Deschutes County Commissioners to decide the fate of 710 acres
A farming future for the Lower Bridge Valley
Aerial view of the 710-acre area, from the Notice of Appeal
Early this spring, LandWatch testified in opposition to a proposal to remove agricultural land protections on 710 acres near Terrebonne, to rezone the property for development. We took a stand alongside neighboring farmers and ranchers to protect this area for farm use. Many of you testified during the April hearing to defend this area’s agricultural legacy.
In June, the public hearings officer nevertheless recommended approval of the proposal to the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).
We are requesting the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners reverse the hearings officer’s decision and deny the proposal.
This property is agricultural land as a matter of law. Therefore, it is to be protected for farm use.
Photo: Ryder Redfield
The basis for farmland preservation
The Oregon legislative assembly has declared that open land used for agriculture constitutes an important physical, social, aesthetic, and economic asset to all Oregonians. It is Oregon’s policy that the limited amount of agricultural lands in the state are to be preserved to maintain Oregon’s agricultural economy, a sector that yields $5 billion annually.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development took the unusual step of opposing this proposal in a joint, three-agency letter explaining in detail why converting the land in this rural farming community to allow residential development is against the law. Read their letter.
LandWatch is particularly disappointed in the Hearings Officer's decision because neighboring ranchers testified that they would be interested in purchasing the property or otherwise using it to expand their ranch. They explained in detail why the property is well-suited for ranching, an agricultural use. Speculation in farm and ranch land artificially increases the price of farmland until farmland is priced out of reach for actual farmers and ranchers.
The definition of agricultural land is very broad, and this land meets that definition. LandWatch will continue to oppose this application through the appeals process.
An upcoming hearing with Deschutes County Commissioners
The Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will decide the fate of this 710-acre property. The BOCC will schedule a hearing on the Eden Central application sometime in August to decide whether to approve or deny the proposal. Any member of the public can participate in this hearing and tell our elected officials whether these 710 acres for farmland should be rezoned for development. We’ll send out an update when the time comes on how to get involved.
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