NE Bend Les Schwab move loses first round at city

Les Schwab Tire Center wants to move from its decades-old Northeast Franklin Avenue store to the east side of Third Street, between Clay and Burnside avenues.

If the move is approved, it will change the current zoning of one block on Third Street, removing it from the Bend Central District.

The tire company said it believes the move will encourage more economic development along Third Street and will promote growth for other business and housing opportunities.

“We thought that we could upgrade our stores, and give our consumers a better experience and better access,” Dale Thompson, chief marketing officer for Les Schwab Tire Center, said Tuesday. “It’ll also give our employees a more centralized location to work out of, as well.”

Les Schwab’s move will replace many existing buildings, some of which housed businesses that have already relocated from the area.

Monday evening, the Bend Planning Commission shot down the proposal to move on a 5-1 vote. Several addressed concerns that such a move would set a precedent and encourage persuade other businesses to want to request to be moved from the mixed-used Bend Central District.

The Bend Central District was designated as an ” opportunity area ” during the urban growth boundary expansion process.

Bend Mayor Sally Russell said the upcoming Sept. 18 vote by councilors on whether to agree with the planning panel’s recommendation or approve Les Schwab’s move will be based on community input and city codes.

“The decisions that the council makes are according to the criteria and the information that we hear from the community,” Russell said. “It’s a very legal and narrow land use process, and we have to be really careful in the decisions that we make.”

The issue goes before the City Council members on Wednesday, Sept. 18.