BEND, OR -- About 93 acres between Neff Road and Highway 20 will soon see changes. Deschutes County Commissioners approved a new zoning designation for the land east of Bend Wednesday from Exclusive Farm Use, to Multi-Use Agricultural.

While the move received unanimous approval, Commissioner Phil Chang worries how it will be built out, "I think it would be tragic for this area to be developed as MUA, one residence per 10 acres, but I also appreciate that establishing policies to prevent that outcome is outside of the scope of this land use decision. That is the concern that is driving me in pushing for us to kind of get this figured out with the City of Bend.” Commissioner Chang said he agrees with the property owner’s economic reason to not immediately develop the land.

Commissioners suggested a joint meeting with the city of Bend to discuss the future of the parcel, which sits outside Bend’s Urban Growth Boundary.