247-25-000145-PA Reconsideration: Deschutes County 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update (Hearing Page)

Note: The information below pertains to the 2025 Reconsideration Hearing for the Deschutes County 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update. The entire record from the previous hearing process (247-24-000644-PA) is included in the Application Materials Section titled "Complete Amended LUBA Record".

Proposal Summary

The Board of County Commissioners will hold a reconsideration hearing to gather additional testimony on issues raised through the Land Use Board of Appeals process. Following the adoption of the Deschutes County 2040 Comprehensive Plan in October 2024, the decision was appealed by Central Oregon Landwatch. In the Petitioner's Brief (see application materials below), Central Oregon Landwatch raised concerns regarding policies related to the rezoning of land to rural industrial and rural commercial designations, and the rezoning of farmland to rural residential uses. The reconsideration hearing will be limited de novo meaning testimony is limited to only the issues raised in the petitioner's brief.

Background

The Board of County Commissioners voted on October 2, 2024, to adopt the Deschutes County 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The updated document intends to provide overarching policy guidance on land use and planning-related issues for the years 2020-2040. The document applies to areas under County planning jurisdiction, excluding cities and federally owned land. Topics covered include housing, recreation, jobs, natural hazards, community engagement, farm and forest lands, historic and cultural resources, and natural resources. The update does not include any changes to community plans, the transportation system plan, or the County's Goal 5 natural resource inventories.

The decision to approve the Deschutes County 2040 Plan was appealed to the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). Local governments have the option to hold a reconsideration hearing in order to address new issues raised at LUBA that were not fully discussed at the local level. This process pauses the appeal and allows for a revised decision to be issued by the Board to address the issues.

Hearing Information

The public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners will take place on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, during the regularly scheduled meeting. The specific hearing time will be posted the week prior to the hearing.

The hearing will be limited de novo meaning that only testimony related to the Petitioner's Brief submitted by Central Oregon Landwatch to the Oregon Land Use Board Appeals will be allowed. The Petitioner's Brief is found below under "Application Materials". Deschutes County Planning Division has set the following time limits for testimony at the hearing:

Public Agencies: 10 minutes
General Public: 3 minutes

Please note, the above time limits can be modified or eliminated by the Board at their discretion.

Please contact the staff planner by 4 pm on April 22, 2025, if you would like to testify. Testimony can be provided:

Virtually via Zoom utilizing this link: bit.ly/3h3oqdD
Via telephone by dialing 253-215-8782, enter Webinar ID: 899-4635-9970 and Password: 013510.
In person in the Barnes and Sawyer Rooms of the Deschutes Service Center, 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend.

You can share this page with others via the link: https://bit.ly/Deschutes2040Reconsideration

Staff Contact