Commissioners to consider plan to address health and safety concerns on County-owned property

Deschutes County has received a formal code enforcement complaint for an unpermitted land use (camping), structures, on-site waste disposal, access, and wood-burning apparatuses as well as solid waste on County-owned property located in north Juniper Ridge. The complaint resulted in a Pre-Enforcement Notice (attached below).

The violations reveal extremely dangerous public health, life and safety conditions. There are a large number of individuals experiencing houselessness living on the 50-acre site north of Bend.

On June 21, 2023 the Board of County Commissioners will consider a remediation plan that includes outreach to individuals living on the property to offer services, provides a phased approach to immediately mitigate health and safety threats, and supports individuals residing on the property as they vacate the area.

The draft remediation plan will be available online when the Board agenda packet is published to the County’s website on June 16, 2023. While the Board meeting on June 21, 2023 is a public meeting, this item is not scheduled for a public hearing.

Media Contact: Whitney Hale, Deputy County Administrator, (541) 330-4640