Deschutes Planning Commission urges denial of Sunriver workforce housing
Say they back goal, but most see issues with parking requirements, eligibility
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Deschutes County Planning Commission is recommending denial of a Sunriver Resort request to pave the way for employee housing at the nearby Sunriver Business Park, with most members saying they back the effort but some issues need to be addressed.
The resort had proposed a zone change to allow us of a 3.25-acre undeveloped lot in the business park district, across South Century Drive from the resort community. With a hiring crunch fueled in part by challenges in finding a place to live, resort officials have proposed building housing for 200 resort employees.
Tanya Saltzman, an associate planner for Deschutes County, said the planning commission voted 5-2 last Thursday evening to recommend denial, with members saying they support the general idea but sharing concerns raised at a public hearing about parking and eligibility issues.
The applicants used the county's parking standard for dormitories, which is one space for every six beds. Some planning commissioners said they don't think that will be enough, Saltzman said.
She said the resort noted they've had 128 workers and just a dozen cars were brought, since many of the workers are from outside the area or even the country, so they believed the parking ratio would be adequate.
But planning commissioners said they are concerned that might not be adequate, particularly in the off-season, when non-employees could rent some rooms, if available. The resort officials countered that winter traffic and parking issues are usually much lower, overall.
On a related note, the planning commission also had some concerns about eligibility for the workforce housing could be too lenient, since the owners would be allowed to rent space on a monthly basis for non-employees, Saltzman said.
The proposed text amendments still will go to county commissioners for a work session, in mid-January, and a public hearing at the end of the month, to review the proposal and the planning commission recommendation, the county planner said.
1 parking spot per 6 people is way to low. Add more parking across the street and it can be mixed use for the workers and over flow for the Business Park. But then it’s only 3.25 acres so its not likes it a lot of area to work with.
Are they talking about that spot of land between the tennis courts and where S Century makes the 70 degree bend? Lots of room between Dancing Rock loop and the RR tacks just behind the condo’s on Enterprise. That would be better as it keeps the working lower class out of sight and out of mind when they are not cleaning and mowing for us.
I hope your last sentence is sarcasm.
How could anyone be, “lower class” than Barely Speaks English Sam A?
Where do we put you to keep you, “out of sight”?
It’s a “Resort”. Go there for fun, expect service. The fine folk bringing you food and drink and cleaning the houses after you party and have a good time need a place (close)to stay! Back off, let em’ build dormitories.
“Sunriver workforce housing”
– way down on the edge of the plantation….
If it was for more hotels or added rooms for the tourists it would have been approved in no time.
The applicants used the county’s parking standard for dormitories, which is one space for every six beds.”
utter nonsense. go back and plan it properly, thanks
The county again does nothing to improve conditions, but does manage to get in the way of any progress. If 6 parking spaces per bed is a county planning rule, accept the proposal or change the rule. I hope this is litigated and the nimby deschutes county planners are held accountable