The Horizon
All the latest updates on our work defending rural lands, creating livable cities and towns and preserving wild lands and water throughout Central Oregon
An Intentional Approach to Growth in Sisters
The City of Sisters and its residents have been hard at work planning to accommodate a 20-year supply of needed housing and employment lands.
Five UGB concept alternatives will be discussed at a Dec 9 Open House. Thanks to their thoughtful approach, the City is poised to preserve the attributes that make Sisters the distinctive town it is today.
Groundbreaking new protections proposed for 717 acres west of Bend
Last night, LandWatch advocated for wildlife habitat and protection from wildfire risk adjacent to Shevlin Park by supporting an application for a new zone in Deschutes County. The proposal to create a Westside Transect zone will extend to the county the 2016 UGB concept of tapering density as the city boundary nears the forest where there is higher risk of wildfire.
What's Shaping the Bend Central District
As people continue to move here, the Bend Central District is our best hope for Central Oregon to grow into a place we want to keep calling home.
Announcing our initiative to encourage mixed-use development in Bend’s Central District
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.
Watch LandWatch Staff Members Discuss Bend's UGB
Watch What's Brewing and Supper Club discussions.
Today's the day: Bend's UGB goes into effect
Bend's new Urban Growth Boundary has been acknowledged by the Department of Land Conservation and Development in record time and goes into effect today.
Bend’s Urban Growth Boundary Approved by State Agency
UGB Plan Accepted by DLCD Now Ready for Implementation
Central Oregon LandWatch's Pivotal Role in Bend’s Urban Growth Boundary Success
Throughout Bend’s Urban Growth Boundary planning process, LandWatch has been the leading public interest group advocating for a limited expansion to prevent urban sprawl, encourage cost-effective growth, protect wildlife habitat, and foster affordable housing.
How "Missing Middle" housing can provide affordable housing at market rates
Bend is experiencing a severe affordable housing crisis. The city's proposed Urban Growth Boundary increases the diversity of housing choices that people are allowed to build, which could help boost our "missing middle" housing supply.
View LandWatch's written comments in support of Bend's 2016 UGB Proposal
View LandWatch's comments on Bend's UGB proposal
Bend's Urban Growth Boundary and Affordable Housing
Listen to a radio interview with Central Oregon LandWatch's Advocacy Programs Manage about housing affordability and Bend's Urban Growth Boundary.
Action Alert: Stop HB4079 From Eroding Our Quality of Life
Currently, a bill is moving quickly through the Oregon State Legislature that threatens our quality of life under the guise of providing affordable housing.
Recommended Reading: Home From Nowhere
Can the momentum of sprawl be halted? America's zoning laws, intended to control the baneful effects of industry, have mutated, in the view of one architecture critic, into a system that corrodes civic life, outlaws the human scale, defeats tradition and authenticity, and confounds our yearning for an everyday environment worthy of our affection.
The UGB's Role in Reducing Reliance on the Automobile
The integration of land use and transportation systems can have a big impact on how far people have to drive every day, and whether or not they use alternative forms of transportation.
Bend's Boundary Taking Shape
Yesterday afternoon, the group of public officials guiding the Urban Growth Boundary process voted unanimously to approve the initial map for Bend's boundary expansion.
Settlement Reached on Tree Farm LUBA Appeal
Building on momentum from community urban growth boundary discussions, Central Oregon LandWatch and The Tree Farm LLC successfully reached a settlement agreement on a proposed development west of Bend.