Public Hearing has Closed, Councilors Asked Staff to Make Some Changes to Proposed Code Following Community Input
In response to feedback from the community, Bend City Councilors suggested changes to a proposed shelter code, which they will consider at the May 18 Council meeting.
The agenda for the May 18 Council meeting can be found at bendoregon.gov/councilagenda. The shelter code item is number seven on the May 18 agenda. Here is the issue summary on the agenda item.
At the May 4 City Council meeting, more than 50 community members provided public comments on proposed changes to the Bend Development Code in person and virtually. The proposed changes to the Bend Development Code would allow shelters for unhoused community members to be developed in most zoning districts in Bend.
The public comment period on the proposed code changes has closed. During the meeting, Councilors asked City staff and local service providers questions about the proposed code changes. They also discussed whether any other changes needed to be made to the proposed code changes before voting on them.
In response to feedback they heard from the community, Planning Commission and Neighborhood Leadership Alliance, Councilors asked City staff to make three changes to the proposed code before voting:
- Remove on-call site management as an option for managing the shelters. Any shelter operating 24 hours a day would need on-site management 24 hours a day, which could be provided by a shelter resident designated by the shelter provider.
- Remove hardship shelters from the proposed code. This removes the part of the proposed code that would have allowed the use of RVs for temporary shelter in private driveways in residential neighborhoods. There will still be an allowance for manufactured homes or similar structures for medical hardships, as currently permitted under the code.
- Require outreach and communication to the Neighborhood Association where the shelter is located, in addition to adjacent neighbors. This will help neighborhood leaders stay informed about proposed new shelter locations in their neighborhood. This outreach would be in addition to any notice that might be required by a development application for the proposed shelter.
These changes to the proposed shelter code are expected to be presented to City Council for more discussion and a vote during its May 18 meeting.
