Improve Deschutes County's Comprehensive Plan
On May 8, Deschutes Country residents have one last chance to speak up about the shortcomings of this comprehensive plan. Let us know if we count on you to testify.
In 2023, Deschutes County set out to update its Comprehensive Plan, which acts as its “map for the future,” providing goals, policies, and actions to guide the day-to-day decisions of elected officials and staff. This update will affect all of Deschutes County outside of city limits and set policies through 2040.
The county’s proposed Comprehensive Plan update offers up a less-than-satisfactory framework for our future
With wildfire, water scarcity, and significant growth on the horizon, there are many issues to consider. The County has a major opportunity to help shape a more just, verdant, and sustainable future. Instead, the proposed plan update will maintain a status quo that’s simply unsustainable.
Here’s a quick timeline to catch you up:
April 2023: LandWatch and a coalition of local, regional, and statewide organizations submitted a joint letter to the County asking that the updated Comprehensive Plan do better to protect our land, water, and wildlife.
September 2023: A draft updated Comprehensive Plan was released for public review. While some good components made it into that draft, LandWatch identified several areas in need of further consideration.
February 2024: Tthe Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the draft Deschutes County 2040 Plan with revisions.
An A+ effort would have addressed the many concerns about water, wildlife, farmland, forests, open space, and climate change that our community raised throughout the process, but the current draft largely continues the policies of the last 20 years.
Although the majority of the award-winning amount of public input collected by the County thus far calls for stronger protection for our rural farmlands, forests, open space, and natural resources, the draft plan puts on on a trajectory for more of the same: converting farmland, disrupting wildlife habitat, and continued overconsumption of water resources.
LandWatch’s Unaddressed Concerns
Our key concerns with this 111-page plan are that it doesn’t adequately protect our region’s agricultural land, wildlife, or our vital water.
Agriculture Issue: Farmers are being priced out of their livelihoods by the County’s rampant rezoning of agricultural lands and approval of nonfarm uses.
Solution: All agricultural lands zoned for farm use, including dry rangeland, should be preserved by ending “spot zoning” that allows for rural gentrification.
Wildlife Issue: Existing inventories and protections for natural resources are over 30 years old and no longer accurate.
Solution: The plan should include policy requiring updates to all species’ habitat inventories that ensure protection and restoration of sensitive wildlife habitat.
Water Issue: Senior water right holders, who have the greatest opportunity to conserve and improve water supplies, convinced the Planning Commission to water down proposed language that would call for more responsible planning for water.
Solution: The Plan should include strong policies that tie water use to land use, and limit where new wells, including exempt domestic wells, would injure existing wells or impair natural springs feeding surface waters.
Take Action
Let County planners know what you want to see prioritized and help define a better future for Deschutes County.
Submit a written comment.
We've made it easy and quick to take action by drafting a pre-written letter for you. All you need to do is click the button below and personalize your message with your unique perspective.
Attend THE public hearing MAY 8
The Board of County Commissioners has hosted multiple public hearings to gather testimony on the revised plan. Let us know if you can attend and we’ll provide pointers to help you provide public testimony
FINAL Hearing
When: Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 5:30 pm
Where: 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, OR 97703 in the Barnes and Sawyer Rooms on the 1st floor.