Bend couple’s ‘turf war’ with city not over yet

Ray and Jackie Haworth are in a dispute with the city of Bend over artificial turf that they have put in their backyard along the Deschutes River.

The Haworths put the turf in their backyard after the city told them they needed to take out a dock that had been built in a riparian zone in 2015, which lead to erosion and mud in their backyard.

For them, artificial turf and rock seemed to be a solution to that problem.

Now they are hearing from the city that the turf may not be permitted along the river because it is in a “water overlay zone.”

At a meeting Monday night, the Bend Planning Commission decided the turf is not an extension or alteration of their lawn, or a water-related use.

They did however, say this particular turf is permeable, and not a structure.

Jackie Haworth and her husband Ray were hoping to see a more clean-cut answer on the topic.

“They made us take our dock out, and that is what created all the dirt and took away our lawn,” Jackie Haworth said afterward. “I didn’t just decide to take away my lawn, and it’s so confusing. And I think I got voted down just because they are afraid that it is going to set a precedent.”

The planning commission said that it is not its place to create policy, but rather to interpret code.

Commissioners said that while they do agree that the turf in some aspects is acceptable, they did not want to set president or policy on whether or not artificial turf should be allowed in a water overlay zone.

Jackie Haworth said she feels at a loss right now, and hopes someone might be able to help them find a solution to this issue.

While the Haworths’ appeal was denied, in a sense, planning commissioners did say they’d like the matter to be taken up by the City Council, who are the policy makers.

The Hayworths plan to take their appeal to councilors, though no date has been set.