Bend councilors move forward on permanent fireworks ban, housing code changes

(Update: Adding video, comments)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Bend city councilors were flooded with concerned public callers Wednesday evening, for the second meeting in a row, opposed to a proposed managed homeless camp in southeast Bend.

The majority of callers Wednesday evening were in opposition of the proposed location off northeast Ninth Street, with the main concern being safety, as it would lie between Bear Creek Elementary and Bend Senior High.

Some callers said the idea of a managed homeless camp is important to help with the rising issues of homelessness across Central Oregon, but the proposed location is a bad one, and no firm details have been given about how it would operate.

One concerned resident, Stephanie Stuart, says the camps could ultimately make people worry more about children's safety than anything else.

"I believe that this location will create the opposite of our goal of unity," Stuart said. "I don't think it will integrate the houseless into the neighboring population in a welcoming way. Instead, I think it will focus attention to the danger these kids could be exposed to."

Another caller, Laurie Hardy, says the camps would ultimately enable the homeless population.

"My worries are by building these camps, you are enabling them to continue living this way, and we will see an influx of more homeless because here they will be welcomed with open arms and encouraged to live like this," Hardy said.

Hardy says her family moved from Portland to get away from similar issues, but fears a camp will ruin the community.

"Our businesses that once welcomed visitors who supported our city will close because people will not see this as a vacation destination anymore," Hardy said. "Our streets will become like Portland where they stand around businesses asking for money, defecating, urinating, doing drugs and threatening people." 

But others, like Chuck Hemingway, feel that the concerns of the public can be addressed.

Hemingway says he's been involved with helping the homeless community for many years, but is confident concerns can be resolved in a positive way.

"There's a large segment in the community, including people living in the neighborhoods where city staff says a managed camp might be placed who support actions city staff has taken," Hemingway said.

Some callers also said they felt there's been a lack of transparency with neighboring residents, but city councilors told those concerned that they're learning information as it comes, and in some cases processing it at the same time as the community.

Councilors also held a public hearing and gave initial approval (after some changes) to the city's plans to implement House Bill 2001, passed by lawmakers in 2019. It requires larger cities such as Bend to allow middle housing, defined as duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, townhomes and "cottage cluster" developments, in all areas previously zoned only for single-family homes.

The council unanimously agreed to a "first reading" on the changes, with a second and final vote at their next meeting in three weeks. The rules would take effect 30 days after that.

HB 2001 requires updates to local codes that currently limit the types of housing people can build, as all large cities must move to allow multi-family housing in the neighborhoods, to boost the housing supply and ease the affordable housing crunch.

But critics have outlined several issues they have with the city's proposed development code changes, one couple taking out a full-page ad and creating a website and gathering petition signatures to outline the flaws they see in the plans, such as not requiring off-street parking for new multi-family units.

Before the unanimous vote to move forward, councilors discussed and agreed to some late changes, such as bringing dropping any parking requirement for "cottage clusters," the same as with duplexes and triplexes. Staff noted that parts of the new rules match the state's "model" code, while some other citizen concerns are addressed in other recent development code changes.

After the final vote late Wednesday night, some tired councilors praised the move, which gives developers more options, though it won't be a magic answer to the various factors making housing unaffordable for so many, and not just in Bend.

Councilor Melanie Kebler said, "I want my kid, who's 3 years old, to be able to afford to live here when she grows up. I think this is really important, to get to that goal."

At an earlier work session, councilors also agreed to have staff draft a permanent fireworks ban in Bend, after they issued a temporary emergency order against fireworks earlier this summer that expires later this year.

The move would ban the sale, possession, or use of fireworks within the city. The only exception would be a permit-approved fireworks event, such as Pilot Butte's annual 4th of July display , and so-called "exempt" devices that don't ignite.

A violation would be a Class A civil infraction, and a fine could cost you $750.