Over just 32 days after it began, Oregon’s 2024 legislative session delivered a mixed bag for environmentally-minded housing and land use advocates. Here’s our take on what went well, what could’ve been better, and what we’ll be working on next.

Looking ahead to the Oregon state legislative session that opens on February 5, 2024, LandWatch will be counting on our members and supporters to voice their support for an approach to development that urgently addresses our housing needs without eroding bedrock laws that are vital to our livability, human health, and a healthy environment.

Trees are a terrific tool for making our city climate-resilient, livable and equitable. Bend is updating its tree code, and we’ve been working to ensure that more trees - especially large, mature trees - are being preserved as we continue to build the housing our community urgently needs.

The City of Sisters is gathering community input on two important projects that guide potential development and zoning changes – changes that will help determine what this community looks like for generations.

Like air to breathe and food to eat, shelter is a basic human need. Unfortunately, Central Oregon’s housing crisis has grown dire this year. People continue to move here, housing prices continue to rise, and many of our neighbors might not be able to stay.

We are following up on our successful in the Bend Urban Growth Boundary planning process by advocating for the “BCD Initiative” to implement a key component of that Plan. The BCD Initiative will be featured at City Club of Central Oregon’s forum, “Bend’s Central District: What Will Future Urban Density Look Like in the Center of Our City?” on Thursday, August 17th, 2017.

UGB Plan Accepted by DLCD Now Ready for Implementation

View LandWatch's comments on Bend's UGB proposal