Deschutes County to host public hearing on annual Community Development Work Plan

The public is invited to provide input on the Deschutes County Community Development Department’s Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2019-20. The Board of County Commissioners will host a public hearing on the work plan on Wednesday, June 12 at 10:00 a.m. The public hearing will be held at the Deschutes Services Center, which is located at 1300 NW Wall Street in Bend. 

The plan outlines the department’s anticipated projects and goals for the coming year, including the following highlights:

• Maintaining fast turnaround times for processing permit applications
• Updating the County’s Transportation System Plan and regional transportation plans including Tumalo and Terrebonne
• Initiating a Master Electrical Permit Program for commercial and industrial construction
• Considering amendments to Deschutes County Code to address wildfire hazard mitigation, signage, marijuana uses, floodplains, religious uses, childcare facilities, outcomes from the 2019 Legislative Session, and more
• Coordinating with the cities of Bend and Redmond to expand urban growth boundaries for new affordable neighborhoods and supporting other affordable housing initiatives
• Coordinating with the City of Bend to update the Bend Airport Master Plan and applicable zones
• Coordinating with the City of Bend and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on the city’s southeast sewer interceptor and transition from septic to sewer
• Coordinating with all four cities on growth management and transportation plans
• Updating the Code Enforcement Policy and Procedures Manual
• Implementing the County/s Comprehensive Plan to ensure agricultural lands are correctly designated
• Developing a departmental permitting response plan in the event of a major disaster

 “Public input is important in shaping the department’s work plan each year,” said Community Development Director Nick Lelack. “We strongly encourage residents, businesses and organizations to share to share their thoughts and feedback with us. It really makes a difference.”

For more information about the work plan process or the public hearing, please call (541) 385-1708. Written feedback about the draft work plan can be submitted via email to nick.lelack@deschutes.org.

Media Contact: Nick Lelack, Deschutes County Community Development Director, 541-385-1708