the area: Tree Farr 5 wi' con tri bute to orderly development, Preservation of Natural Features and Resources. Natural features and resources on Tree Farm 5 consist of topography, native vegetation, and wildlife habitat. As discussed above the applicant has proposed cluster/PUDs in order to maximize open space and to preserve native vegetation. Residential' lots will be locatedon relatively level'' land on or near the central ridge on the property, minimizing the need for grading and filling, and PUD roads will follow, the site's, existing contours minimizing the need for steep road cuts or slopes. As also discussed above, the applicant proposes to protect the deer winter range habitat on The Tree Farre and Tree Farrn 5 by clustering most of the dwellings outside the winter range, creating gaps between clusters of dwellings where there are existing deer migration corridors, and preserving native vegetation except where removal or modification is necessary for fire fuel treatments or to enhance wildlife habitat. However, as discussed in the findings above, the Hearings Officer has found the applicant failed to demonstrate The Tree Farm and Tree Farm 5 will be compatible with Shevlin Park and forest lands to the west because its wildfire plan is inadequate. I also have found the applicant failed to demonstrate The Tree Farm and Tree Farm 5 will adequately protect winter deer range if more aggressive fire fuel treatments, such as clearing of slopes on the lots and/or in the open space tracts, are required to reduce the risk of fire for ridgetop dwellings such that Tree Farm 5 is suitable for the proposed custerlPUD and is compatible with surrounding lands. For the same reasons, 1 find the applicant has not demonstrated Tree Farm 5 will provide for the preservation of natural features and resources, FIN DING The subdivision will not create excessive demand on public facilities and services, and utilities required to serve the d evldprnenta S. The public facilities and services req treatment, water, roads, electricity, natural g as, >tele protection. Each of these is addressed below u i red, by Tree Farm 5 include sewage phone and cable service, and police and fire Sewage Treatment. The applicant proposes to serve the residential lots with individual on-site septic septic systems. The applicant submitted `> as Exhibit ''"F" to the Tree Farm 5 burden of proof a septic suitability study showing the soils on Tree Fare 5 are suitable for installation of on-site septic systems. The Heanngs Officer finds the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to obtain an approved septic site evaluation for each residential lot in Tree Farm 5 prior to final plat approval: Water. The applicant proposes to provide domestic water to the residential lots in Tree Farm through one of three options: (1) extending and connecting to City of Bend water service as proposed in the applicant's Preliminary Utility Plan; (2) extending and connecting to Avion Water Company facilities; or (3) utilizing one or more individual wells on The Tree Farm property andror the adjacent Miller Tree Farm property. As discussed in the findings above, incorporated by reference herein, the Hearings Officerhas found the city's water system will have adequate capacity to serve the residential lots in Tree Farm 5, and with the water facilities proposed by the applicant, including 12 -inch and 24 inch water mains and pressure pumps at each -lot, the city's water system will provide adequate pressure and fire flow at each lot. Therefore, l find providing domestic water to The Tree Farm and Tree Farm 5 will not create excessive demand on the city's water system. However, I have found that if the applicant does not obtain city water service for The Tree Farr, it will be requ red as a condition of approval, and before submitting for approval the final plat for any Tree Fa m development, to provide to the Planning Division a Tree Farre 5, 247 -:4 -000250 -CU _53 -TP Page 62of91 water system analysis prepared by a registeredprofessional engineer, demonstrating whatever alternate source of domestic water is chosen will provide each residential lot with at least 40 psi of water pressure at peak periods, 20 psi residual water pressure, and at least 2,000 gpm for fire flow' Roads. As discussed in the findings above, incorporated by reference herein, the Heanngs Officer has found from the applicant's traffic study that the addition of traffic generated by the 50 proposed dwellings for The Tree Farm will not cause any affected transportation facilities to operate below acceptable levels of service at buildout; and in the years 2017 and 2022 with the addition of future traffic. Neither the road department nor the city identified the need for additional right -of --way, or improvements to affected transportation facilities. Electricity. The applicant submitted a will -serve letter from 'Pacific Power for electric service in Exhibit 'G" to the Tree Farm 5 burden of proof. Natural Gas. The applicant submitted a will -serve,; letter from Cascade c e in Exhibit "G" to the Tree Parra 5 burden of proof. Natural Gas for gas' Telephone. The applicant submitted a will -serve letter from CenturyLink for telephone service in Exhibit "G" to the Tree Farm 5 burden of proof, Cable. The applicant submitted a will -serve letter from Bend Broad Exhibit "G" to the Tree Para 5 burden of proof, band for cable service in Police, Police protection will, be provided by the Deschutes County Sheriff. Fire Protection. Fire protection will be provided by the City of Bend Fire Department. In his September 2, 2014 comments on the applicant's proposal, Deputy Bend Fire Chief/Fire Marshal Larry Medina identified a number of Oregon Fire Code (OFC) provisions applicable to The Tree Farm. These corn lents can be summarized as follows: 1. Standards for fire apparatus access roads. The OFC requires that fire apparatus access roads: (at extend within 150 feet of all buildings; (b) have an unobstructed width of at least 20 feet; (c) have unobstructed vertical clearance of at least 13 feet 6 inches; (d) be designed and maintained with an all-weather surface that can support vehicles weighing 60,000 pounds; (e) have a grade not exceeding 10 percent; and (f) if gated, have a "Knox Key Switch' operable by the fire department. The Hearings Officer finds the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to design and construct all roads in Tree Fara 3 and the, gated temporary emergency access road in compliance with these standards. 2. Standards for fire protection water supplies. The OFC requires that The Tree Farm have an approved water supply capable of supplying the required fire flow for fire protectian to buildings,' the adequacy to be determined "by an approved method" The OFC also requires that the applicant provide documentation of adequate fire flow to the fire department prior to fine approval of the water supply system. The OFC states installation of fire hydrants along fire apparatus access roads may be required -by the fire code official. »Finally the OFC states that if fire hydrants are installed they must be no farther than 400 feet apart. As discussed in detail in the findings above, incorporated;;, by reference herein. the Hearings Officer has found the city's water supply analysis shows extension of and connection to its water facilities can provide fire flow of 2,000 gpm at each residential lot, the minimum flow prescribed Tree Far# 5. 247 1 4-000250-C 24? -1 4-000251-T Page 63 by the city, In addition, the applicant's Pre liminary Utility Plan diag ram, included in Exhibit "E" to the Tree Farm 5 burden of proof, shows fire hydrants placed at 40 0 -foot intervals along all PUD roads abutting the residential lots. As also discussed above, the Hearings Officer has found that f the applicant''' does not secure city water service for The Tree Farm, the applicant will be required as a condition of approval, and prior to submitting for approval the final plat for any Tree Fara development, to provide to the Planning Division a water system analysis from a registered professional engineer demonstrating the alternate water system will provide at each residential lot water pressure of 40 psi during peak periods, 20 psi residual water pressure, and at least 1000 gpnn for fire flow. 3, Other fire service features,. The OFC requires that each dwelling in Tree Farm address number placed on a monument, pole or other sign so that it is plainly visible private road. The Hearings Officer finds the applicant will be required as a condition of a to provide address numbers as required by the OFC. have an from the For the foregoing reasons, and with imposition of the conditions of a the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 will not create excesslve de services and unlit€es required to serve the, development.,; pproval pproval described above, mand on public facilities The tentative plan for the props sed subdivision meets the requirements of Oregon Revised Statutes Section 92W090. FINDINGS: ORS 92.090(1) states a new subdivision can only use the same name if it is a continuation of an existing subdivision, with a sequential numbering system, and must either be platted by the same party or have the consent, of the previous party. The applicant is requesting approval of five separate but interconnected ten -lot clusteriUDs to be known as Tree Farms 1 through 5, with the overall project to be known as The Tree Farm. The Hearings Officer finds this subdivision name plan conforms to Subsection (1) of the statute. Subsection (2) of this statute requires that roads be laid out to conform with existing plats on adjoining property, that streets and roads hell for private use are clearly indicated on the tentative plan, and that all reservations or restrictions relating to such private roads and streets are set forth on the plat. The Hearings Officer finds there are no adjoining plats with which The Tree Farm must conform. As discussed above, Sage Steppe Drive is proposed to be dedicated to the public in order to provide a future road connection with the undeveloped UAR zoned parcels to the north. The remainder of the PUD roads would be private but would be subject to public access easements. The Hearings Officer finds the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to show all public easements on the final plat for Tree Farm 5. I find that with imposition of this condition of approval, Tree Farm 5 will comply with;;, Subsection (2), Subsections (3), (4) to Tree Farm 5. and (5) of the statute relate to final platting and therefore are For subdivisions rr portions thereof' pro Surface Mining, Impact Area (SMA) zone und Deschutes County Code FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer finds this crite property is not located within a SMIA Zone. Tree Fared 5, 247.14-0002 o -c 24.7.1 4-00 0251 -TP rion not a plica not a pplicable posed w er Title ble beca use hin of the he subject Page 64 f The subdivision ria Surveyor, e has been approved '''by the County FINDINGS: Exhibit °P" to the Tree Fere 5 burden of proof indicates the proposed names for The Tree, Farm cluster; PUDs have been approved by the County Surveyor, therefore satisfying this criterion. Section 17.16.105, Access to u bdlvisions No proposed subdivision shell be approved unless, it will be accessed by roads constructed to County standards and by roads accepted for maintenance responsibility by a unit of local or state government. This standard is met if the subdivision will have direct access to an improved collector or arterial, or in cases where the subdivision has no direct access to such a collectoror arterial, buy demonstrating that the road accessing the subdivision from collector or arterial Beets relevant County standards and has been accepted for mail tenan a purposes. FINDINGS: Access to Tree Farm 5 wlt road improved to the county's collector satisfying this criterion. be from Skyliners Road, 'a designated county collector road standards and maintained by the county therefore Section 17.11 .115,, Trac l P Guidelines for Traffic >>1 act Studies pact Studies The follovving vehicle trip generation thresholds shall determine the level and scope of transportation analysis required for a new or expanded development T raffia 1 m pact Analysis (TIA): if t he development or change in use will generate more than 200 trip ends and 20 or more PM peak hour trips, then a Traffic' Impact Analysis (TIA) shall be required FINDINGS: The applicant submitted a traffic study prepared by Kitteison' & Associates, included' in the record as Exhibit "H' to the burden of proof for Tree Farm 5. The traffic study was :submitted bee use the applicant's traffic 'engineer predicted trafficgenerated by the 50 �w,e1ti€cgs €n The Tree Fara would generate over 400 trip ends. The traffic study concludes traffic generated by The Tree Farm will not exceed the capacity of affected transportation facilities at buildout, or in 2017 and 2022 with the addition of other traffic from the surrounding area. The traffic study also found that no additiona'l right-of-way or improvements are required, and neither Tree Farm 5, 247-1€4-0 t 250 , 247r 14- 0251 -TP" Page 65 of 91 the road department nor the city indicated the need for addition right -of -may or im Therefore, the Hearings Officer finds the applicant's proposal satisfies this criterion. Cha pter 17.36, Design Standa Section t 7.36.02 rd s , Streets proverr€ents. A. The location, width and grade of streets shal',l be considered in their relation to existing and planned streets, topographical conditions, public convenience and safety, and the proposed use of land to be served by the streets. The street system shatassure an adequate traffic circulatiori system for all modes of transportation, includ automobiles, with intersection a curves appropriate for th the terrain. The su ing pedestrians, bicycles and co subd ad�o shat for streets set forth 1 ngles, grades, tangents > and e traffic to be carried, considering bdivision or partition shall provide for the ntin ation of the principalstreets existing in the adjoining ivlsion or partition or of their property projection when ring property which is not subdivided, and such streets be of a width not less than the minimum requirements n DCC 17.36. FINDINGS. The applicant proposes to construct all Tree Farm roads in conformance with the applicable county local road standards - i.e., the public local road standards for Sage Steppe Drive, and the private local road standards for the private roads in Tree Farm 5. The proposed road layout generally follows the topographical contours of The Tree Farm and Tree Farm 5, and will provide direct access to each proposed residential lot. Separate multi -use paths are proposed along all new roads to provide adequate circulation for bicycles and pedestrianand>' adequate separation from vehicular traffic. There are no principal streets in adjoining partitions or subdivisions that require the continuation of those streets into Tree Farm 5. No alterations to road layout or design were identified by the road department. For these reasons, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 satisfies this criterion. B Streets in subdivisions shall be dedicated to the public, unless located in a destination resort, planned community or planned or 'cluster development, where roads can be privately, owned. Panned- developments shall include public streets where necessa to accornrodate, «resent and future throas:h traffic. (Em ph asis a dded.) FINDINGS With the exception of Sage Steppe Drive, the roads in The Tree Farm would be private roads as permitted for cluster/PUDs. Sage Steppe Drive would have a dedicated 60 -foot right-of-way to facilitate a future public road connection between the Rio Lobo property and Skyliners Road or Crosby Road at such time as the Miller Tree Farm property is developed. The appl'icant has proposed an interim gated secondary emergency access road from the southern terminus of Sage Steppe Drive through the adjacent Miller Tree Farm property to Crosby Drive The, applicant states all private roads within The Tree Farm -will -be -subject to public access easements to be shown on the final plats for The Tree Farm L' 22 In > his January 6, 2015 letter on behalf of Rio Loco, Miles > Conway states the applicant is offering. only a temporary' public access easement over the system of Tree Farre roads, and therefore The Tree Farm HOA, which would own and manage the subdivision roads, could erect barriers to 'through traffic" Rwithin Tree Farm 5, 247 -14 -000250 -CU 247 -14 -000251 -TFC` Page 66 of 91` In his August 28, 2014 comments on the applicant's proposal, George Kolb stated that Paragraph (B) of this section requires the applicant to dedicate 60 feet of right-of-way for, and improve to the county's pudic road standards, a public road from the northern boundary of The Tree Farm to Skyliners Road. This argument also was made by Peter Russell and by Miles Conway on behalf of opponent Rio Lobo, In his December 19, 2014 memorandum, Mr. Russell suggested the applicant be required to dedicate to the public and improve to public road standards all of Tree Farm Drive, the southern portion of Golden Mantle Loop, and all of Ridgeline>Drive as the "primary access road" for The Tree Farm. Mr. Conway argued that this paragraph requires the applicant to dedicate to the public not only to provide for through traffic from development on the RioLobo property, but also to accommodate through traffic within The Tree Farm itself. Both Mr. Conway and Mr. Russell argue the language in Paragraph (B) provides no discretion to deviate from the public road dedication requirement. The Hearings Officer disagrees. I find the plain language of this paragraph makes dear the public road requirement is contingent on a finding that such a road is "necessary to accommodate present and future through traffic." In his December 30, 2€ 14 memorandum, Jeffrey Condit argued the dedication of public road right-of- way does not meet this "necessity" test. Mr. Condit argues a requirement that all PUD roads, and/or the proposed secondary access road, be dedicated to the public would constitute an unconstitutional "taking" under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as interpreted in Nollan v, California Coastal Commission„ 483 US 825, 107 S Ct 3141, 97 L Ed 2d 677 (1987), Dolan vCity of Tigard, 512 US 374. 114 S Ct 2309, 129 L Ed 2d 304 (1994), and Schultz v. City of Grants Pass, 133 8 Ct 2586, 186 L Ed 2d 697 (2813). Specifically, he argues such a requirement would not meet the "essential nexus/roughly proportional" test articulated in the above cases: He also asserts the county cannot require public road dedication through the adjacent Miller Tree Farm property because the county has no jurisdiction over that property. In response, LandWatch argues the Miller Tree Farm property is subject to the county's jurisdiction because the applicant proposed the secondary emergency access road across that property, and Miller Tree Farm owns both the adjacent property and The Tree Farm. The Hearings Officer disagrees. The applicant proposed off-site road improvements to which the off-site property owner consented. I find that proposal does not confer jurisdiction on the county to require public dedication and improvement of''that off-site road without the off-site property owner's consent. At most, I have authority to deny an application if I find an off-site road improvement were required for the proposal to meet the applicable>. approval criteria and no such offsite improvement were proposed. Even assuming r; for purposes of discussion that the Hearings Officer has jurisdiction to require the public dedication of the proposed secondary access road, I agree with Mr: Condit that such a requirement — or a requirement to dedicate to the public the Tree Farm Roads identified by Mr, Russell does not have a sufficient nexus with, and is not roughly proportional to, traffic impacts from The Tree Farm development. 1 agree with Mr. Condit's analysis, set forth in his December 30, 2014 letter as follows: the subdivision. Mr. Conway is mistaken. The applicant's burden proof for Tree Farm 5 makes clear the public access easements for Tree Farm roads will be per€manent. For example, the Tree Farm 1 burden of proof states at page 54 that the private streets would have "public access to be dedicated _ with the final plat." (Emphasis added.) It is the easement across the Miller Tree Farm property for tile, secondary emergency access road that will be "interim`" until such time as the Miller Tree Farm property is developed with public` roads that will connect Sage Steppe Drive and Skyliners Road Tree F rr 5, 247.14 -000250 -Cd, 247.14 -000251 -TP Page 67 of 91 '74 public street is not necessary to accommodate the through traffic that would be generated by development of the Rio Lobo property under the existing UAR- 10'' zoning. Attached as Exhibit 4 is a December 29, 2014 analysis provided by Joe Bass€ran PE, of Kitteison responding to Rio Lobo's December 11, 2014, testimony prepared by Marten Law and Lancaster Engineering ('Kittelson Memo). The Kitteison Memo confirms that the boa/ street system proposed by the Applicant is more than sufficient to accommodate the development of up to 37 single-family home sites on the Rio Lobo Property.1 As the County notes, `[tJhe transportation effects [on the surroundingstreet system] of suchnc�€al fel development would be de €ninim€is.' Rio Lobo argues that `future through traffic' has to include consideration of the potential development of the Rio Lobo property as a destination resort or as urban development. The County correctly rejects such development as too speculative to require the Applicant to address it as part of this application. Developrnent of the Rio Lobo property as a destination resort would require compliance with the multiple criteria of DCC Chapter 19,106, which, at minimum, would require a new traffic impact analysis and approval of a Master Plan. Most significantly, as noted in the Kitteison Memo, DCC 19.106.0060(C) requires all destination resorts to '`have direct access onto a state, county, or city rial or collector roadway as designated by the Bend Area General Plan;' As discussed in more detail below, the only designated collector or arterial to which the Rio Lobo property currently has direct access is the future extension of Skyline Ranch Road. A destination resort on the Rio Lobo property would be prohibited from taking indirect access via a Sage Steppe road extension over The Tree Farm and Miller Properties unless and until Rio Lobo seeks and obtains an amendment to the Bend Area General Plan to designate such a roadway as a collector." Because such an amendment would have to be based on a demonstrated need, at a minimum it would have to occur in conjunction with an actual application for a destination resort. Rio Lobo has submitted no evidence that such an application is imminent, viableor would otherwise be compliance with Chapter 19.106. Although UAR-10 zoning does anticipate eventual urbanization, urbanization of the Rio Lobo property requires subsequent legislative decisions by the City and the County in compliance with state law, and would' bring the property under the City's transportation jurisdiction, It also, as noted by Kittelson, would require an amendment to the BUAGP transportation system plan, which would require a needs analysis for urbanization of all the newly added properties." There are thus multiple future opportunities to obtain the necessary connections ire the event the properties are added to the UB. Such ve fut€yre development does not justify imposition of a can( tion requiring, the Applicant to dedicate additional right-of-way or construct a street' under the County Code or the Takings Clause as interpreted in Schultz. The Applicant has addressed the impacts on future connectivity that arise from its development by providing', for and dedicating Sage Steppe right-of-way. That Trey; 'Fara 5, 247.14-00025 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 6 of 91 right-of-way will be available for use at such time as Rio Lobo andioiller Tree Farm properties are developed and the requirement for its dedication and, construction can be imposed at that time. The fact that Rio Lobo may have to await development of the Miller Property for the connection to Skyliners Road to be dedicated and constructed puts Rio Lobo in no different position than it is in now. indeed, the dedication of Sage Steppe ensures that a connection will occur at this point pursuant to DCC 17.36.02O(B) when development of the Miller Property.. occurs. For these reasons, dedication of the Sage Steppe right-of-way by the Applicant addresses the future connectivity impacts on surrounding properties that arise from the development of the Tree Farm property. No additional exactions are warranted under the Takings Clause. 1 3indeed,< the County is only requesting dedication of additional right- ofway; it is not requesting any change in the construction of the street system. The requirements for local public streets and local private streets are virtually the same. See DCC Chapter Table. '°Given the rotative location of the Rio Lobo, property vis-a-vis the Miller Property and the Anderson Ranch property [located north of the Rio Lobo property], which are directly adjacent to the current Bend city limits, the Rio Lobo property is unlikely to be added to the Bend UGB unless or until (or after) the Miller and Anderson larch properties are added." The Hearings Officer finds Section 17.36,020(B) does not require the applicant to dedicate a public road — either off-site or within The Tree Farm — as part of The Tree Farm development in order to provide access from the Rio Lobo property to Skyliners Road be Section 17.6.040. Ex sting Streets Whenever existing streets, adjacent to or within a tract, are of inadequate width to accommodate, the increase in traffic expected from the subdivision or partition by the county roadway network pan, additional rights of way shall be provided at the titre of the land division by the applicant. Durng consideration of the tentative plan for the subdivision or partition,, the Planning Director or Hearings Body, together with the public Works Director, shall determine whether improvements to existing streets adjacent to or within the tract, are required, if so determined, such improvements, shall be required as a'condition of approval for the tentative plan, Improvements to adjacent streets shall be required where traffic on such streets will be directly affected by the proposed subdivision or partition., FINDINGS: There are no existing streets adjacent to Tree Officer finds this criterion is not applicable to Tree Farre 5. ca ection 17.3 6.050, Contin Farm ation of Stree 5 an d h erefore h eH earngs Subdivision or partition streets which constitute the continuation of streets in contiguous territory shall be aligned so that their centerlines coincide. Tree Farm 5, 247 -14 -000250 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 59 of 91 FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer finds this criterion is not applica no streetssssthat would constitute a continuation of other streets. Secti on 17.36 06 0p: M inirrrum Rig ble becau htofWay a nd se Tree Farm5 has Roadway Width The street right of way and roadway surfacing widths shall be in conformance with standards and specifications set forth in chapter 17.48 of this title. Where chapter 17.48 refers to street standards found in a zoning ordinance, the standards in the zoning ordinance shall prevail FINDINGS: The applicant proposes to improve all cluster/PUD roads to the county's standards for pub lic>>and private local roads and to improve them with 20 feet of paved surface as provided in Table A of Title 17, As discussed above, the applicant proposes that all private PUD roads be subject to public access easements, and the Hearings Officer has found that as a condition of approval the applicant will be required to show those easements on the final plats for The Tree Farm. For these reasons, I find Tree Farm 5 satisfies this criterion; s ecti on 17.3 6.070 Future Resubd ivision Where a tract of land is divided into lots or parcels of an a more, the Hearings Body may require an arrangement of ots or parcels and streets such as to permit future resubdivision Ire conformity to the street requirements contained in this title. OF` FINDINGS: : The applicant's burden of proof for Tree Farm 5 states the applicant intends that The Tree Farm never will be annexed into the Bend UGB or redeveloped, The applicant has proposed deed restrictions for The Tree Fara open space tracts that would preclude further division or development thereof. However, as discussed in the findings above, the Hearings Officer has required the applicant as a condition of approval to provide to the Planning Division for its review, and to record revised deed restrictions that provide for permanent preservation of The Tree Farm open space tracts. For these reasons, and with imposition of that condition of approval, I find it is not necessary or appropriate to require an arrangement of lots in Tree Farm 5 permitting future resubdivision, f. Section 17.6 080, Future Extension of Streets When necessary to give acce division of adjoining land, strew of the subdivision or partition. ss to or permit a satisfactory future ts shall be extended to the boundary FINDINGS: Sage Steppe Drive will be dedicated to the public and will be stubbed off at the northern boundary of Tree Farm 1 in order to provide a future road connection to the vacant UAR-10 Rio Lobo property to the north. The Hearings Officer has found the applicant is not requ \ l \ \ 1 ; \ \ \ \ \ \ ` 1 \ 1 \ \ ed off_ site secondary emergency access road, to accommodate future, through traffic fro ,rn the Rio Lobo pro perty. For these reasons, l' find Tree Farm 5 satisfies this criterion g. Section 17.3 6 10 0, Frontage Roads Tree Farm 5, 247.'14•-00 25O -CU, 247-14-00025 TP Page 70 at 91 If a land division abuts or contains an existing or proposed collector or arterial street, the Planning Director or Hearings Body may require frontage roads, reverse frontage lots or parcels with suitable depth, screen planting contained in a non -access reservation along the rear or side property line, or other treatment necessary for adequate protection of residential properties and to afford, separation of through and local traffic, An, frontage roads shall comply with the applicable standards of Table A of DCC Title 17, unless specifications included in a particular zone provide other standards applicable to frontage roads, FINDINGS: ; Tree Farm 5 does not abut Skyline€rs Road, a designated county collector, r therefore the Hearings Officer finds this criterion is not applicable to Tree Farm 5. Fl NDI N a ad, and hSection 17.38,118, Streets Adjacent to Railroads,, Freeways and Parkways When the area to be divided'' adjoins or contains a railroad, freeway or parkway, provision may be required' for a street apiciroximately parallel to and on each side of such, right of way at a distance suitalble for use of the land between the street and railroad, freeway or parlay. In the case of a railroad, there shall be a and strip of not Tess than 25 feet In width adjacent and along, the railroad right of way and residential property. If the intervening property between such parallel streets and a freeway or a parkway is less than 80 feet in width, such intervening property shall be dedicated to park or thoroughfare use. The intersections of such parallel streets, where they intersect with streets that cross a railroad, shah be determined with due consideration at cross streets of a minimum distance required for approach grades to a future grade separation and right of way widths of the cross street. GS. The Hearings Officer finds this criterion is not, applica ble because The Tree nd Tree Farm 5 are not adjacent to a railroad, freeway or parkway, Section 1 7,38,12 0, Street Nam es Farm Except for extensions of existing streets, no street name shall be used which will' duplicate or be confused with the name of an existing street in a nearby city or in the, County. Street names and numbers shall conform to the established pattern hi the County. FINDINGS: Exhibit "Q" to the Tree Farm € b burden of proof indicates the applicant has received' county approval for all Tree Farm road names, therefore satisfying this criterion: Within an urban growth boundary, sidewalks shall' be installed on both sides of a public road or street any in any special pedestrian way within the subdivision or partition, Tree Farm 5, 247 -14 -000,250 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 71 of 91 FINDINGS: The H and along any collectors and arterials leproved in acc€ rdance with'the subdivision or partition. eanngs Officer finds this criterion is not applicable because Tree Far e -n 5 is, not located within th Fl fro N e Ben d UGB. Within an urban area, sidewalks shall be required along frontage roads only on the side of he frontage road abutting the development. DINGS: The Hearings Officer finds this criterion is not applicable because there are no ntage roads in Tree Farm 5. Sidewalk requirements for areas outside of urban area are set forth in section 17,48,176. In the absence of a special requirement set forth by the Road Department Director under DCC 17.43.030, sidewalks and curbs are never required in rural areas outside unincorporated communities as that term is defined in Title 18 FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer finds no sidewalks are required in Tre located in a rural area outside unincorporated connenuesities. k' Section 17.3 A. Pe 6 140,, Bicycle, Pedestrian and destrian and Bicycle Circ Farm 5 because it is Transit Requirements ation withi nS b division, The tentative plan for a proposed subdivision shall provide for bicycle and pedestrian routes, facilities' and improvements within the subdivision and to nearby existing or planned neighborhood activity centers, such as schools, shopping areas and parks in a manner that will (a) minimize such interference from automobile traffic that will discourage pedestrian or cycle travel for short trips; (b) provide a direct route of travel between destinations ithiln the subdivision and existing or planned neighborhood activity centers, and (c) otherwise meet the needs of cyclists and pedestrians, considering the destination and length of trip. FINDINGS: : The Tree Farm would 'include a multi -use path, system including eight- and ten -foot - wide paved paths that would run, parallel to all subdivision roads. The multi -use paths will provide access, to Skyliners Road and beyond to NorthVVest Crossing, the three nearby public schools, and the rest of the Bend urban area. The applicant also proposes a number of soft- surface recreation/mountain bike trails within the oen space tracts and linking with trails in Shevlin Park and the DNF to the west. For these reasons, the hearings, Officer finds'' Tree Farrri 5 satisfies this criterion. B. ubdiv'isie n Layout, Tree Farm >5, 247.14 -000250 -CU, 247-14 000251 -TP Page 72 of 91 Cul-de-sacs or dead-end streets shall be allowed only where, due to topographical or environmental, constraint, the size and shape of the parcel,or alack of through -street connections en the area, a street connection is determined by the Planning Director or, Hearings, Body to be infeasible or inappropriate, In such instances, where applicable and feasible, there shall be a bicycle and pedestrian connection connecting the ends of cul -db -sacs to streets or neighborhood activity' centers on the opposite side of the block. FINDING; The applicant does not propose any cul-de-sacs in Tree Farm 5, and the efore this criterion is not applicableAs discussed in the Hearings Officer's decision for Tree Farm 1, ,l found the topographical information on he Tree Farm 1 tentative plan clearly shows a steep slope east and southeast of the eastern terminus of Ridgeline Court in Tree Farm '1, As discussed in my decision in Tree Farm , l found the tentative plan for Tree Farm 3 shows no through street connections in the vicinity of the western terminus of Canopy Court in Tree Farm 3. For these reasons, I have found these cul-de-sacs in these two cluster/PUDs are justified by topography and the lack of through -street connections: 2. Bicycle and pedestrian connections between streets shall be provided at mid -block where the addition of a connection will reduce the walking or cycling distance to an existing or planned neighborhood activity center by 400 feet and by at le st 50 percent over other available routes. FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer finds this criterion is not applicabie to Tree Farm '5 because there are no existing or planned neighborhood activity centers fo which mid -block connections are warranted or necessary, Tre Local roads shall align and connect with themselves across collectors and arterials. Connect€ergs to existing or planned streets and undeyeipp9d. properties shall be provided at no greater than 400 foot intervals. Connections shall not be more than 400 feet Iona andl shall be a stralossblee Facilities and 1 lmprovernen is Bikeways may be provided by either a separate paved path or an on -street bike lane, consistent with the retirements of DCC Pedestrian access may be provided by sidewalks or a separate paved path, consistent with the requirements of DCC Title 17. Farr 5, 247-14--000250-CL.1, 247-14- 025 -TP Page 3 of 91 Connections shall have a 0 -foot right-of-way, with at`< ded least a 1€ ,ft,rat 1reable sr€rface. (Emphasis ad FIND lNGS: The Hearings Officer ' Inds there are no existing local roads that must be aligned across Sk liners Road, In the Hearings Officer's decisions in Tree Farms 1 through 4, discussed the meaning and application of ''the above -underscored language and found that read in context, the "connections" required by Section 1736140(B)(3) and (4) are bicycle/pedestrian path connections and not road connections. I also found application of this requirement to rural subdivisions in general, and to The Tree Farm in particular, would be inappropriate and infeasible, and that in any case the applicant demonst ated an exception to this requirement is justified by the benefits provided by The Tree Farm and Tree Farm 5, arid particularly the extensive multi -use path/trail system. Because no part of Tree Farm 5 abuts the Rio Lobo or Miller T Officer finds this criterion is not applicable to Tree Farre 5. 1 Section 17.3 6.15 0, Blocks e F property, the H earijng s A. General The length, width and shape of blocks shall accommodate the need for adequate building size, street width, and direct travel routes for pedestrians and cyclists through the subdivision and to nearby neighborhood activity centers, and shall be compatible vwith the limitations of the topography. FINDINGS: Section 17.08.030 defines "block"' as "an area of land bounded by streets or by a combination of streets and public parks, cemeteries, railroad rights of way, lines or shorelines or waterways, or corporate boundary Lines of a city." The Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 does not contain any "blocks" inasmuch as no area of land within the proposed development is bounded by streets or the other listed features, By Within an urban growth boundary, no bock shafl be longer than 1,200 feet between street centerlines. In blocks over 800 feet in length, there shall be a cross connection consistent with the provisions of DCC 17.36 140. FINDING: Tree Farm 5 is riot Iodatedwithin the Be finds this criterion is not applicable: Secti on 17.36 160, Easements d UGB. Therefore, the''"H earings Officer A. Utility easements. Easements shall be provided along property lines when necessary for the placement of overhead or underground utilities, and to provide the subdivision or partition with electric power, communication facilities, street lighting, sewer lines, water Mines, gas lines or drainage, Such easements shall be labeled "Public Utility Easement" on the tentative and final plat; they shall be at least 12 feet in width and centered on lot lines where possible, except utility pore Tree Farr: , 247-14-0002 0-C , 247 -14 -000251 -TP' Page 74 cif 91` guyllne easements al ng the rear of lots or parcels adjacent to unsubdivided land may be reduced to 10 feet in width. FINDINGS; The Tree Farm 5 burden of proof states the applicant intends to locate all utilities in roadside trenches, either v"€thin the private road rights-of-way or within multiple use easements (MUEs) paralleling the rights-of-way, as shown, on the Preliminary Water Pan included in the record as Exhibit " to the burden of proof, The Hearings Officer finds that as a condition of approval the applicant be required to show all MUEs on the final plat for Tree Farm 5. Drainage. If a tract is traversed by a watercourse such as a drainaewyg channel or stream, there shall be provided stormwater easement or drainage right of way conforming,, substantially with the Innes of the watercourse or in such further width as will be adequate for the purpose, Streets or parkways parallel to major watercourses or drainageways may be required. FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer finds this criterion is not a property is not traversed by a watercourse. 5 ection 17.3$ 170, Lots - Size and Sha p pe plica ble because the su bject The size, width and orientation of ots or parcels shall,' be appropriate for the location of the land division ani'or the type of development and use contemplated, and shall be consistent with the lot or, parcel, size provisions of Titles 18 through 21 of this code, with the following exceptions: A. In areas not to be served by a public sewer, min mu r la t and parcel sizes shall permit compliance with the requirements of the Department of Environmental Quality and the County Sanitarian, and shall be sufficient to permit adequate sewage disposal. Any problems posed by soil structure and water table and related to sewage disposal by septic tank shall be addressed and resolved in the applicant's initial plan. FINDINGS: The proposed residential lots in Tree Farm 5 will be two acres in size, The applicant submitted a septic suitability study, included in the record as Exhibit "F" to the Tree Farre 5 burden of proof, indicating the soils on the subject property are suitable for on-site septic systems. The Hearings Officer finds the size, width and orientation of the proposed lots are appropriate for the proposed planned development, consistent with the minimurn lot size in the RR -10 Zone, and large enough to accommodate on-site septic systems. l also find the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to obtain an approved septic site evaluation for each residential lot in Tree Farm 5 prior to final, plat approval, Section 17.3 6,1803 Fronts 0 e Each lot or parcel shall abut upon a public road, or when located in a planned development or cluster development, a private road, for at least 50 feet, except for lots or parcels' fronting on the bulb; of a cul de sac, then the mirinum frontage shall be 30 feet, and except for partitions off of LLS Tree Farm 5. 247 -14 -001250 -CEJ, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 75 of 91 Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management roads, Frontage for partitions off U.S, Forest 'Servide or Bureau of Land Management roads shall be decided on a case by case basis based on the location of the property, the condition of the road, an the orientation of the proposed parcels, but shall be at east 20 feet. In the La Pine Neighborhood Planning Area Residential Center District, lot widths may be less than 50 feet n width, as specified in DCC 18.61, Table 2: La Pine Neighborhood Planning Area Zoning Standards Road frontage standards in destination resorts shall be subject to review in the conceptual master plane All side lot lines shall be at right angles to street lines o radial to curved streets wherever practical. r FINDINGS: With the exception of Lot 1 in Tree Farm 1, all proposed residential lots in The Tree Farm and Tree Farm 5 will > have at least 50 feet of road frontage, or at least 30 feet of road frontage for those lots located on, a cul-de-sac. Generally, Tree Farm 5 lot lines are at right angles to Golden Mantle Loop or radial to the cu ed Canopy Couto For the foregoing reasons,, find Tree Farm 5 satisfies this criterion. p. Sectio n 17.36.19 0, Throu gh Lots, Lots or parcels with double frontage should be avoided except where they are essential to provide separation of r•esidentiall development from major street or adjacent nonresidential activities' to overcome specific disadvantages of topography and orientation. A planting screen easement, of at east 10 feat In width and across which there shall''' be no right of access may be required along the lines of ots or parcels abutting such a traffic artery or other incompatible usee FINDINGS: Section 1`x.08.030 defines 'Through lot" as "an interior lot having frontage on two streets." The tentative plan for Tree Farm shows Lots 42 and 47 will have frontage on both Golden Mantle Loop and Canopy Court. However, 1 find no planting screen easement is required an these lots in order to prevent road access across these lots. Section 17.36.200, Corner Lots Within an urban growth boundary, corner ots or parcels shall be a minimum of five feet more in width than other lots or parcels, and also shall have sufficient extra width to meet the additional side yard requirements of the zoning district in which they are located. FINDINGSI The Hearings Officer::i€nd s this criterion is not a pplicable because Tree Farm 5 r. Section 17.36.210, Solar Access Performance As much solar access as feasible shall' be provided each I or parcel in every new subdivision or partition, considering Tree Farm>;5. 247-14-000251 -Cts, 247-14-9C x291 -TFC Pace 76 f 91.` topography, developrent pattern and existing vegetation. The lot lines of lots or parcels, as far as feasible, shall be oriented to provide solar access at ground level at the southern building line two hours before and after the solar zenith from September 22nd to March 21st If it is not feasible to provide' solar" access to the southern building line, then solar access, if feasible, shall be provided at 10 feet above ground level at the southern building line two hours before and after the solar zenith from September 22nd to March 21st, and three hours before and after the solar zenith from March 22nd to September 21st This solar access shall be protected by solar restrictions on burdened properties for the benefit 1 parcels receiving, the solar access, height ots or If the solar access for any lot or parcel, either at the southern building line or at 10 feet above the southern building line, required by this performance standard is not feasible, supporting information must be filed with the application Fl DINGS: The Hearings Officer finds the size, shape and orientation of the residential lots in Tree Farm 5 will allow for the dwellings on these lots to meet the solar access stand ards, Section 17,36.220, Underground Facilities Within an urban growth boundary, all permanent utility services to lots or parcels in a subdivision or partition shall be provided from underground facilities;; provided, however, the Hearings Body may allow overhead utilities if the surrounding area is already served by overhead utilities' and the proposed subdivision or partition will create less than ten bats. The subdivision or partition shall' be responsible for complying with requirements of this section and shall: FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer finds this sections is not applicab located outside the Bend UGB. Section 17.3 £.260, Fire rds e because the property is Whenever possible, a' sinimum of two points of access to the subdivision or partition shall be provided to provide assured access for emergency vehicles and ease resident evacuation. FINDINGS: The applicant proposes two points of access to The Tree Faris and Tree Farm the main PUD road that intersects with Skyliners Road at the southern boundary of Tree Fars - 1, and the proposed secondary emergency access road running from the sou hem terminus of Sage Steppe Drive in Tree Farm 1 south through the adjacent Mil er Tree Farm property to Crosby Drive. As discussed in the findings above, the Hearings Officer has found the secondary access road will provide an adequate means of evacuation and emergency vehicle access with imposition of conditions of approval requiring the road to be improved to the fire department's standards for such roads, and with installation of a gateilock system that allows the gate to be Tree Farm 5, 247-14-000250-Cii, 24714 -000251-TP Page 77 t 91 opened by residents and guests. l also have found the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to develop Tree Farms 1, 2 and 3 concurrently to assure access to Tree Farm residential lots through both the primary Bluster/ PUD road and the secondary access. For these reasons, and with imposition of this condition of approval, l find Tree Farm 5 satisfies, this criterion, 5 ection 17.3 6,2 80 Water and Sewer 1,, nes Where required by the applicable zoning ordinance, water and sewer braes shall be constructed to County and city standards and specifications, Required water mains and service lines shall be installed prior to the curbing and paving of new streets in ail new subdivisions or partitions, FINDINGS: No new sewer lines are proposed because residential lots in Tree Farm 5 would be served by on-site septic systems. The Hearings Officer finds that if these residential lots are connected to the City of Bend water facilities,, the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to construct all required water lines in compliance with the city's standards and specifications therefor. v. Section 17,36,29 0 hidividual Wells n any subdivision or partition where individual wells are proposed, the applicant shall provide documentation of the depth and quantity of potable water available from a minimum of two wells within one mile of the proposed and division. Not rithstanding DCC 17.36.300, individual wells for subdivisions are allowed when parcels are larger' than 10 acres. FUNDINGS: The applicant has stated its preferred alternative for providing dorn stir water to the residential lots in Tree Farm 5 is the extension of City of Bend water service. however, if that connection is not possible, and the applicant does not obtain water service from Avion Water Company, the applicant proposes to provide domestic water through one or € €ore groundwater wells. The applicant submitted as Exhibit "M" to the Tree Farm 5 burden of proof well logs for two wells on property in the vicinity' of the subject property demonstrating that water is available in the area. Therefore; the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 satisfies this criterion. Section 17.3 6.3 0031 public Water System In any subdivision or partition where a public water sy required or proposed, plans for the water system shall be su and approved by the appropriate state or federal s tem is lam itted' FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer finds that if the residential lots in Tree, Farm 5 are served by City of Bend or Avion water service, compliance with this criterion will be accomplished through he city's or Avian's co€npliance with applicableblit water system requirements. 3. Chapter 17,44, Park Development Sect n 17.44.010, Dedica Tree Farm >5, 247 -14 -000250 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP tion Ea f .and Page 78 of 91; FI DIN the boun are not a D For subdivisions or partitior€s outside of an urban growth boundary, the developer shall set aside a r nimum area of the development equal to $350 per dwelling unit within the development, if the land is, suitable and adaptable for such purposes and is, generally '''located in an area planned for parks. For dither DCC 17.44010 (A) or (B), the developer shall either dedicate the land set aside to the public or develop and, provide maintenance for the land set aside as a private park open to the public:. The P a € ing Director or Hearings Body shall whether or not such land is suitable for park p determine urposes, E. If the developer dedicates the land set aside in accordance with DCC 17.44,O1O(A) or (B), any approval by the Planning Director or Hearings Body shall be subject to the c€ nd`€tion that the County or appropriate park district accept the deed, dedicating such land. F. DCC 17.4 .01 O shall not apply to the subdivision or partition of lands located within the boundaries of the Bend Metro Park and Recreation District or the Central Oregon Park and Recreation District. The, record ind €sates all proposed residential lots in Tree Farm 5 are located within dares of the park d pplicabie. 'strict,and therefore the Hearings Officer finds these requirements b. Section 17.44.020, Fee in Lie a of Dedication Tree Far r^ 5, 247- A., In the event there is no suitable park or recreation area or site in the proposed subdivision or partition or adjacent thereto, then the developer shall, in lieu of setting aside land, pay into a park acquisition and development fund a sum of money equal' to the fair market value of the land that will have been donated under DCC 17,44,010 above. For the purpose of determining the fair market value, the latest value of the land, unplatted and without improvements, as shown on the County Assessor's tax roil shall be used. The sum so contributed shall be deposited with the County Treasurer and be used for acq lsition of suitable area;, for park and recreation purposes or for the development of —i''ocreation facilities. Such expenditures shall be made for neighborhood or community, facilities at the discretion of the Board and/or> applicable park district'., 4 -000250 -CU, 247-14-00 0251 -TP Page 79 of 91 DCC 17,4 ,020 shall not appy to subdivision or partition of lands located within the boundaries of the Bend Metro Park and Recreation District or the Central Oregon Park, and Recreation District, HIDING : The, Hearings Officer finds that because all proposed residential lots in Tree Farm 5 are located within the boundaries of the park district, this section does not apply. 4. Chapter 17A8, Design and Construction Specifications Sectio n 17.48.140, Bike ,ray s General Design Criteria. 1, Bikeways sha current stand 1. M u be designed in accordance with the ards and guidelines of the Oregon (000T) Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, the American Association of State highway Transportation Officials (AA HTO) Guide for Development of New Bicycle Facet€ties, and the Deschutes County Bicycle Master Plan, See DCC 17.48 Table B.< An collectors and arterials shown on the County Transportation Plan map shall be constructed to inc ode bikeways as defined by the Deschutes County Bicycle Master Plan. If interim road standards are used, interim bikeways and/or walkways shall be provided These interim facilities shall be adequate to serve bicyclists and pedestrians until the time of road upgrade. ti -use Paths. Multi -use paths shall be used where aesthetic, recreation and safety concerns are primary and a direct route with few intersections can be established. If private roads are constructed to a width of less than 28 feet, multi -use paths shad be provided. Multi -use paths are two way facilities with a standard width of 10 feet, but with a 12 foot width if they are subjected to high use by multiple users. These paths shall meet County multi -use path standards and shall connect with bike facilities on public roads, FINDING: The applicant' proposes to provide multi -use paths in The Tree Farm through additional '' width on a segment of Tree Farm Drive, and eight- or ten -foot -wide multi -use paths along the rest of the PUD roads. ,A ten -foot -wide multi -use path;, is proposed to parallel Tree Farm Drive from its intersection with Skyliners Road, to the point where the path splits to go to Shevlin Park to the west. From that point to the intersection of Golden Mantle Loop and Tree Farre 5, 247.14-0002 50 -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP Fuge 0of91' Rideline Drive, and throughout the rest of The Tree Farm, the multi -use paths are proposed to be eight feet wide. The Hearings Officer has approved an exception to allow reduced width from ten to eight feet for neighborhood multi -use paths, requested by the applicant because of projected low traffic volumes, based on my finding that the benefits from The Tree Farm justify the exception. For these reasons, and with the exception granted for the eight -foot path, 1 find, Tree Farm 5 satisfies these criteria Fl NDN B ike Lanes. Six foot bike lanes shall be used on new construction of curbed arterials and collectors. D. Should GS: The Hearings Office er Bikeways. Shoulder bikeways shall be used on new of uncurbed arterials and collectors. construction Shoulder bikeways shall be at least four feet wide. Where the travel ane on an existing arterial''' or collector is not greater than eleven feet, the bikeway shall be a minimum of four feet wide. r finds the collectors or arterials are proposed. criteria are not applicable because no new E. Mountain Bike Trails. lei ountain bike may be used a facilities. dirt or other unpaved surface! trails recreational or interim transportation Trails used for transportation shall have a two foot Millium tread width and a six foot minimum clearing width centered over the trail, and a minimum overhead clearance of seven feet. Trails used solely for recreational use may narrower with less clearing of vegetation.< TIDINGS: As shown on Exhibit "C" to the Tree Farm burden of proof, the applicant proposes a network of soft -surface recreation/mountain bike trails linking with trails in Shevlin Park and in the DNF to the west. Segment of these trails would be located in the southern portion of Tree Farm 5. Therefore, the Hearings Officer finds these criteria are applicable to Tree Farm 5, The applicant's Tree Farm 5 burden of proof states the proposed recreation/ ountain bike trails will satisfy these standards, and I find the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to do so. Se ion 17.48.160 , Road Development Requires ents Standards A.. Subdivision Standards. All roads in new su either be constructed to a standard acceptable in the county maintained system or the subdivision s shall for inclusion, hall be bdivisions Tree Farm's, 247.14 -000250 - part of a special road district or homeown planned unit development. u , 247 -14 -000251 -TP ers ssociation'''in Page 8l of e1% FINDINGS: The applicant proposes to dedicate to the public and to rove Sage Steppe Drive in compliance with the county's standards for public rural roads, and to irnprove all public and private PUD roads with 20 feet of paved surface ps provided in Table "A" to Title 17. The applicant also proposes that all Tree Farm roads will be maintained by the HOA. As noted above, the record indicates the county is not accepting new roads into its road maintenance system. For these reasons, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 satisfies this criterion. B. Improvements of Public Flights of Way.; 1 The developer of a subdivision or partition will be required to improve all public ways that are adjacent or within the land development. AH 'improvements within public rights of way shall conform to the improvement standards designated in DCC Title17 for the applicable road classification, except where a zoning ordinance sets forth different standards for a particular zone, FINDINGS: The only public right-ofvway adjacent to the subject property is Skyliners Road, an improved county collector. As discussed above, the road department did; not identify any necessary improvements to ' kyliners Road. The applicant proposes to improve all PUD roads to the to the county's standards for local public and private roads, including 20 feet of paved surface, Therefore, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 satisfies this criterion. C. Primary Access Roads. The primary access road for any new subdivision shall be improved to the applicable standard set forth in Table A (or the applicable standard set forth In a zoning ordinance). The applicable standard shall be determined with reference to the road's classification under the relevant transpoftatiorl plana For the purposes of this section a primary access road is a road leading to the subdivision from an existing paved county, city' or state maintained' road that provides the primary access to the subdivision from such a road. FINDINGS: The primary access road to The Tree Farm consists of Tree Farm Drive, Golden Mantle Loop, and Ridgeline Drive. The Hearings Officer finds the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to improve these roads to the county's standards for local private roads in Table "." to Title 17. in addition, as discussed in the findings above, I have found the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to develop Tree Farms 1, 2 and 3 concurrently to assure the primary access road is in place to serve all lots in those developments. D. Secondary Access Roads. When deemed necessary by the County Road Department or Community Development Department, a secondary access road shall be constructed to the subdivision, Construction shall be to the same standard used for roads within the subdivision. Tree Farm >5, 247-14-00 250 -CU, 24i-14-000251 TP Pa e82of91» FINDINGS. The road department did not identify the need for a secondary access rod. However, the applicant proposes to construct a temporary emergency access road from, the southern terminus of Sage Steppe Drive south through the adjacent Miller Tree Farrn property to Crosby Drive. The, applicant proposes to improve this emergency access road to the fire department's standards for fire apparatus access roads, including a 4 -foot -wide all-weather surface. As discussed above, this emergency access road will be an interim access until` the Miller Tree Farm property is developed with public roads to which Sage Steppe Drive'' can connect. Under these circumstances, the Hearings Officer finds the proposed level of improvement is appropriate for the secondary access road,23 E. Stubbed Roads. Any development boundary de -sac bulb. proposed road that terminates at a shall be constructed with a paved 'cul - FIND NG : The Hearings Officer finds this cdtenon is not appl€cable to Tree Farm 5 because no cul-de-sacs are proposed for Tree Farm 5, F. Cul-de-sacs. Cul -desacs shall have alength of less than 600 feet, unless a longer length is approved by the appllicable fire protection district, and more than 100 feet from the center of the bulb to the intersection with the main road. The maximum grade on the bu b shall, be four percent. FINDINGS: No cul-de-sacs are proposed in Tree Farm 5, and therefore the Hearings Officer finds this criterion is not applicable. As discussed above, I have found the cul-de-sacs proposed for the eastern end of Ridgeline Court in Tree Farm 1 and the western end of Canopy Court in Tree Farm 3 are justified by the topography and/or lack of through street connections in the vicinity! However, because the proposed cul-de-sac at the end of Canopy Court is longer than 600 feet, I found in my Tree Farm 3 decision that the >>applicant will be required as a condition of approval to obtain and submit to the planning Division mitten documentation from the fire department that it has approved the length of Canopy Court; Section 17.48.18 0, Private Roa ds The following minimum road standards shal ap ply for private roads: A. The minimum paved roadway width shall be 20 feet in planned unit developments and duster developments with two -foot wide gravel shoulders,; Minimum radius of cu M ax ture, 50 mum grade, 12 percen tp eet„ 23 The burden of proof for Tree Farm 5 states the applicant would request a variance to the requirement that the secondary access road be paved However, in an e-mail message dated August 15, 2014, the applicant's representative Ron -1y Mortensen clarified the applicant is not seeking a variance and 1cos not believe one is required' Tree Farm;;%5, 247 -14 -000250 -CU 24--14000251-TP Fade 83of91 FINDINGS: The applicant's burden of proof for Tree Farm 5 states the private roads will these standards, and the Hearings Officer finds the applicant will be required to constru PUD's private roads in compliance with these standards as a condit on of ap At least one road name sign will be intersection for each road; FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer finds the ap to comply with this criterion: E. A method for contiin County, FINDINGS: The a p roads. The Hearin execute a road', ma plicant will be requ uaag roa prove: provided a eet the each red as condition of approval' d ma tenance acce pt ale to the plicant proposes that The Tree Farm HOA will own and maintain all tree farm gs Officer finds the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to intenance agreement with the county that is acceptable to the county. F. Private road systems shall include previsions for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. In cluster and planned developments limited to ten dwelling units, the bicycle and pedestrian traffic can be accommodatedwithin the 20 -foot wide road. In other developments, shoulder bikeways shall be a minimum of four feet wide, paved and striped, with no on -street parking allowed within the bikeway, and when private roads are developed to a width of less than 28 feet, bike paths, constructed to County standards shall be required. FINDINGS; As discussed in findings throughout this decision, the applicant proposes to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic in The Tree Fara through a system of paved multi- use paths running parallel to PUD roads, The segment of Tree Farm Drive in Tree Farm 3 would' have a 26 -foot -ride paved surface to its intersection with Golden Cvlanfle Loop, and all other public and private road segments would have a 20 -foot paved width with adjacent or nearby eight- or ten -foot -wide paved bicycle/pedestrian paths. For these reasons, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 satisfies this criterion, d. Section 17. 8.190, Drainage A. Mnii um Require e nts, Drainage facilities shall be designed and constructed to receive and/or transport at least a design storm as defined in the current Central Oregon Stormwater Manual created by Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and all surface drainage water corning to and/or passing through the development or roadway. The system shall be designed for maximum' allowable' development. FINDING: The applicant proposes a surface water drainage plan for The Tree Fang that would contain surface water on site through use of vegetated ales, roadside ditches, culverts, and Tree F ' 5, 247.14 -000250 -CU, 247.1 4-0 00251 -TP Pag e84af91; natural drainage ways. According to this plan, runoff would shed to vegetated svvaies with 3.1 slopes for on-site infiltration, or would enter a,,natural drainage way via a roadside ditch and culvert, The applicant states these culverts will be designed for a ten-year storm event, and infiltration facilities will be designed for a fifty-year storm event. The drainage plan notes that because of the site's topography, natural drainage patterns on The Tree Farm generally are toward Turnalo Creek to the west and to the undeveloped open space to the east. However, the applicant states none of the runoff from Impervious areas such as roads and driveways will create any additional drainage contributions to Tumalo Creek as no surface water will be disposed of off-site. The applicant also proposes that if hydrological calculations determine additional runoff storage is needed, the applicant will construct a catch basin near the main entry to The Tree Far€ i at Skylin€ers Road, The Hearings Officer has found that prior to submitting for approval the final pat for any part of The Tree Farm, the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to subunit to the Planning ,Division a statement from a registered professional engineer stating whether an additional runoff storage basin is necessary, and if such a facility is determined to be necessary, the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to show it on the final plat for Tree Farm 5 and to construct it. I find that with imposition of this condition of approval Tree Farm 5`> will satisfy this criterion,. Finally, the Hearings Officer finds the drainage plan for Tree Farm 5 need not be designed to serve the site with "maximum allowable development' — i.e., urban -density development on the UA .-10 zoned portion of the site —'inasmuch as the applicant intends that The Tree Farm never will be annexed into the Bend UGB, and the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to record deed restrictions permanently prohibiting development on The Tree Far e€ open space tracts. Noncurbed Sec tions 1. Road culverts shall be concrete or meta rriiMmum design life of 50 years 2e, AH cross culverts shall le rgera wi th a be 18 inches in diameter or Culverts shall be placed shall provide positive drai n natural d nage. ainage areas and FINDING: The applicant's burden of proof for Tree Farm 5 states culverts used for The Tree Farm will be corrugated metal pipe with a minimum fifty-year design life, and that two 18 -inch culverts and one 24 -inch culvert will be installed. The Hearinn s Officer finds the applicant will be required as a condition of approval to place ali'' culverts in natural drainage areas and provide positive drainage, Tree Farre 5, 247-14-0002 Drainage Swalese The Design Engineer is responsible is design a drainage swale adequate to control a design storm as defined in the Central Oregon Stormwater Manual created by Central Oregon intergovernmental Council. -CU, 247 -14 -000251 -TP` Page 85 of 91 FINDINGS: The appllca designed for a 50 -year st this criterion; nt's burden of proof for Tree event. Therefore, the Farm 5 states the dralnag earings Officer finds Tree e swales will be Farm 5 satisfies Drainage Plans. A complete set of drainage plans Including hydraulic and hydrologic calculations shall be incorporated in ail road improvement plans. FINDINGS: The applicant's burden of proof for Tree Farm 5 includes a,narrative description of its proposed drainage plan, and states complete modelling will be performed and incorporated into the storm disposal infrastructure design during engineering and construction plan development. The Hearings Officer finds the applicant, will be required as a condition of approve to incorporate the drainage plan for Tree Farm 5 into the road improvement plan for Tree Farm 4, and to provide to the planning Division a copy of that plan before submitting the Tree Farm 5 fine plat for approval: F. Drill Holes. Dri 1 holes are prohibited G. Injection wells (d wa Y. rywel I s) ars proh FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer finds the applicant's propose' because no drill holes or injection wells are proposed. For the foregoing reasons, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 satisfies, conditions of approval' described above will satisfy, all, applicable criteria in Title 17. bi ted in the, public right-of- omplies with these criteria COMPREHENSIVE PLAN E. Deschutes County Comprehensive plan, with th e FINDINGS: Comprehensive plans' can be a potential source of approval standards for quasi- judicial land use applications. The Flight Shop v. Deschutes County, Or LUBA (LUBA No, 2013-073. January 10, 2014), Even If a comprehensive plan provision does not constitute an independently applicable mandatory approval criterion, it may nonetheless represent a relevant and necessary consideration that must be reviewed and balanced ‘Ivith other relevant plan provisions pursuant to ordinances that require that the proposed land use be consistent with applicable plan provisions. See, Bothrnan'v. City of Eugene, 51 Or LUBA 426 (2006). Therefore, the Hearings Officer finds that er the county's comprehensive plan, applies to Tree Farm depends on whether their text and context Indicates they Include mandatory standards, requirements, and/or considerations applicable to quasi-judicial development approvals, The applicant and staff identified the following p' a n provis ons as a 1 Chapter 2 Resource Management Section Goa 11, Ifalntal n and en hence a diversity Policy'' 2.6.8, Balance protection c private lands in the designated' V4#il Id Ii fild pplicable to Tree Farm 5. lif fe with wi than In dland U and ha Id bite land f terface. ts. re miti Tree Farm , 24714-00 25O -CU, 247-14-0OO25'l TP P gation o' ge 86 of 91'' FINDINGS: : The Hearings Officer finds this goal and policy are written in aspirational terms and appear directed at the county rather than to applicants for land use approval, Therefore. l find these provisions are not applicable to Tree Farm 5. 2. Cha pter 3 Rural Growth Manag Goals and Policies erne r t Goal 1 Maintain the rural character and safety of housing ii Deschutes County. Policy 3.3.1. The mirrlmu parcel size be 10 acres. or new arra n un ir corporated residential parcels shail FIND INGS: The Hearings Officer finds this policy is written'ln mandatory terns sug applicable to Tree Farm 5. I have found Tree Farm 5 complies with the ten -acre mi for lots or parcels in the RR -10 Zone, and therefore I find it also is policy gesting it is nmum size consistent with this plan' Policy 3.3.4. Encourage new subdivisions to incor orate alternative development patterns, such as cluster development, that mitigate community and envirorrnental impacts. FINDINGS: The Hearings Officer' finds rather than at an applicant for a q applicable to Tree Farm 5. this policy is aspirationall and directed at the c €nasi-judicl l and use application, and therefore i For the fo€regoing reasons, the Hearings Officer finds Tree Farm 5 is consistent with' a county comprehensive plan goals and policies identified by planning staff. V. DECISION: p a nty', not plicabie Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the Hearings Officer hereby DENIES the applicant's proposed conditional use, tentative plan, and site pian for a chaster developrnentiPUD on the subject property, to be called Tree Farm 5. In the event this decision is appealed to the Board of County Commissioners, and the Board elects to hear the appeal and approves the applicant's proposal on appeal, the Hearings Officer RECOMMENDS such approval be SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL: PRIO R This approval for Tree Farm 5 is based upon the applicant's submitted tentative plan. site plan, burden of proof statements, and written and ora testimony. Any substantia change to the approved plan will require new land use applications and approvals. TO SUB MITTI G THE FINAL SUB DIVISION PLAT FOR AP PROVAL: 2. The applicant/owner shall' demonstrate to the Planning;,; 'Division approval for The Tree Farm lot line adjustments have been met. Tree Farm;. 5, 247-14-000250-CU,247-14-000251-TP tha t co€ndlt Pad n of e 87 of 91 The applican Farm 5. t/ow er sh all submit to the Pla ning Division an u pd ed it e repo for Tree The applicant/ wrier shall submit to the Planning Division for review and approval a copy of nonrevocabie deed restrictions for the Tree, Farm 5 open space tract, stating that no portion of that tract shall be developed >.with a dwelling or other non -open space use in perpetuity, and that off-road motor vehicle use is prohibited. After county approval, the applicant/owner shallrecord these nonrevocable deed restrictions and shall provide copies of the recorded deed restrictions to the Planning Division: The applicantfowner shall record with the Desch homeowner's association for Tree Farm 5,, The applicant/hvvne conditions and restri utes County Clerk the bylaws of the r shall record with the Deschutes Cour ctions for Tree Farm 5. The applicant/hvrner s Tree Farm 5. hal execu to and record a Donditi ty Cie rk the covena f Approve A rets, ent` The applicant/owner shall execute and record with the Deschutes County Clerk a development agreement for the private roads in Tree Farm 5 on a form approved by Deschutes County Legal Counsel. The development agreement shall incorporate the drainage plan for Tree Farm 5. The applicant shall provide a copy of the recorded development agreement to the Planning Division. The applicant/owner shall submit to the Deschutes County Road Department for its review and approval a draft Road Maintenance Agreement outlining the maintenance responsibilities for all new roads in Tree Farm , and following road department approval the applicant/owner shall record the Road Maintenance Agreement with the Deschutes County Clerk 10. The applicant/owner shall record with the Deschutes County Clerk the wildfire plan and WMP for the Tree Farm 5 open space tract. The applicant/owner shall provide copies of these recorded management agreements to the Planning Division 11. The applicant/owner shall obtain an approved septic site evaluation for each residentia lot in Tree Farm 5. 12, The applicant/owner shall obtain from the Deschutes County Road De access permit for the new road connection to Skyliners Road in Tree F arm 1 pa en an 13, The applicant/ovrner,shall obtain from the Deschutes County Road Department a gate permit for the gates on the new secondary emergency access road for The Tree Farm. 14 The applicantiowner shall submit to the Planning Division proof of City of Bend approve to extend domestic water service, to Tree Farm 5. if City of Bend water is not available, prior to final plat approval for any Tree Farm development the applicant shall submit to the Planning Division proof that domestic water is available via the alternative means identified by the applicant, Tree Farm , 247.14-€100250-CUJ 247 -14 -000251 -TP Pag e 8of91 If the applicant/owner elects, or is, required to, provide water to The Tree Farm through means other than extension of city water service, the applicant/owner shall >provide to the Planning Division a water system analysis performed by a registered professional engineer and demonstrating water service from the alternative domestic water source will provide at each residential lot water pressure of at least 40 psi during peak demand periods, 20 psi residual pressure, and 2,000 gpm for fire flow; The applicant/owner shall provide to the Planning Division a statement from a registered' professional engineer indicating whether a runoff storage basin is necessary. The applicant/owner shall submit to the Planning Division written verification from the Bend Fire Department that all standards for subdivision roads, including the secondary emergency access road, have been met. 18., The applicant/owner s WIT HO Rt°3 N TH E FI hall pay all taxes for Tree Far NAL SUBDIVISION 1 PLAT: 5 in accordance with ORS 92.0 9 5, 19. The applicant/owner shall prepare the final plat for Tree Farm 5 in accordance with, Title 17 of the Deschutes County Code, including all the necessary information required by Section 17.24 060 20. 21 The applicant; owner shall show the following on the final plat for Tree Farm 5: a. the exact lot size of each residential at, and of the open space tract which shall be platted as a separate tract; b. the building envelope far each lot; c. all easements of record and existing rights-of-way; a statement of water righ all utility easements; all public access easements; and is as req uired by ORS 92.120; if a runoff storage basin is necessary, the location of the storage basin. The surveyor or registered>;professiona engineer submitting the final plat for Tree Farr i 5 shall submit' information to the Deschutes County Road Department showing the location of any existing roads in relationship to the road right-of-way. This information can be submitted on a worksheet and does not necessarily have to be on the final ,plat. All existing road facilities and new road improvements are to be located within legally established or dedicated right-of-ways. In no case shall a road improvement be located outside of a dedicated road right-of-way. If research reveals that inadequate right-of-way exists or that the existing roadway is outside of the legally established or dedicated right- of-way, <additional right-of-way will be dedicated as directed by the Deschutes County Road Department to meet current county standards. 2 . The final plat for Tree Farm 5 shall be signed by all persons with an ownership interest in the property, as well as the Deschutes County Assessor and Tax Collector, Tree Farm>5, '24 .14 -000250 -CU 247 -14 -000251 -TP Page 89;,of 91 PRIOR TO OR W TH CO NSTR u CTION: 23 The applicant/owner shall obtain from the Deschutes County Road Department approval, of al construction plans for all required road improvements prior to commencement of any construction. 24. Al', private road design Table 'A' of the Desch 25. Al s shall utes C be in accordance with the standards in Chapter 17.48 and ounty Code for rural local private roads. private roads constructed in Tree Farm 5 shall include bicycle and proposed on the tentative subdivision plan and burden of proof, pedestrian paths 26. The applicant/owner shall construct all road improvements under the inspection and approval of the Deschutes County Road Department. The road department may accept certification of improvements by a registered professional engineer pursuant to ORS 92.097. 27. The applicant/owner shall assure that all surveyed and staked in accordance with DCC 2 8. The app positive d icant/owner rainae., ha II place al 29. If a runoff storage basin Is d construct such a basin at the lo determined to be appropriate by ete 30. The applicant/own er s ha iiia ata n road improvements in Tree Farre 5 are culverts 1' 7.48.200 na ra drainage are and provid e ined to be necessary, the applicant /owner shall point in Tree Farm 1, or in such other location as a registered professional engineer, a 31. The applica€nt/ova{ner shall install each road. II utilities u nd erg nd at least one road name sign at each intersection for 32. If the applicant/owner provides domestic water sere€ce to Tree Farm 5 through extension of and connection to the City of Bend water system, the applicant/owner shall construct a required water lines to the city's standards and specifications therefor. The applicant/owner shall install on the residential lot side of the gate at the southern terminus of Sage Steppe Drive at least one means of opening the gate by Tree Farm residents and guests, such as special keys, key codes and/or automatic gates. 34. The applicant/owner shall construct all''' rec rninirnum tread width and a six foot minimum clea minimum overhead clearance of seven feet, reationlmountalin bike rails with a two -foot FOLLOWI N FINAL PLAT APPROVAL; ring width centered over the trail, and a 35. The applicant/ow€nee shall begin construction of Tree Farms 1, 2 and within six months of the date this decision becomes final, or such longer period of time as the Plannin Director may allow. Tree Farrn 5, 247-14- 02 0 -CU, 247-14-000251-]-P Page 90of91 AT ALL TI MES: The applicant/owner shall satisfy all reguireents of the Bend Fire Depa protection within Tree Farm . for fire 3 The applicant/owner shall limit uses permitted in the Tree Farm, 5 open space tract to management of natural resources, trail systems, and low -intensity outdoor recreation uses, and shall prohibit golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, marinas, ski runs or other developed recreational uses of similar ''intensity and off-road vehicle use on the open space tract. The applicant/owner shall enforce these open space restrictions and prohibitions through the Tree Farm 5 covenants, conditions and restrictions, The applicant/owner shall install any fencing in Tree Farm 5 in accordance with the, `A Zone standards therefor. The applicant/owner shall assure the building height and setback standards in the UAR- 10, RR -1>0 and A-10 Zones are met for dwellings in Tree Farm 40. The applicant/owner shall assn re that address numbers are provid Tree Farm 5 as required by the Oregon Fire Code. DURATION OF APPROVAL: 41, d for each dwelling in The applicant/owner r shall complete all conditions of approval and apply for final plat approval from the Planning Division for Tree Farms 1, 2 and 3 within two (2) years of the date this decision becomes final, or obtain an extension the approval in this decision in accordance with the provisions of Title 22 of the County Code, or the approval shall be void. 42. The applicant/owner shall complete all conditions of approval and apply for final plat approval from the Planning Division for Tree Farms 4 a within four (4) years of the date this decision becomes final, or obtain an extension in accordance with the provisions of Title 22 of the Deschutes County Code, Doted this lath d ay of Ma Karen H. Green, Hearings Officer TIS UN IS DECISION BECO I4 h, 2 015 M ailed his lath day of March, 2 ES FINAL TWELVE (12) DAYS LESS APPEALED BY A PARTY 0 F INTE EST. Tree Farm 5 , 247-14-0 250-CUJ, 247-14- 25 TP 015 AFTER THE DATE 0 F' AI N GF Daae Q1 of 91 Co It its 1 op era Dep Newt ir xg Division Lis.+'tidi sg Safety Division Ery 441 44441114\4 \\ 'v P 0 Box 6005 117 € dW Lafayette Avenue Bend, Oregon 97700„6005 (541)388.5575 FAX (541)385-1764 http /f www.co.deschutec>,s3e,u ; <,d;1 F CE TI MATE 0 E NUMBERS. 247- DOCUMENTS 47- DOCUM NTS MAI 247-1 247-1 247-1 247-1 LED: H iAP/TAX LOT NU M B ERS: certify that on the '18th day of March 18, 2015, was/were mailed by fi address(es) set forth on the attached list, CO Rory Mortensen The Tree Farm, LLC 409 NW Franklin Avenue B end, OR 97701 Ken Ririe Walker Macy 1 1 SW Oak St #200 Portland OR 97204 Jeffrey 'Condit Miller Nash LLP 3400 US Bancorp Tower;, 111 SW Fifth Avenue, Portland,, OR 97204-3699 F MALIN 0 4 -000242 -CU, 243 -TP 4 -000244 -CU, 245 -TP 4 -000246 -CU, 247 -TP 4 -000248 -CU, 249 -TP 4 -000250 -CU, 251 -TP grins Officer Decisions Tree Fares 1 thru 17-11-35D00-0400; 1 7-1 6208, 6209, 6210, 6211 1-6002, 6205, 6207, 6212 and 6213 arch, 2€ 15, the attached recti Mass mail, postage prepaid,,, Dated this 18th day of t N !TY D EVELOP E arch. 20 NT DE By: Moonlight BPO ea tty Services Pe PART F NT ce(s)/repart(s), dated to the person(s) and Charley Miller Biller Tree Farm 110 NE Greenwood Avenue, Bend, OR 977€ 1 --------- ------------------ Ron Hand WHP citic 123 SW Columbia > Street ----- ---------- Bend` OB. 9'7702 Dale Van Valken ur€g Brooks Resources Corporation 409 NW Franklin Avenue Bend, OR 97701 "il k€ P ide Connie Peterson 2203 N Clearwater Drive Bend. OR 97701-2203 Doug Wickham 61971 Kildonan Court Bend, OR 97702 Corey Heath & Nancy Bruener Oregon Department of Fish `'& Wildlife 61374 P rrell Road Bend, OR 97702 Michelle Healy"& Steve Jorgensen Bend Metro Parks and Recreation District 799 SW Columbia Street Bend, OR 97702 Myles Conway Marten Law 404 SW Columbia Street, Suite 212 Bend, OR 977€02 Ai Johnson 2522 NW Crossing Drive Bend, OR 97701 Paul Dewey 539 NW Vicksburg Avenue Bend, OR 9770 Kelly Esterbrook 16322 B y11ners Road Bend, OR 97701 Christine Herric '» 2281 NW High Lekes Loop Bend. OR 97701 arry Medina, Bend Fire Department 1212 SW Simpson, Suite B Bend. OR 97702 Jennifer Taylor & Christine Pollard 19001 Sq irr&tail Loop Bend .> OR 97701 George Weurthner' P.O. Box 8359 Bend, OR 97708 Edward & Lynn Funk 2138 Toussaint Drive Bend, OR 97701 Deschutes County, Ed Keith, Forester George Kolb, Road Department Peter Russell, CDD