BEND, OR -- Deschutes County's County Community Development Department has a plan for the next fiscal year that outlines anticipated projects and goals requested by residents. Director Nick Lelack says the plan serves as a framework to solve major issues, "Our goal is to address affordable housing and a lot of major transportation projects."

Lelack tells KBND News the plan is rewritten every year to address suggestions from residents, "The real key priorities this year are going to be addressing affordable housing, which includes working with the cities of Bend and Redmond on some pilot projects, and hopefully addressing rural accessory dwelling units. There's a whole slew of amendments to the county code that we're going to be talking about, and a lot of major transportation projects occurring in Tumalo, Terrebonne, and all of our cities." They'll also consider changes that could allow rural ADUs, if approved by the Legislature, "What we need to do is look at the avenues available to provide rural Accessory Swelling Units, or what can we do to support the cities of Bend or Redmond expand their urban Growth boundaries?" If state lawmakers clear the way for rural ADUs, zoning changes would be needed, "[There's] A proposal by the county to redesignate six residential areas that are currently zoned farm or forest to what they actually are, which is rural residential, and this will both streamline and lower the permitting costs for people that want to build a home on their properties."

The public is invited to provide input as the plan is finalized at three open houses this month. Then, County Commissioners will vote to adopt the plan before July first. Click HERE to view the full draft plan. 

Open houses will be held:

• Thursday, April 11, 5:30 p.m. - La Pine Senior Center, 16450 Victory Way, La Pine
• Thursday, April 18, 5:30 p.m. - Deschutes Services Center, 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend
• Thursday, April 25, 6 p.m. - Sisters City Hall, 520 E Cascade Ave, Sisters