HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 - 09 (Sep) Community Development UpdateCCCOMMUNITY OMMUNITY OMMUNITY DDDEVELOPMENT EVELOPMENT EVELOPMENT DDDEPARTMENT EPARTMENT EPARTMENT
September 5, 2013
Board of County Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Bend
Meeting: 9-25-13 1:30 p.m.
Issues: Work Session—Oregon Spotted Frog
Board of County Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Bend
Meeting: 9-30-13 1:30 p.m.
Issues: Work Session—Sisters Eagle Airport UGB Amendment,
and Planning Division Work Plan
Planning Commission 1300 NW Wall St., Bend
Meeting: 9-17-13 11:30 a.m. (location varies for this date)
Issues: North Country Tour and Retreat
Historic Landmarks Commission 1300 NW Wall St., Bend
Meeting: 9-19-13 5:30 p.m.
Issues: Certified Local Government Grant Update
CALENDAR
From the Director’s Desk:
The Community Development Department is bursting with
activity and changes.
· Our Building Official, Dave Pedersen, is back! We missed him
greatly and are delighted he has returned to lead our building
team. Interim Building Official Randy Scheid performed
superbly during Dave’s absence.
· Our business volumes across all divisions for the first two
months of the new fiscal year (July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014)
have been strong as shown in the attached Monthly Statistics.
· We are excited to announce that former County Planner Matt
Martin will re-join the Planning Division on October 1 as an
Associate Long-Range Planner. Matt’s 13 years of
professional experience in Central Oregon in the public,
private and non-profit sectors, as well as in urban and rural
environments, allow him to make significant and immediate
contributions to our team and County.
· We launch our new ePermitting system, Accela, on October 1.
The system will be phased in over the next six months. The
cities of Sisters and Redmond will launch the same system in
the near future as well. CDD will conduct Accela training
sessions beginning in October. Let us know if you are
interested.
· Last month, the County signed a cooperative agreement with
the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and issued a
Request for Proposals to initiate the $400,000 Community-
Wide Assessment Grant for brownfields. The project begins
October 1.
· The Planning Division will conduct a retreat and tour of north
County farms and properties with the Planning Commission
on September 17. In addition, the Planning Commission and
Board will provide direction to staff on projects to initiate in
the 2013-14 Work Plan at work sessions on September 17
and 30, respectively.
· CDD Director Nick Lelack is
participating on four state legislative
and rule making work groups
addressing the following issues: the
Aspen Lakes/Metolius Transferable
Development Opportunities (TDO)
appeal fees, DEQ onsite septic system
permitting and inspection services for
rural counties, and UGB Rulemaking to
implement HR 2254 (to simplify the
process).
Sisters Eagle Airport
File PA-13-3/ZC-13-3 is an application
from the owner of Sisters Eagle Airport to
be included within the Urban Growth
Boundary (UGB) for the City of
Sisters. Ultimately, the applicant wants
to extend City services to the property
and to rezone the property for airport
use to allow development to the full
potential of the property. The
application was reviewed by the County
Hearings Officer at a public hearing on
August 27, 2013; the City of Sisters is
processing the application
concurrently and has held public
hearings on July 31 and August 8. The
Hearings Officer decision is expected by
September 6. A BOCC work session is
scheduled for September 30 and final
County approval in October. Staff
contact: Kevin Harrison,
Kevin.Harrison@deschutes.org.
Building Safety
The Building Safety Division continues on a very
sustainable path out of the lows of the recession
years. Deschutes County’s proposed electrical
cross training program, while rejected by the
State, has brought the urgent need for cross
trained Residential Inspectors to the attention of
State Building Code Division officials and will
likely result in a State-administered system to
allow us to obtain our goal of an all cross-
trained, 1&2 family dwelling staff (Electrical,
Mechanical, Plumbing, and Structural Programs).
Fall means education classes to fulfill our
mandatory continuing education requirements
and ensure the continued high level of
knowledge and professionalism that our staff is
known for in the region. This year’s classes, as a
non-Code change year, will cover energy, wall
bracing, and ADA requirements. Our staff has
also undergone some basic training on the new
Accela program over the last three weeks, and
everyone is excited to get started with the new
system. The tablet application for the new
program will assist us in covering the same
geographic territory with greater efficiencies.
Staff contact: Dave Pedersen,
Dave.Pedersen@deschutes.org
Transportation
Much of the transportation planning activity in July
and August related to long-range transportation
planning and future projects. The Central Oregon
Area Commission on Transportation (COACT) had
its technical advisory committee (TAC) meetings
on July 11 and August 8 to prioritize projects
submitted to the Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT) for the 2015-2018
Statewide Transportation Improvement Program
(STIP). The COACT has 14 projects ranging from
highway improvements to bicycle/pedestrian
projects to transit. The complete project list for
the 150% of expected funding levels can be seen
at the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council
(COIC) website here:
http://newcoic.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/
enhance-application-150-priority-list-
handout.pdf.
The number two project is to add bike facilities
and sidewalks in La Pine to US 97 and 1 st Street
while a roundabout at US 20/Barclay at the
west end of Sisters is the number three
project. The TAC had two proposals
regarding identifying projects for
the 100% list. One was to simply
begin with the first project and proceed until the
expected monies were awarded. The other, with
the demise of the Columbia River Crossing (CRC)
bridge project in Portland, was to request the
Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) to use
discretionary funds that were going to go to CRC to
fund projects in the region instead.
The City of La Pine and its 20-year transportation
system plan (TSP) were also the subjects of a
technical meeting on July 22 and a public meeting
on July 24. County staff met July 22 with ODOT,
the City of La Pine Manager, and the City’s traffic
consultant to discuss several of the TSP’s technical
details such as roadway classification, roadway
standards, drainage, and financing. Two days later,
Kittleson and Associates staff informally presented
the draft TSP to a joint meeting of the La Pine City
Council, the Planning Commission, and the Public
Works Committee. Planning staff mentioned the
need for the City and County to agree upon the
timing of transferring jurisdiction of 20 miles of
roads within La Pine from the County to the City;
the City currently controls three miles of roads.
Staff outlined three broad proposals in an
August 14 memo to the City Manager.
A future frontage road was the topic of July 22
meeting held by ODOT. At this meeting, ODOT
staff presented preliminary transportation analysis
of a few different alignments for a frontage road
on the west side of US 97 in the vicinity of
Deschutes Junction. Currently, ODOT does not
have any funding to pursue the frontage road, but
the agency has looked at traffic volumes,
intersection performance, and access management
spacing standards for the area between 61 st Street
and Tumalo Road.
Finally, staff attended an August 16 update by DKS
and Associates, ODOT Transportation Safety
Divisions, and ODOT Region 4 Traffic staff on
federal funding for safety improvements. The
general safety countermeasures were selected at a
June 4 meeting with ODOT and local staff. The
program has approximately $1.2 million available
for Region 4 with the funds being split by history
of fatal and serious injury crashes, which results in
approximately $705,000 for rural roads and
$503,000 for urban streets. The projects come
with a 7.78% local match requirement. The
difference with this money is twofold. One, the
funding while administered by ODOT is juris-
dictionally blind, meaning the funded improve-
ments can be on city and county roads, not just
state highways. Second, the intent of the
program is to look at crash data from a
corridor perspective rather than at specific
sites. The main roads in Deschutes
County that appeared in the safety
analysis were Deschutes Market Road and
Old Bend-Redmond Highway. Staff contact:
Peter Russell, Peter.Russell@deschutes.org
Harper Bridge
The Planning Division continues to coordinate
with the Sunriver Owners’ Association (SROA).
The County, SROA and stakeholders are eager
to move forward with a solution to conflicts
between traffic on Spring River Road and those
seeking to launch boats or float on the
Deschutes River from or near Harper Bridge.
The goal is to have a boat ramp design
concept ready to submit for the Oregon Marine
Board’s 2015 grant cycle. Staff contact: Peter
Russell, Peter.Russell@deschutes.org.
Bend Airport Master Plan
In June, the Planning Division prepared a draft
scope of work on behalf of the City of Bend to
adopt: 1) the Bend Airport Master Plan into the
Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan; 2) a
Zone change to realign airport zoning
boundaries; and 3) a Text Amendment for
Deschutes County Code (DCC) 18.76, Airport
Development Zone. The Federal Aviation
Administration will be issuing its approval of
the Master Plan this fall. An agreed-upon
scope of work, Intergovernmental Agreement
and project kick-off are expected later in the
early winter. Staff contact: Peter Russell,
Peter.Russell@deschutes.org.
Cross Anchor S Ranch
File Nos. MA-12-1/AD-11-11 - The Board
approved the request to establish two farm-
related dwellings, a Relative Farm
Assistance Dwelling and an Accessory
Dwelling, on non-high value
farmland in the Exclusive Farm Use Zone.
The decision was appealed to LUBA on June 20.
Staff contact: Cynthia Smidt, Cynthia.Smidt@
deschutes.org.
Newberry Country Plan
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
amended its Comprehensive Plan on May 29,
2013 by adopting Ordinance 2013-007 to formally
recognize an area specific plan titled, Newberry
Country: A Plan for Southern Deschutes County .
The Plan encompasses the rural areas south of
Lava Butte. Ordinance 2013-007 was appealed to
the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) in June. A
LUBA decision is expected later this fall. Staff
contact: Peter Gutowsky, peter.gutowsky@
deschutes.org. To download a copy, visit the
South County Plan website at: www.deschutes.org/
NewberryCountry.
Central Oregon Large-Lot
Industrial Needs Analysis
The City of Redmond has identified a site owned
by the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL)
adjoining its UGB as a plausible location for a
regional large-lot industrial campus. Redmond
and DSL are currently refining a Reconnaissance
Level Infrastructure Analysis to hone in on the
site’s serviceability issues, size, and marketability
for accommodating a large-lot industrial user,
and coordinating with Central Oregon
Intergovernmental Council (COIC) for an official
endorsement. This fall, DSL will submit an
application to COIC, the regional governance
authority. It is expected that the COIC Board will
formally review the request in February 2014.
Following their approval, DSL would initiate a
City/County UGB plan amendment in the spring.
More information is available on Deschutes
County’s website: http://www.deschutes.org/cdd
and select: Regional Projects; Central Oregon
Large Lot Industrial Lands Project. Staff contacts:
Nick Lelack, Nick.Lelack@deschutes.org; Peter
Gutowsky, Peter.Gutowsky@deschutes.org; Scott
Aycock, ScottA@coic.org; and Heather Richards,
Heather.Richards@ci.redmond.or.us.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Community-Wide
Brownfields Assessment Grant
Last December, Deschutes County submitted
an application for a Community-Wide
Assessment Grant for both petroleum and
hazardous substance brownfields as
part of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (USEPA) FY2013 Brownfield Grant
Competition. In May 2013, the USEPA selected
Deschutes County to begin negotiations to
award a cooperative agreement totaling
$400,000.00. Deschutes County submitted a
detailed work plan and budget to USEPA on July
3. USEPA issued a cooperative agreement on
August 12. The project commences on
October 1 and covers a three-year period
(10/1/13 - 9/13/16).
On August 23, the Community Development
Department released a Request for Proposals
(RFP), seeking a qualified consultant firm to
assist in implementation. Community-wide
hazardous substances grant funds will be used
to build a systematic inventory of brownfield
sites, conduct Phase I and Phase II
environmental site assessments, perform
remediation and redevelopment planning, and
conduct community outreach activities.
Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct
the same tasks at sites with potential
petroleum contamination. The RFP deadline is
Friday, September 20 at 5:00 p.m. Staff
contact: Peter Gutowsky,
Peter.Gutowsky@deschutes.org.
Sage-Grouse
As a cooperating agency, the Planning
Division continues to participate with the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which is
conducting an environmental analysis and
preparing a draft programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for federal land use and
resource management plan (RMP)
amendments to incorporate sage-grouse
conservation measures in Central and Eastern
Oregon. In March 2010, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (FWS) published its listing
decision for the greater sage-grouse indicating
that listing was “Warranted but Precluded” due
to higher listing priorities under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA). The target
date for BLM to publish a draft EIS and RMP
amendment for a 90-day public review is
October 25.
The Planning Division is also participating
with the Governor’s Office, Sage Grouse
Conservation Partnership. This involves
interagency and inter-stakeholder
coordination on issues related to
sagebrush and sage-grouse habitat
conservation on non-federal lands.
This effort compliments actions being
undertaken by BLM on federal lands. The state’s
goal is to demonstrate that listing the sage grouse
as a threatened or endangered species under the
federal ESA is unnecessary. Staff Contacts: Peter
Gutowsky, Peter.Gutowsky@deschutes.org and Jon
Jinings, Jon.Jinings@state.or.us
Goal 11 (Sewer) Exception for South
Deschutes County
CDD continues to support the Oregon Department
of Environmental Quality (DEQ) South Deschutes/
Northern Klamath County Groundwater Protection
Project and is awaiting the findings from DEQ to
initiate a Goal 11 Exception as required under State
law. The DEQ Groundwater Steering Committee
issued its recommendations to the Planning
Commission and Board of County Commissioners
in July. DEQ is currently evaluating the Steering
Committee’s recommendations. As directed by
Senate Bill 5520-A, prior to taking action on any
recommendation, DEQ is required to report back to
the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural
Resources or House Committee on Energy and
Environment, no later than the February 2014
legislative session, on its evaluation of the
committee’s recommendations. Staff contacts:
Nick Lelack, Nick.Lelack@deschutes.org; Peter
Gutowsky, Peter.Gutowsky@deschutes.org; and
Todd Cleveland, Todd.Cleveland@deschutes.org.
Historic Preservation and Landmarks
Commission
File Nos. A-13-3/DR-13-6 - Deschutes County
initiated a Declaratory Ruling, requesting
interpretation of County Ordinance No. 92-019
and related documents regarding the Cline Falls
Power Plant Historic Site (DR-13-6). County
records adopted in 1992 contain inconsistencies
in the description of the Cline Falls Power Plant
Historic Site and protected structures. The issue
is whether Ordinance No. 92-019 and related
documents protect just the dam, penstock and
powerhouse, or the entire site. The Deschutes
County Historic Landmarks Commission, after
holding a hearing on May 6, deliberated on June
24 and formally declared that the entire site,
including the dam, penstock, and powerhouse,
is designated as an historic resource. The
decision was appealed by Pacific Corp. to the
Board of County Commissioners. They leased
the subject property from Central Oregon
Irrigation District. A public hearing is
scheduled with the Board on October 21 at
10:00 a.m. at the Deschutes Service Center,
Barnes and Sawyer Rooms.
The Deschutes County Historic Landmarks
Commission continues to meet quarterly. They
will be meeting on September 19 at 5:30 at the
Deschutes Services Center in Bend. The
purpose of the meeting is to discuss the
Certified Local Government Grant. There are
two noteworthy projects worth highlighting.
The first one is a Reconnaissance Level Survey
of local, state, and federal landmarks
containing tourism and recreational features.
CDD recently contracted with Tama Tochihara
to perform the work. The other pertains to
photographing 53 historic landmarks located
in the rural county and city of Sisters. Next
spring, photographs will be incorporated into
an interactive website managed by CDD that
enables viewers to learn more about each
property’s historic and cultural heritage. Staff
contact: Peter Gutowsky,
Peter.Gutowsky@deschutes.org.
Oregon Spotted Frog
On August 29, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
proposed to protect the Oregon spotted frog as a
threatened species under the federal ESA. In
Deschutes County, their habitat extends along
the Upper Deschutes and Little Deschutes rivers,
terminating in Bend at the Old Mill. The FWS now
has up to one year to determine whether the
proposed listing and proposed critical habitat
should become
final. The FWS
opened a 60-day
public comment
period on
August 29 to
allow the public
to review and
comment on the
proposal and provide additional information. All
relevant information received from the public,
government agencies, the scientific community,
industry, or any other interested parties by
October 28, 2013, will be considered and
addressed in the agency’s final listing
determination for the species. A work session
with the Board is scheduled for September 25th at
1:30 p.m. at the Deschutes Services Building, 1300
NW Wall Street, 2nd Floor. Public meetings are
anticipated in October. Staff contact: Peter
Gutowsky, Peter.Gutowsky@deschutes.org.
To request this newsletter in an alternate format, call (541) 617-4747 or email ken.harms@deschutes.org.
NNNAME AME AME TTTITLE ITLE ITLE PPPHONE HONE HONE EEEMAIL MAIL MAIL
Nick Lelack Director (541) 385-1708 Nick.Lelack@deschutes.org
Tim Berg GIS Analyst/Programmer III (541) 330-4648 Tim.Berg@deschutes.org
Paul Blikstad Senior Planner (541) 388-6554 Paul.Blikstad@deschutes.org
Dale Brieske Building Inspector III (541) 388-6614 Dale.Brieske@deschutes.org
Sher Buckner Administrative Secretary (541) 617-4736 Sher.Buckner@deschutes.org
Scott Farm Building Inspector III (541) 385-1402 Scott.Farm@deschutes.org
Lori Furlong Administrative Supervisor II (541) 317-3122 Lori.Furlong@deschutes.org
Chris Gracia Building Inspector III (541) 388-6578 Chris.Gracia@deschutes.org
Tracy Griffin Permit Technician (541) 388-6573 Tracy.Griffin@deschutes.org
John Griley Code Enforcement Technician (541) 617-4708 John.Griley@deschutes.org
William Groves Senior Planner (541) 388-6518 William.Groves@deschutes.org
Tim Grundeman Code Enforcement Technician (541) 385-1707 Tim.Grundeman@deschutes.org
Peter Gutowsky Principal Planner (541) 385-1709 Peter.Gutowsky@deschutes.org
Judy Hackett Permit Technician (541) 317-1713 Judy.Hackett@deschutes.org
Kevin Harrison Principal Planner (541) 385-1401 Kevin.Harrison@deschutes.org
Steven Jensen Building Inspector III (541) 385-1700 Steven.Jensen@deschutes.org
Marti Mello Permit Technician (541) 317-3148 Marti.Mello@deschutes.org
Dave Pedersen Building Official (541) 385-3200 Dave.Pedersen@deschutes.org
Lisa Petersen Permit Technician (541) 317-3188 Lisa.Petersen@deschutes.org
Peter Russell Senior Transportation Planner (541) 383-6718 Peter.Russell@deschutes.org
Randy Scheid Building Inspector III (541) 317-3137 Randy.Scheid@deschutes.org
Martha Shields Permit Technician (541) 385-1706 Martha.Shields@deschutes.org
Cynthia Smidt Associate Planner (541) 317-3150 Cynthia.Smidt@deschutes.org
Kathleen Stockton Administrative Assistant (541) 317-3193 Kathleen.Stockton@deschutes.org
Dan Swarthout Building Inspector III (541) 385-1745 Dan.Swarthout@deschutes.org
Todd Cleveland Environmental Health Spec. III (541) 617-4714 Todd.Cleveland@deschutes.org
STAFF DIRECTORY