Here is the link to the June 9th meeting: 6 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89958030949?pwd=N1ZnV2dsYS9kN1VqaTU5NklDQWVMUT09
Meeting ID: 899 5803 0949 Passcode: 334942
Changes in Housing Coming to Bend
So what, you say? Things are always changing. Well the changes to housing that will occur as a result of legislation passed by the Oregon House and Senate will have long term and wide ranging effects on our town.
HB2001 is an Oregon law that eliminates Single Family Residence (SR) zones in all cities over 10,000. It promotes construction of mixed types of housing such as townhouses, duplexes, cottage homes and more anywhere in the city. This is often referred to a Middle Housing for its supposed affordability to lower income earners.
The bill summary states HB 2001:
“Requires cities with population greater than 10,000 and counties with population greater than 15,000 to allow middle housing in lands zoned for single-family dwellings within urban growth boundary. Requires Land Conservation and Development Commission to draft model code. Requires cities and counties to amend their comprehensive plan and land use regulations to conform by December 31, 2020, or to directly apply model code developed by commission.
Requires Department of Consumer and Business Services to amend Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code to apply to low-rise middle housing and to amend State of Oregon Structural Specialty Code to not apply to low-rise middle housing. Allows attorney fees, beginning January 1, 2021, for prevailing applicant whose proposal to develop middle housing is denied. Prohibits conditioning approval of accessory dwelling unit within urban growth boundary on off-street parking availability or owner occupancy. Prohibits local governments from requiring system development charges to be paid by developer of middle housing before occupancy permit is issued. Declares emergency, effective on passage.” Source: Oregon.gov
The point of this law is to increase the supply and availability of housing in our state where homelessness is increasing. It will “fill in” those parcels of woodlands and open space around the city.
The board of Southeast Bend Neighborhood Association writes:
“Bend historically, and in its recent Comprehensive Plan, has always welcomed a mix of housing types, but now Portland legislators and planners think they can tell us how to do it better. Welcome government designed Middle Housing that must be equally distributed across "all Census Blocks" in Bend. This plan is about allowing lot size to be reduced even further, forgetting compatibility with the neighborhood, and ignoring architectural design, building size and street capacity standards.”
As with all changes there are good ways to implement the change and some not so good methods. Recently Build a Better Bend sponsored a talk on the 5 Mistakes States Make When Building Missing Middle Housing. Architect and author Daniel Parolek showed photos of mixed housing types that preserve the scale of a neighborhood while others create tunnels of concrete that block sun and overshadow older homes.
How will our city incorporate this new trend? Will the City Council rush to make changes to the Building Code or will it reach out to us to develop standards that continue the Bend vibe while providing housing options for everyone who chooses to live and work here?
If you have thoughts and ideas about this change, let the City Council know. Write to council@bendoregon.gov
BANA Needs You
BANA needs four new members to fill the vacancies of members rotating off the board. Our thanks to Cindy King, Chair, who has led BANA the past two years and Jim Beauchemin, the best Land Use Chair in the city. Jim has kept tabs on permits and development in our area for 10 years. Joan Miller is leaving the Treasurer's post, she says it’s not a difficult task since the City manages the budget and dispenses funds. We also need a representative to the Neighborhood Leadership Alliance.
Please consider volunteering for the board. Application form is attached. Please send it to boydacres@gmail.com
If we do not fill the vacant positions, there will be a discussion about whether to disband the neighborhood association.