(Photo above: L-R Commissioner Tony Debone, Commissioner Tammy Baney and Commissioner Phil Henderson | by Steve Kadel)
Central Oregon residents who believe traffic is bad now should buckle up and brace for worse in the near future. Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Henderson says he believes the county’s population could increase from 175,000 in the 2010 U.S. census to 185,00 or 190,000 or when the next census is taken in 2020.
Growth was key among the challenges discussed Thursday, August 30, during the “State of the County” luncheon sponsored by the Redmond Chamber of Commerce at Juniper Golf Course. Commissioners Tammy Baney and Tony DeBone joined Henderson to address the audience and take questions.
Baney noted there are some fixes coming on the Old Bend-Redmond corridor that are intended to mitigate the anticipated population increase, with a strong eye to safety. She said a survey by Deschutes County officials came up with suggestions for the projects.
Among the upgrades will be roundabouts at Tumalo Road and Old Bend-Redmond Highway as well as on Tumalo Road near Highway 97. The roundabouts, and added turn lanes in other areas, result from the county’s road safety audit, Baney said.
DeBone said roundabouts help traffic flow and have high capacity for moving traffic. Henderson explained there will be public meetings to take citizen input before construction begins.
“It does mean some time delays but it’s for safety,” Baney said of the changes.
Chris Doty of the Deschutes County Road Department told Cascade Business News that the tentative timeline to start building the roundabout at Tumalo Road and Tumalo Place (the Highway 97 off-ramp) is late 2019. He said that timetable is “subject to any delays associated with right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation.”
Growth will only magnify the current need for housing, especially affordable housing, commissioners agreed. Central Oregon communities are struggling with residential vacancy rates of 1 percent or less.
An audience member asked if road changes were planned for Terrebonne, where traffic often backs up on Highway 97 through town. DeBone said a study is being conducted to look into the problem, find out what kind of solutions are possible and how much each option would cost.
But he said Deschutes County can’t solve traffic problems in Terrebone, or other towns, by itself.
“As the county, we’re not going to fix it,” DeBone said. “We’re going to be a partner … in the growth of Central Oregon.”
Baney said the county has land that could be developed as housing in Redmond and Sisters, but not in Bend. She added there isn’t a single answer to the housing problem, although officials are working to find solutions.
The idea of “accessory dwelling units” — often known as guest houses or mother-in-law cottages — was discussed as a way to add more housing on existing land. Henderson said it has been seen in Bend as a relatively inexpensive way to increase housing without the land cost.
Expanding the Urban Growth Areas surrounding towns might be another option to prompt more housing.
He said the housing shortage is a county-wide problem and added that legislative initiatives could help with the problem.
As for low-income housing, there are bright spots to celebrate. The commissioners referred to the August opening of Cook Crossing in Redmond, a 48-unit apartment building for low-income seniors. Ground was broken recently for a 29-unit low-income apartment building in Prineville that is scheduled to open next summer or fall. Low-income housing, also through Housing Works, is being planned for La Pine.
Commissioners said they’re aware that the lack of workforce housing can make it difficult to find and retain employees. Baney said time spent getting building permits or other documents also can impact businesses.
“We know time is money,” she said. “We want to get those transactions turned around as quickly as possible.”
POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES
Besides the challenges of growth, housing and traffic, Baney said Redmond has much to be happy about.
“It’s an incredible community that bridges economic development and livability,” she said.
The county’s Fiscal Year 2018 total budget is $358.5 million. The operating budget is about $200 million. Deschutes County employs more than 1,000 employees, Henderson said.
County property owners have gotten a break from the 12 cents per $1,000 assessed value for the Fair and Expo bond. That debt was fully paid in December 2016 and is now off the county tax rolls.
Henderson said property owners’ tax rates were cut by three cents in the 2018 budget because increases in assessed valuation enables the county to levy less than the full rate.
He added that forgivable business loans to some local businesses have helped build economic momentum. Those loans became grants, Henderson said, if the recipient companies followed through to hire a specified number of employees. Medline ReNewal and PCC Schlosser are two firms that benefitted from the process.
Besides the planned road construction, the county’s capital projects include completion of a new public safety communications and computer-aided dispatch operation.
County officials are evaluating how to process solid waste after Knott Landfill reaches its capacity. Solid waste options include siting a new landfill, which DeBone said hasn’t been done in Oregon in 25 years or hauling waste to the Columbia River Gorge or Crook County.
