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HomeMy WebLinkAbouts_county_plan_memo[1] MEMORANDUM DATE: September 13, 2011 TO: Deschutes County Planning Commission FROM: Nick Lelack, Planning Director Peter Gutowsky, Principal Planner Terri Hansen Payne, Senior Planner MEETING: September 22, 2011 RE: South County Plan Scope of Work Comprehensive Planning and a South County Plan Deschutes County is initiating a process to prepare a land use plan for the south county area. During recent Comprehensive Plan update meetings, residents noted that there are unique issues in South County that need to be discussed and addressed. The Comprehensive Plan identifies county-wide land use data and policies, but also includes specific policies for defined areas. Currently there is a section in the Comprehensive Plan called Regional Problem Solving for South Deschutes County (RPS), which was adopted in 1998. That section was developed after an extensive public process. Much has changed since that time. RPS discusses a number of issues, but is primarily focused on drinking water concerns. Implementation of RPS policies has included the creation of the New Neighborhood and Transfer of Development Credit/Pollution Reduction Credit program. Water quality is now being addressed by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and this Plan process will coordinate with the DEQ process. The South County Plan will build on the other facets of RPS with updated issues and solutions to those issues identified through community discussions. The final Plan will be adopted into the Comprehensive Plan and must comply with Oregon land use planning regulations. Scope of Work The first step in creating the Plan is to define a scope of work that lays out the process. The public is invited to participate in creating the scope of work. Involving the public in crafting the scope of work will ensure the Plan process is open, accessible and accountable to the community. The scope of work will clearly define: • Plan purpose and deliverables (e.g., memorandums, draft and final chapters, maps) • Plan process and review structure • Board, Planning Commission, and staff roles, responsibilities, and resources • Public outreach techniques • Project timeline -2- Scoping Questions As a starting point, a list of questions has been drafted. Community feedback on the questions and on other issues will enable staff to produce a draft scope of work that can be considered at a future Planning Commission meeting, where the public can again comment. 1. What issue(s) should the plan address? 2. What are the unique South County assets? 3. What are the unique South County needs? 4. What should be the South County Plan boundary? 5. What are the desired outcomes, including the level of detail? 6. What are your expectations of staff and the Planning Commission in supporting development of the Plan? 7. How can maximum community involvement be achieved? 8. How should differences of opinion among South County residents and/or organizations be resolved during the planning process? 9. What is a realistic project timeline? Meeting Format Maps will be available for review starting at 5 p.m. The Planning Commission meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. Staff will give a short presentation to clarify the basics of the Oregon land use planning system and how the South County Plan fits into State requirements. That will be followed by public comments and ideas. Next Steps • Sept. 22 – Oct. 19: The information from this meeting will be used to draft a scope of work. That scope will be provided to the Planning Commission and the public in the Planning Commission’s meeting packet for their Oct. 27 meeting. • Oct. 27 Planning Commission meeting. The Commission will review the draft scope of work, take public input on the scope of work, and provide direction to staff on what changes to make. This meeting will be conducted in Bend because it is also the first public hearing on the County’s Transportation System Plan (TSP) update. • Oct. 28 – Nov. 2. Staff will revise the scope of work, and submit the revised scope of work in the Planning Commission’s meeting packet for Nov. 10. • Nov. 10 Planning Commission meeting. The Planning Commission will review the revised scope of work, take public input, and provide direction to staff on the final change changes. • Nov. 11-23. Staff will revise the scope of work based on the Planning Commission’s direction, and prepare a memorandum with the scope for the Board of County Commissioners consideration. • December. Board of County Commission work session and/or public meeting dates are to be determined for consideration of the recommended scope of work. • January 2012. The planning process is expected to begin.