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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-11 - Planning Commission MinutesCommunity Development Department (' Planning' Division Building Safety Division Environmental Health Division 117 NW Lafayette Avenue Bend Oregon 97701-1925 (541)388-6575 FAX(541)385-1764 http://www.co.deschutes.or.us/cdd/ MINUTES DESCHUTES COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION DESCHUTES SERVICES CENTER 1300 NW WALL STREET, BEND, OREGON, 97701 OCTOBER 11, 2012 — 5:30 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chair Bill Rainey. Members present were Vice Chair Chris Brown, Todd Turner, Ed Criss and Hugh Palcic. Absent: James Powell, Matt Lisignoli. Nick Lelack, Planning Director; Peter Gutowsky, Principal Planner; and Sher Buckner, Administrative Secretary. II. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. III. WORK SESSION: Newberry Country — A Plan for South County — Peter Gutowsky, Principal Planner. Peter spoke about the upcoming hearings in La Pine and Sunriver. Commissioner Criss mentioned a possible land swap program that he felt should be researched. Vice Chair Brown and Peter discussed preparedness for manmade hazards and potential additions to the Plan. Commissioner Palcic said that Policy 14 overall had needed some other items included besides noxious weeds, and he remembered the previous discussions. Peter mentioned that we had sent out 9,000 postcards and had only received around ten calls so far. People have just wanted explanations and did not complain about the draft Plan once they had information about its background. Peter and Chair Rainey discussed using the PowerPoint at the next two upcoming meetings to provide information to the public, 'followed by public testimony and the Commissioners then deciding whether to keep the record open, etc. Chair Rainey asked if suggestions for items to be added to the preparedness list could be made after the public testimony, and Peter said the Commissioners could direct staff to come back with whatever language they wanted to include. Peter said there is no deadline, and the Planning Commission can decide on when and how they would like to eventually forward Quality Services Performed with Pride the document to the Board. Peter said he would submit some alternative paths to the Commissioners at the next meeting. IV. UPDATE: Sage Grouse Coordination — Peter Gutowsky, Principal Planner. Peter submitted an updated table showing federally and non -federally owned parcels. We are providing some strategic planning for Cook, Harney, Lake and Malheur Counties to help with reviewing federal drafts — we are a cooperating agency and the Board signed a Memorandum of Understanding over the summer with these counties and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). We can comment on drafts and are just now reviewing preliminary draft alternatives. Some of the other counties only have one planner and are understaffed to handle this. Vice Chair Brown asked if it is an allowed use, on federal land, for someone to build a wind farm, especially given that sage grouse and wind farms do not mix well. Would wind farms only be considered on private land? Peter said that right now three alternatives are being contemplated. One relates to the federal sage grouse conservation strategy; the second relates to conservation groups; the third is a hybrid of federal and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. A fourth that is not developed yet is the possibility of counties developing alternatives. The second alternative is anti -grazing and anti - alternative energy. The alternative recommended by the feds will largely determine how other land use practices can occur, based on sage grouse conservation measures. Some measures are almost policy directed, it seems, almost as if it gives instruction to federal land managers to determine approaches to wildfire management, grazing, etc. Other approaches are entirely prescriptive and very detailed. Those prescriptive measures do not offer any flexibility for land use managers or those who use them. The sage grouse strategy is affecting all of the western states. Nick said that the BLM is doing a good job listening, and counties are working closely to address the issue. Peter said that in Harney County, 75% is designated for sage grouse. Deschutes County looks like Silicon Valley compared to eastern counties. Nick mentioned that the Board wanted us to be involved in this and regard it as a high priority. Peter said there should be a draft set of alternatives available for review by the public. His question for the BLM is what do the counties need to do to develop an alternative, since none are experts? Who do we need to talk to, what will it cost to retain experts, how do we coordinate as a region to hire professionals to help the counties to develop measures to protect sage grouse and allow for socioeconomic growth? Commissioner Palcic asked if Peter had received feedback from other counties. Peter said that in Harney County, a judge recently had to go out on medical leave and he was incredibly active on behalf of that county. He, has been a real leader and vocal in expressing concerns about poorly -framed reports and statistics that have been released. The other counties do not seem to be overly engaged and seem to be relying on the effort by Deschutes County and some of the politicians working with BLM. The drafts that we see from the feds contain typos and omissions; and they are technical reports and not user friendly. Nick said that the other counties are very concerned about potential impacts and are participating to the extent they are able, with limited staff, because they do not want to have an alternative decided on without their input. Peter added that these counties are 2 sparsely populated, greatly affected by the recession and very thinly staffed. We will be collaborating with Harney County on the private lands piece and this is also clearly our Commissioners' bailiwick. There is solidarity among the counties to use a technical assistance grant to identify issues and best management practices/tools that can be utilized on private lands. Commissioner Criss asked if the BLM is taking input on this now, and Peter said that would happen once the set of alternatives is released. V. PLANNING COMMISSION & STAFF COMMENTS Vice Chair Brown spoke about a regional planning group related to the sage grouse coordination. Maybe we do not need the State to give us permission to operate as a group and maybe Deschutes/Jefferson/Crook counties can work together now regarding EFU lands. Nick said that all eight counties applied for a State grant to address this issue, so the State has acknowledged that we are working together now — if we do not do it together, we'll be doing it individually. Chair Rainey mentioned internet access for a new program from the Energy Trust of Oregon and PG & E. You can enter your address and an online tool will show the potential for wind energy use in your area. VI. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was -adjourned. Respectfully submitted, her Buckner Administrative Secretary 3