Making Complete Communities Happen in Bend
Corie Harlan, Cities & Towns Program Director
More Complete Communities Ahead
Central Oregon’s growth presents many challenges and one tremendous opportunity – to grow well and with intention. LandWatch’s Cities & Towns Program is here to deliver Complete Communities to Bend and beyond.
Complete Communities are the building blocks of livable cities and towns. They’re vibrant, welcoming neighborhoods with housing options for all, nature nearby, convenient and safe ways to walk, bike, and roll - and they’re mixed use so essential services are nearby.
Here are some exciting updates about how we’re helping make Complete Communities happen in our community, right now.
Housing Options for All
Focus on infrastructure funding to meet our housing needs
Affordable housing options for all are the cornerstones of safe, equitable, and thriving Complete Communities. To tackle Central Oregon’s housing crisis, we need bold, effective policies and investments that urgently deliver abundant housing - and also bolster climate resilience and human health.
At the top of the list of solutions is improving land readiness. Land readiness means land within our existing Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) can be developed into housing because it is served by essential infrastructure like pipes, sidewalks, and roads. Lack of funding for these improvements is one of the most significant barriers to available land in our city becoming ‘shovel-ready’ for housing development.
Bend’s expansion and opportunity areas
Did you know?
Bend’s 2023 Buildable Land Inventory identified capacity for over 23,000 housing units within the current Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
That’s why LandWatch is currently working with a coalition of conservation and housing groups, city leaders, and state elected officials to help ensure new, substantial, and sustained state resources for affordable and middle housing infrastructure funding are the focus of the 2024 legislative session.
Numerous expansion and opportunity areas have been designated in our city to help us grow well and with intention. Infrastructure investments in these key areas, such as the Bend Central District, will unlock critical housing potential and help create the Complete Communities we need.
Curious to learn more? Check out our recent Guest Column in the Bend Bulletin by Corie Harlan, LandWatch’s Cities & Towns Program Director.
Mixed-Use Neighborhoods
Where should bend’s Climate-Friendly Areas be located?
Right now, the City of Bend is determining where to locate our community’s first Climate Friendly Areas (CFAs) - and your input is needed!
Possible Climate Friendly Areas | This map shows areas of Bend that are being considered in the Climate Friendly Area study.
CFAs will be places throughout our city where the people who live and work there can meet most of their daily needs without having to drive. These urban, mixed-use areas will create more abundant and affordable housing located near a variety of jobs, businesses, and services. CFAs will also help guide investments that improve transportation options for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit. In other words, CFAs are designed to become incredible Complete Communities.
What’s our take?
LandWatch recommends a ‘varied’ approach - one where the Bend Central District serves as one of our primary CFAs and Bend has a variety of additional CFAs, of different sizes, that are located throughout our community. This geographic equity ensures everyone in our community benefits from CFAs.
CFAs are a key part of Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC). These rules, adopted by the state in 2022, tackle climate change head-on by changing the way our cities and transportation systems are built. CFEC helps cities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure equity is a core value in future growth.
Nature in Our Neighborhoods
Bend’s tree code update
Bend City Council is in the midst of a Tree Regulation Code Update that aims to strike a balance between preserving trees and building needed housing. At LandWatch, we know the outcome of this work will directly shape Bend’s livability. We’re currently serving on the Tree Regulation Update Advisory Committee (TRUAC) that will provide guidance to the Bend City Council on this effort.
As of late-October 2023, this process is on track to meet some key, critical outcomes. But your voice will be needed soon to help ensure this effort:
Preserves more trees - especially large, mature trees - while building the housing our community needs.
Strategically replaces trees that are removed to improve our urban tree canopy over time, particularly in underserved areas of Bend.
Manages and invests in our urban tree canopy as a valuable asset and tool in building a climate-resilient, livable, and equitable city.
Stay tuned for upcoming advocacy opportunities. We’ll provide straightforward and powerful ways to make your voice heard throughout this process.
Easy and safe ways to walk, bike and roll
A vision for Hawthorne Ave as a key part of a “Drake to Juniper” bikeway
In August, LandWatch partnered with Bend Bikes, Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the City of Bend to bring the "Safe Streets for All" workshop to our city. The Midtown Crossings (Hawthorne, Franklin, and Greenwood), 2nd Street, and the Bend Central District were a key focus of the two-day workshop. Led by the Dutch Bike Embassy, it included City Councilors, city staff, engineers, advocates, and planners.
The new ideas, keen interest, and community momentum generated by this workshop were inspiring. With strong leadership, sound prioritization, and adequate funding, we know these transformative changes are also doable.
The key recommendations for Bend that emerged from this collaborative effort include:
• Select and build two cross-town (E/W and N/S), fully separated, bike-ped only, “keep on going” routes — as fast as possible.
• At the same time, allocate some funding for easy-to-build connections and interim improvements to improve the overall bike-ped network.
• Identify a policy and funding champion who can help move projects forward and line up additional resources.
The ideas from the workshop will directly inform upcoming discussion about future investments in the Core Area and may be integrated into the design, development and improvements to Midtown Crossings.
Notably, the workshop also drummed up momentum for the “Drake to Juniper (or perhaps Pilot Butte!)" bikeway concept that you’ll be hearing more about in the year ahead.
Guiding our Growth
Central Oregon’s population is growing at an unprecedented pace, increasing the need for smart planning and development strategies that ensure the ongoing livability of our communities.
Our Cities & Towns Program is working to ensure Central Oregon has vibrant, welcoming neighborhoods with housing options for all, nature nearby, convenient and safe ways to walk, bike, and roll - and they’re mixed use so essential services are nearby. Join us in our mission to create Complete Communities and sustainable cities and towns across Central Oregon.