Everyone knows there is a shortage of housing in our city especially for low wage workers. A State law, HB2001, is an effort to address that shortage by opening up land use laws to allow a wider range of housing types in communities across the state.
One such proposal is a change to the Bend Development Code to allow micro units
“Micro-unit means a unit located in a micro-unit development and typically consists of one room used for living and sleeping purposes and includes permanent provisions for sanitation. A micro-unit does not include a kitchen. See BDC 3.8.200, Micro-Unit Developments.
Micro-unit development means a building containing multiple micro-units and a shared kitchen(s). See BDC 3.8.200, Micro-Unit Developments.”
These living spaces (as small as 150 sq. ft.) could be built in clusters of 10 – 16. They would have a bathroom and perhaps space for a tiny refrigerator and toaster oven, but not a full kitchen. The common laundry facility and kitchen would be shared by 10 to 16 persons. And parking would include a half space per unit.
The Neighborhood Leadership Alliance (NLA), the city committee comprised of Neighborhood Association representatives, reviewed the proposal and made several recommendations to the Planning Commission. Among them was the criticism that a kitchen serving 10 persons is not practical or safe for health reasons. The NLA pointed out that the proposal does not include adequate storage for bicycles etc. If residents are not expected to have cars, they still need space for motor bikes or bicycles. There is also a recommendation to have on site management of such units for maintenance and that short term rentals are prohibited.
Neighborhood leaders expressed concern that not every area of the city is appropriate for such housing as transportation and services may to be available.
We can submit comments to the City Council before Oct. 7, the first hearing.
Note the number PZ-20-0526 when commenting and address comments to Pauline Hardie, planner, phardie@bendoregon.gov as well as the Mayor and City Council.
Bend needs housing, but are closets with so few features really the answer to quality of life?