This Sneaky Factor Leads to Urban Sprawl
We already know that urban sprawl eats up wildlife habitat, creates unhealthy communities, causes pollution, and costs us money. Those are some of the main reasons we created the BCD Initiative promote an inclusive, dense, mixed-use neighborhood in the Bend Central District that is well-served by safe and environmentally friendly mobility options.
You may not be aware of this important but sneaky factor that can be one of the biggest contributors to how much a community sprawls: How we plan our transportation system.
Central Oregon's cities have followed unsustainable patterns of growth over the past several decades, and the transportation system has followed suit by accommodating more and more cars driving longer and longer distances.
We have an opportunity to turn that around.
Together, we successfully reduced Bend's Urban Growth Boundary expansion by 70%. Now it is critically important that we plan our transportation system to encourage complete communities with high quality of life and prioritize moving people, not just cars.
Please read below for Bend Central District updates and sign up for OLCV's Pints & Politics where Moey Newbold will be discussing Bend's Transportation Future.
The City of Bend is currently updating its Transportation System Plan (TSP), which will guide policies, programs and infrastructure investments for transportation in Bend until 2040. Join Mike Riley, executive director of The Environmental Center, and Moey Newbold, director of urban planning at Central Oregon Landwatch, to learn how our community can benefit from a transportation system that prioritizes safe, healthy, and climate-friendly options like walking, biking, and transit. Come find out how you can advocate for a well-rounded transportation future for Bend that better serves underserved populations.
WHEN: Thursday, May 16 from 6:00-8:00pm
WHERE: Broken Top Bottle Shop, 1740 NW Pence Ln., Bend, OR
Click here to RSVP
Urban Renewal Advisory Board
The City of Bend's Urban Renewal Advisory Board is meeting on Tuesday.They will be making decisions about what types of projects should be funded with urban renewal money. Learn more.
The categories they are considering are:
Transportation (streetscape improvements, bicycle & pedestrian connectivity, roadway capacity & safety, parking, transit, over- & under-crossings, etc.)
Affordable Housing (low interest loans for existing housing rehabilitation and partnerships to build new affordable housing)
Business and Infill Development/Redevelopment Assistance
Parks & Open Space (park improvements, walkways and plazas, pocket parks to support stormwater management, etc.)
Public Buildings and Attractors (New Library, New performing and/or visual arts venue, public transportation, community centers, etc.)
Signage, Wayfinding, Public Art
Utilities & Infrastructure (Sewer, Stormwater, Water, Private utilities)
(Learn about how these types of projects might fit in to the Core Area: Project Type Examples)
How Would You Rank These Categories?
Imagine you have $100 of urban renewal revenue to spend on projects within the urban renewal boundary. Using increments of $5, how would you spend it between the seven project categories? How does this fit with your vision for the Bend Central District?
Send your answers to the Urban Renewal Advisory Board to help them guide their decisions about what types of projects will be funded if tax increment financing revenue (TIF) is generated! Email URAB@bendoregon.gov by Monday, May 13th or make a public comment at the meeting (find the agenda and materials here).
Urban Renewal Advisory Board Meeting
Tuesday, May 14th 12pm - 3pm
Municipal Court Building*
555 NE 15th Street
Bend, Oregon 97701
*Overflow parking available at Lava Lanes
Better East-West Connections Needed in the Core Area
People continue to tell us that better east-west connections are needed to catalyze change in the Bend Central District. Improvements to the Franklin Avenue Corridor would help existing residents access jobs and services by foot or bike, encourage more housing to be built, and make travel safer for customers.
The City of Bend has begun construction on the first sections of its Neighborhood Greenways on NE 6th and NW 15th Streets. The City is working to redesign a network of streets to be lower speed and accommodate multiple uses. However, the east-west connection segment of this Neighborhood Greenway network is not yet funded.
Please tell City Council THANK YOU for beginning construction on the first Neighborhood Greenway segment and encourage them to prioritize the east-west connection section of Franklin Ave by sending an email to council@bendoregon.gov.
Be sure to sign up for all BCD Initiative updates here!