Crowd packs hearing on planned SW Bend apartments

(Update: Hearing underway; City Hall packed)

As expected, an overflow crowd of at least 100 people filled the Bend City Hall chambers and hallways outside Thursday for a hearing on a proposed 170-unit apartment complex in southwest Bend.

A city land-use hearings officer first heard from the applicant and proponents of the project on nearly three acres on Shevlin Hixon Drive near the Deschutes River, then from those opposed.

The applicant and supporters said Bend needs more apartments and that the location will enable many residents to stay in town without having to drive long distances for services.

But the opponents claimed Bend Park and Rec voters would not have supported funding The Pavilion ice rink and the nearby Deschutes River whitewater park if they had known so many apartments were coming to a 3-acre parcel nearby.

Some pointed to a 1997 master plan for the area that designed the lot for a future three- to four-story hotel and restaurant.

NewsChannel 21’s Lauren Melink is at the hearing. Her reports begin on our Fox @ 4 newscast.

The land in question is 2.91 acres above the river on Shevlin Hixon Drive, next to The Pavilion.

Many neighbors have said they are unhappy with the project and its proposed 170 units and 187 parking spaces, claiming the latter is far from adequate.

Some critics, including Mike Walker, vice chair of the River West Neighborhood Association, said Wednesday they are OK with the area being developed but that the developer, Evergreen Housing, hasn’t listened to their concerns.

“This is not just a neighborhood problem — not a small neighborhood where you’re seeing people push back on the next big building in their neighborhood,” Walker said.

He noted bigger issues, such as traffic and parking that’s already congested in the winter months because of the ice rink and in the summer months because of McKay Park and the water park.

City officials said the developer, which has done traffic studies, has promised nearly $60,000 to help mitigate traffic issues.

As for the parking, the Bend planning division manager said on-street parking is allowed to be included to meet the required count.

“The 187 include some on-street parking, about 16 spaces that are on-street,” Colin Stephens said. “That’s available to any development, including single-family houses. You’re allowed to count parking that’s in front of your property as parking, for needed parking.”

Stephens also said this complex is not affordable housing but will have market-rate rents.

Walker said he hopes the developer listens to the opponents.

“This is a test,” he said. “This is a real litmus test to see, with this type of project, to see how greedy the developer is, to see if he’s just a bull in a china shop. Or does this whole process work?”

The city said it’s taking all viewpoints into account.

“The hearings officer will review all the evidence and testimony that they provide,” Stephens said. “They’ll need to link the opposition testimony to code criteria, because there are rules that need to be followed for the hearings officer to make a decision. It can’t be arbitrary. It needs to be based on the criteria that is the adapted development code.”

The complex is proposed to be four stories and an additional 10 feet, making it about 50 feet tall.