City of Bend considers expanded comment periods, notices for new development

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Proposed city of Bend code changes could expand public comment periods and notification requirements for some types of development applications.

The Neighborhood Leadership Alliance Council advisory committee worked with City of Bend staff to identify and recommend potential amendments to the Bend Development Code about public meeting notification and public comment processes for Type II and Type III development applications. The proposed code changes are the result of nearly two years of neighborhood outreach by the NLA.

“The NLA recognized a need to update current processes after hearing complaints that there isn’t enough opportunity for the public to provide thoughtful and educated input that will impact land-use decisions,” said Lisa Mushel, NLA vice chair.

The proposed code changes apply to Type II and Type III development applications, which are those that could have higher potential impacts to surrounding properties than Type I applications.

Type II development applications are those that align with existing development standards for the zoning district. When an applicant seeks a Type II permit, the city notifies property owners within 250 feet of the application site by mail and opens a 14-day comment period for the public to provide input. The NLA recommended extending the public comment period to 16 days.

A Type III application is where the City Council, Planning Commission or Hearings Officer makes the final decision after a public hearing. The NLA recommended that the city increase notification areas from 250 feet to 500 feet.

Some Type II and Type III development applications require a developer to hold a neighborhood public meeting before submitting an application to the City. The NLA recommended increasing the notification period for these meetings from 14 to 21 days.

For both Type II and Type III development applications, the NLA has recommended that notification signs posted on the site remain posted throughout the duration of the public comment period and require that they be legible from the “public way,” such as the street.

Proposed amendments are on the City’s ePlans webpage. (www.bendoregon.gov/eplans, go to “Public Viewer for Planning Permits.”) Enter project number 20-0777 in the ePlans search bar. People may need to disable pop-up blockers.

Questions? Email Pauline Hardie, Senior Planner, at phardie@bendoregon.gov.

The proposed changes will be available for community public input. Watch the Planning Commission and City Council webpages for information about these public meetings:

• Oct. 26, 5:30 p.m., Planning Commission Work Session
• Nov. 9, 5:30 p.m., Planning Commission Public Hearing
• Dec. 2, 7 p.m., City Council Public Hearing