BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Commissioners heard testimony yesterday on rezoning 93 acres east of Bend, between Neff Road and Highway 20.
Tia Lewis, an attorney for the property owners told the commission changing from Exclusive Farm Use to Multiple Use Agricultural land will help address housing needs, “When we keep this agricultural zoning on properties that aren’t agricultural, we make it harder for the city of Bend to expand its UGB. We make it cost more, and that draws up the cost of housing in our community.”
An opponent to the rezoning told Commissioners it will negatively impact the area, “It’s incredibly important we keep large EFU tracts like this intact for innumerable reasons, including protecting sustainability and wildlife. Most property owners outside the UGB did not intend to live next to development anytime soon.”
Commissioners are holding the comment period open until April 19th and will revisit the rezoning request at the April 26th meeting.
They also delayed a decision on an Outdoor Mass Gathering permit for next year’s 4 Peaks Music Festival.
Commissioners heard testimony from a neighbor who has opposed the festival site since it moved to a farm off Knott Road in 2017, “In the past years I’ve presented in how it impacts our livestock. This has been a cost to the homeowners and the community that we have had the brunt of.”
The 4 Peaks organizer says they try to meet all of the neighbors’ concerns involving noise, traffic, and behavior.
Commissioners will keep the comment period open for another week and revisit the permit request in May.
