The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development is one department I’d like to tell you about. In 1973 the Legislature passed SB100 that enacted Land Use Law in Oregon.
When land use decisions don't go the way a Developer prefers, the case can be referred to LUBA, Land Use Board of Appeals, 3 Judges that report to the Governor. Yes, you heard that right, 3 Judges report to the Executive branch of Oregon. A violation of Separation of Powers.
They use 19 Planning Goals. Every land use decision must conform to these Planning Goals.
Goal 1 Citizen Involvement
Goal 2 Land Use Planning
Goal 3 Agricultural Lands
Goal 4 Forest Lands
Goal 5 Natural Resources, Scenic and Historic Areas, and Open Spaces
Goal 6 Air, Water and Land Resources Quality
Goal 7 Areas Subject to Natural Hazards
Goal 8 Recreational Needs
Goal 9 Economic Development
Goal 10 Housing
Goal 11 Public Facilities and Services
Goal 12 Transportation
Goal 13 Energy Conservation
Goal 14 Urbanization
Goal 15 Willamette River Greenway
Goal 16 Estuarine Resources
Goal 17 Coastal Shorelands
Goal 18 Beaches and Dunes
Goal 19 Ocean Resources
It created Urban Growth Boundaries.
These Urban Growth Boundaries prevent developers from building outside them. “To prevent urban sprawl and protect farm land.”
Have you seen the green "UGB" signs near the edge of town? This one is on Bear Creek Rd. going west into town from Ward Rd., immediately past the speed check sign.
It’s also another reason why Homes are not affordable in Oregon, in Deschutes, in Bend, Redmond, Sisters and LaPine.
It's an "invisible fence" around the city preventing development and the building of affordable homes!
Problem 1: This planning is focused on the West side of the Cascades, not the East side.
Problem 2: It doesn’t account for unusable land. Like land that is too rocky to farm, or with bad soil, or with no water rights.
There are more problems that will be written about in the future.
Our County Commissioners and the Deschutes Planning Commission are well acquainted with this! Ask them about it!