City of Bend Considers Urban Expansion for Affordable Housing

The City of Bend is advancing plans to expand its urban growth boundary to facilitate the development of affordable housing, according to city officials. This initiative follows the introduction of a state law mandating that at least 30% of city expansions be allocated for affordable housing units. Over the summer, city officials embarked on a search for suitable land to meet this requirement.

The city has pinpointed two prospective sites for development: Jasper Ridge, located north of Highway 20 and west of Hamby Road, and Caldera Ranch on the southern end of Knott Road near Caldera High School. These locations are among those being considered for the expansion aimed at addressing the housing shortage in the region.

A public workshop is scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the potential developments, although the Bend City Council has not yet reached a final decision concerning these parcels. The expansion is seen as a crucial step under the auspices of Oregon‘s housing bill designed to rapidly increase housing supply by enabling a one-time growth of urban boundaries in areas with pressing needs.

However, opposition from residents and critics has emerged. Concerns have been raised about the suitability of Caldera Ranch, with a resident articulating issues related to emergency egress, noting, «In case of a wildfire, exiting through the current road infrastructure is already challenging, and the addition of 700 new homes exacerbates this problem.» The resident’s concerns align with those of his Homeowners Association, which also opposes development in Southeast Bend.

Critics argue that such expansions could potentially undermine existing land use laws and divert resources from more centralized urban areas. Bend City Councilor-Elect Steve Platt, slated to assume office in January, has also weighed in on the issue. Platt expressed concern about whether the proposed housing developments would effectively support middle-income residents, given that initial pricing would start at an 80% Area Median Income (AMI) level.

«There’s still a gap,» Platt stated, noting that new educators earn around 60% of the area median income, needing several years to approach the 80% AMI level required to afford these homes. «I think about the educators and others contributing to our community who may not benefit from these proposals initially.»

The success of Bend’s urban expansion initiative will depend heavily on public input, legislative compliance, and the city’s capacity to show continuous necessity. City officials face the dual task of balancing rapid development with the goals of sustainability and equity.