[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6357469,"mediaKeyId","2215052-87f06a5c18daa88360226394926eabb2","parentId",2215052,"title","Deschutes County commissioners direct staff to send letter opposing HB 3013 amendment after legal concerns raised","audioSeconds",834,"startMs",8511000,"endMs",9345000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2215052-87f06a5c18daa88360226394926eabb2&start=8511&end=9345","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2215052-87f06a5c18daa88360226394926eabb2/thumbnail_8511000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6357469/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Deschutes-County-commissioners-direct-staff-to-send-letter-opposing-HB-3013-amendment-after-legal-concerns-raised","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357469-379d6616dcbb3e2b64b9f4103e3fd1f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149047&Signature=LlRybBGqHwEzmMfA0naeClrU8wC~btevoPPbZeyMz4v~ZheMEJZQE7yoX9ONPlhXlHQqAqWZebO3hr8NJoqIy8ZhvrSauvPgolBYIrXBvvaQ7ZET4jnyF5zzX5b3Q7yATTLraWfUk2dY9J0szMLNu61tLAkWXa4tTro3tVSEpi8NJLR7EBeLNZv3zle1~X8v8s848sOPULY~vX3OppXhbDG79vB3cqKNaNCuEnGgwBgrwCcaxZbHzaDhg0AYoyktHy~CGacnXcR3muofO8lZ9LrH9wJZUPHowLDPwY9Fu~3TxDm4BcKQO6kpxrS4czSRQ2hyYi1g3ZH93wmBRYLl-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Deschutes County, OR","date","2025-02-03T20:53:40Z","article","The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize staff to finalize a letter opposing the House Bill 3013 (dash 1) amendment after county legal staff and planners described potential consequences for local land-use decisions.

County attorneys and staff told the board the bill, as drafted, could allow a third party that did not participate in an earlier land-use appeal to ask a circuit court to revoke local actions taken while an appeal was pending if a higher tribunal later overturns the local decision. \"Somebody could hang back and not even participate in the permitting decision... and sandbag and wait,\" said Senior Assistant Legal Counsel Stephanie Marshall, describing how the change could affect investment-backed expectations and create incentives for litigation.

Peter Gutowski, community development director, said the proposed amendment arose from a singular case and that multiple jurisdictions and land-use groups had raised concerns at a public hearing. County staff suggested the bill could chill local action on projects of public interest because a court could later order local governments to reverse permits or site-preparation steps taken during appeal windows.

The board authorized staff to prepare and transmit a letter of opposition documenting those legal concerns and the potential for unintended consequences. A motion to proceed with the letter passed during the meeting; the board asked staff to correct minor edits and circulate the final letter for signatures.

Ending: County staff said they would finalize the letter, correct typographical items and share the signed letter with the state legislative record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02/03/2025 - Board of Commissioners - Monday Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners voted to prepare and send a letter opposing the House Bill 3013 (dash 1) amendment, expressing concern the proposed state change would allow third parties who did not participate in appeals to seek court-ordered revocation of local actions taken during the appeal period.","taxTitle","Deschutes County, Oregon","taxId",2763,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6357473,"County planning previews state-led farm and forest modernization rules; mostly housekeeping to match case law",578,2979000,3557000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2215052-87f06a5c18daa88360226394926eabb2&start=2979&end=3557","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2215052-87f06a5c18daa88360226394926eabb2/thumbnail_2979000.jpg","/articles/6357473/Deschutes-County/Oregon/County-planning-previews-state-led-farm-and-forest-modernization-rules-mostly-housekeeping-to-match-case-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357473-883cd4bf7b5c53811157091e35355c89/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149047&Signature=U4P4QYMFopvPdkaFWajvwvnQqhujv5PbVloDn8ciqWBaJpWzimr55GoUkW8RtU0Ar4-1hjfJGxPANmegNoBYMw4p9FxtA7RbGAKEj5BnVRuvmi5h2vJCGmRV1B1ckt8FQ436btiRAW4f2Wk6LuJdFbkkN362Jgwlx~sTlEy8c5ezr6sFXUdkVgngohFTmpHsPr0VvV-Aedt9puP5l~MhBE~Gz8lWqiILU~W3MktKmvgmc8phmdu7gfqwyioAu6S2GwuVXdLG~p4FZprxYQBV3dPSaBUh9lMfG6kB-2YZPTu1K3jdIagDA8olp03fVh98itfc57DhqvVpmF6H5-Ik9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deschutes County planners on Thursday previewed a package of local code changes to implement state rule updates and recent case law related to farm and forest resource zones.

Tanya Saltzman, senior planner, told the Board of Commissioners the state's recent rule changes clarify topics such as the farm impacts test, the treatment of agritourism and incidental/supporting uses on farms, transportation facilities on rural lands and definitions of private parks and replacement dwelling rules in forest zones.

\"This whole package is housekeeping, basically,\" Saltzman said. She said much of the work is translation: bringing local code language into alignment with Oregon Administrative Rules and recent court decisions so applicants and staff are operating from the same text.

Will Groves, planning manager, said the county already follows much of the updated case law in practice but that the changes will make local code clearer for customers and reduce surprise interpretations. County staff said they will follow the normal legislative process, including Planning Commission review and a work session for the board, and that the amendments are not intended to be new policy choices.

Ending: Staff committed to moving the housekeeping amendments through the planning process and returning with more detail at an upcoming work session and Planning Commission review.","Deschutes County planning staff outlined a package of local code updates implementing recent changes to state rules and case law affecting farm and forest uses. Staff described the work as housekeeping to align local code with OARs and court decisions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6357478,"Deschutes County planning staff propose sweeping clear-and-objective housing code edits; hearing set",2359,6065000,8424000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2215052-87f06a5c18daa88360226394926eabb2&start=6065&end=8424","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2215052-87f06a5c18daa88360226394926eabb2/thumbnail_6065000.jpg","/articles/6357478/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Deschutes-County-planning-staff-propose-sweeping-clear-and-objective-housing-code-edits-hearing-set","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357478-f55e662586fae0b2b37265b425084833/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149047&Signature=a~WG7y7ic5C1OUxOZ8AMnkR212s7ypwZbYUemSYVVP4-vC8aOmqvbnvYh76Eg7ZTU7TUphO2tUPd7An9NRzQaSR5BvPn3xLVLR5C9Zlwp8GCrqGFET59hQMH14Lva6fs0ilqniamWgNFIXspWJB9BvGIdvbUTfrh0rAzVjGIjL9Az3vdd-0TrjM96ZXNJRxsTJ1dYbeWXJPa57drBGt1ZctEgGfqvU6jc4-8lxs0oacOoG~IDI9JN7Pn1F7fp-6WuvqxcMifTITjPKyDCS1Aklq4RTWYZPByqFVlXSoPm1E006OMjAwtq9TJ933LP0khB0fjbJfHImBkeCyHdHsHzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deschutes County planners presented a wide-ranging package of zoning changes Thursday intended to make local housing standards \"clear and objective,\" aligning county code with state law that now requires such standards for many rural and unincorporated areas.

\"We're trying to preserve all the existing uses that currently exist in the code,\" said Kyle Collins, associate planner, describing the initial package of amendments at the Board of Commissioners meeting. The package addresses foundational definitions, dimensional standards (height, setbacks, lot coverage) and accessory-structure rules that determine when an outbuilding becomes a separate dwelling.

The rule changes stem from state actions dating to 2017 and, more recently, House Bill 3197 (2023), which extended clear-and-objective mandates to unincorporated and nonresource lands. That legislation becomes effective July 1 for the provisions that apply to housing development; county staff said any discretionary language left in the code after that date risks being challenged.

Planners said the package aims to reduce discretionary interpretation and make permitting more predictable. Examples include a defined method for calculating building height (an \"average of two points\" method by default, with a perimeter-sampling alternative for complex buildings) and a checklist approach to determine whether an accessory structure contains the components that would make it a dwelling unit.

The Planning Commission held a hearing on the amendments on Jan. 9 and voted unanimously to recommend approval, county staff said. \"The amendments are intended to be a technical exercise,\" Collins said. \"They're not intended to be policy decisions about what uses should or should not be allowed in the zones.\"

Public comment to date raised questions about specific wording and possible unintended consequences; planners said they had adjusted definitions where necessary and planned a follow-up work session and additional amendment packages covering subdivision standards and natural resources (Goal 5).

The Board of Commissioners scheduled a public hearing on the clear-and-objective amendments for Feb. 12 and directed staff to collect written comments in advance. The county said it expects to bring additional related packages over the coming months and acknowledged some amendments may need revision after implementation.

Ending: Staff said the goal is to increase predictability and reduce front-end permitting delays, while acknowledging that later packages addressing natural resources and subdivisions will be more complex and may require additional review and adjustment.","County planners presented a large package of clear-and-objective zoning amendments to comply with state law changes; Planning Commission recommended approval and the board scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 12.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6357483,"DEQ: Nitrate found in 65 of 100 domestic wells in southern Deschutes County; county considers targeted sewer and treatment investments",3481,503000,3984000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2215052-87f06a5c18daa88360226394926eabb2&start=503&end=3984","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2215052-87f06a5c18daa88360226394926eabb2/thumbnail_503000.jpg","/articles/6357483/Deschutes-County/Oregon/DEQ-Nitrate-found-in-65-of-100-domestic-wells-in-southern-Deschutes-County-county-considers-targeted-sewer-and-treatment-investments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357483-d4025f592b681612c698918bdf5b489f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149047&Signature=HgHvsymdSk4szJToKXUdnrPnY7stamzJZnZwPAX5TW7-ZhmrcSWyfTTFbI401DylALT15D1otv816Qt1R9I04SIXItMWAhT4jNOC~GRsPz9STNkGq9U3QEyQrHQkU7WVSOE2AsRj~aUnUCqvqwY3ExFN4dGNLdmIJ8uosPw5cK7ak~hmAsF~qWCRRsI1vLaJ0waiGTuE743Fb0vuSv-hYk2FE9sHIuyzBljVgdSYbCn5fnq-aFWXqrERHfP8HrnPGK2T5J4xapl~xXJmwZ1ETutx0YzWCxPhn8giaj2BSkPPx5DM3yLA8UcHFC57nS8Ry7a1wvJQ11BNa8ykrk5BUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality reported Thursday that its 2023–24 sampling of 100 domestic wells in southern Deschutes County detected nitrate in 65 wells; three samples exceeded the Oregon state action level of 7 milligrams per liter, and two exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's maximum contaminant level of 10 milligrams per liter, with the highest reading at 23 milligrams per liter.

Those findings, presented at the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners meeting in the Allen Room, are based on raw lab results that DEQ said are still undergoing full quality assurance and analysis before a formal report is published later this year. \"Results detected nitrate in 65 of those wells and 3 were above the state action level of 7 milligrams per liter,\" said Greg Sweeland, who works in DEQ's Bend office and helped lead the sampling project. He said DEQ provides results to well owners and refers exceedances to public health partners.

A nut graf: The data represent a voluntary snapshot of domestic wells and are not yet a full trend analysis, but commissioners and DEQ staff said the results reinforce long-standing concerns about nitrate loading in the La Pine subbasin and the limits of current local and state tools to reduce long-term contamination.

DEQ sampled private domestic wells in spring 2023 through spring 2024; the agency emphasized the sampling was largely voluntary. \"The recent sampling event doesn't really show us anything that we didn't expect,\" said Sean Rochet, DEQ statewide on-site program manager based in Bend, adding that the agency is preparing rulemaking tied to sewer availability, accessory dwelling unit (ADU) issues and technology allowances that could affect nitrate management statewide.

County staff and commissioners noted monitoring design matters: a subset of wells has been resampled across decades, while many new samples are single-event domestic well tests. DEQ said roughly 22 wells in the network have been sampled four times and some up to five times, providing a limited long-term series but not a comprehensive, science-designed monitoring network.

Deschutes County Community Development Director Peter Gutowski and on-site wastewater manager Todd Cleveland reviewed local actions: the county has installed more than 1,200 alternative treatment technology (ATT) systems to reduce nitrate loading and expects to surpass 1,300 by summer; about 6,900 lots in the subbasin are developed and nearly 5,700 still use conventional septic systems, the county said. Gutowski called for annual reporting and said prior investments and partnerships total more than $9 million for groundwater protection projects.

Commissioners and staff discussed ways to accelerate reductions in nitrate loading: narrowed, neighborhood-scale sewer extensions, targeted incentives or loan programs to upgrade septic systems, and potential state or federal funding. Commissioners raised the county's prior effort to seek a Goal 11 exception to enable concentrated sewer projects and said such efforts must be smaller and more economically feasible if pursued again.

DEQ said a full, peer-reviewed report and any trend analysis likely will take nine to 12 months; meanwhile the agency notifies owners of individual exceedances and refers them to county and state public-health partners. DEQ staff noted the agency has limited enforcement tools and said recent state rulemaking and proposed legislation aim to improve monitoring and partnership mechanisms.

Ending: County officials asked DEQ and state partners for follow-up on the highest individual exceedances and urged development of a repeatable, science-based monitoring plan. Commissioners said they will continue to explore targeted infrastructure and funding options and reconvene on new data and legislative opportunities when available.","Oregon Department of Environmental Quality reported nitrate in 65 of 100 sampled domestic wells in southern Deschutes County; 3 exceeded the state's action level and 2 exceeded the EPA maximum contaminant level. County officials discussed options including targeted sewer projects, expanded monitoring and incentives for advanced treatment systems.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Deschutes County commissioners direct staff to send letter opposing HB 3013 amendment after legal concerns raised

County planning previews state-led farm and forest modernization rules; mostly housekeeping to match case law

Deschutes County planning staff propose sweeping clear-and-objective housing code edits; hearing set

DEQ: Nitrate found in 65 of 100 domestic wells in southern Deschutes County; county considers targeted sewer and treatment investments