Central Oregon LandWatch recently added our name to the long and growing list of supporters of Ballot Measure 9-173. The measure will appear on the November ballot for consideration by all Deschutes County voters, and asks whether the size of the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners should be expanded from three to five commissioners.

LandWatch feels strongly that the answer is “yes,” and here is why.

April is National Poetry Month. To celebrate, we’re highlighting a creative mind using land use, advocacy, and art to realize a more just and sustainable future.

The county’s proposed Comprehensive Plan update offers up a less-than-satisfactory framework for our future. Here’s one last chance to let County planners know what you want to see prioritized and help define a better future for Deschutes County.

What do we want Deschutes County to look like in 20 years? The County is asking for your input on its draft update to the Comprehensive Plan.

There are glimpses of abundance all around us. We have Oregon’s land use planning system to thank.

The very first goal of Oregon’s Land Use Planning Program, Goal 1: Citizen Involvement, established broad rights for public participation in land use decisions. This requirement for public involvement sets Oregon apart from other states.

In 1973, Oregon voters passed Senate Bill 100, creating our revolutionary land use planning system. For 50 years, it has defined our landscapes and communities – bringing us an Abundant Oregon.