[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6037640,"mediaKeyId","3861204-241ba189a5b25b0322dfd55908b68d14","parentId",3861204,"title","Prineville opens public hearing on comprehensive plan updates and possible UGB expansion tied to proposed biomass site; council leaves record open","audioSeconds",5934,"startMs",2592000,"endMs",8526000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3861204-241ba189a5b25b0322dfd55908b68d14&start=2592&end=8526","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3861204-241ba189a5b25b0322dfd55908b68d14/thumbnail_2592000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6037640/Prineville/Crook-County/Oregon/Prineville-opens-public-hearing-on-comprehensive-plan-updates-and-possible-UGB-expansion-tied-to-proposed-biomass-site-council-leaves-record-open","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6037640-e9069ef283cf0e2cf5373683bc20a64e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207232&Signature=PO7a13myfqEbBYJJvmG8png~lIx0wYuCbdo8MfYVDUcHrZ~MPpQeXjpEtM1f~wECwlR3TQ660RmQnRpTVKPcgHWSJ9bka5AfQxpFkoWiLeJ4bJMkGaTHSH3YZT17p7oNf-6loKA~wTTNNR5Z7BY~mWNppA2ZUJT8uTX962mL5pQ1LeA8b~RaTKLY2zmfjwr6JXgQWkGo-IsAbjDge40k1dlyGtTLj8TukMiEdU18-hC56PUCP6Pqp1zzDIMj~B-kvk-73cDYO9oP~d564Goaaq2P6W7lfqoARhlsenAPngEdTI4TSzNwq~6K68VeocPiF7f6wJ32BC4Ywvo59v5Y0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Prineville, OR","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","City Planning Director Josh Smith opened a public hearing on amendments to the city comprehensive plan (chapters 2 and 5), an Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA) and a proposed urban growth boundary (UGB) expansion aimed at creating large-lot heavy industrial land along the rail corridor.

Smith said the EOA replaces an out-of-date economic chapter and is intended to identify whether Prineville needs additional industrial land over a 20-year horizon. He said the city\u0000s EOA concluded the city needs large-lot industrial sites to serve target industries and that one possible expansion would add about 227 acres along the railroad corridor; Smith emphasized the EOA does not by itself approve any specific industrial facility.

Planning staff described the EOA process: inventorying buildable lands, removing constraints (floodplain, slopes, wetlands), forecasting population (state-provided PSU data) and employment growth, and then estimating commercial and industrial land need. Staff said the EOA concluded the city has more commercial supply than the 20-year need (EOA cited needing about 84 acres and having 113) but that large-lot industrial demand requires additional contiguous sites—specifically the EOA listed a need equivalent to two approximately 251-acre sites for target industries.

Smith and staff said they evaluated a study area along the rail corridor and prioritized candidate parcels by site size, adjacency to the UGB, access to rail and infrastructure, slope and soil, and compatibility with surrounding uses. Staff recommended a corridor site (identified in the staff report) as the preferred alternative to accommodate a potential biomass facility or other large users that require rail.

Central Oregon Land Watch staff attorney Robin Hayakawa testified in opposition and urged the council to separate the EOA, comprehensive-plan text amendments and the UGB expansion so the public has more time to consider each item. Hayakawa said the EOA overestimates large-lot need by relying on an average-site-size method and that more flexible site-size assumptions should be evaluated. She also asked the council to leave the written record open to allow additional comments; Land Watch requested a longer written comment period and suggested alternatives such as evaluating existing industrially zoned county parcels.

Multiple residents raised concerns about procedural notice, impacts to farmland and wells, possible contamination from nearby gravel-mining operations, truck traffic on rural roads and potential air and water impacts if a biomass facility is sited there. Speakers asked why the city would expand onto high-value farmland, requested additional environmental analysis of air and water impacts, questioned whether rail access justifies the site choice and urged consideration of other parcels already zoned industrial.

Council discussion focused on process and next steps rather than a substantive decision tonight. Council members and staff agreed the EOA and the UGB expansion are linked and that testimony on the EOA will be considered in the UGB hearing. Because several council members would be absent later in the meeting, Council President Uffelman and four members present agreed to continue the public hearing and leave the written record open for additional comments until the council\u0000s next regular meeting (April 22). The motion to keep the written record open passed by a vote of the members present.

Ending: The council continued the hearings and left the written record open through April 22; staff said written comments could be emailed or dropped off and staff will prepare follow-up materials and responses to questions raised by residents and organizations before the continued hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Prineville Council Meeting 04-08-25","oneSentenceSummary","Prineville planning staff presented a new Economic Opportunities Analysis and a proposed 227-acre UGB expansion to accommodate large-lot industrial uses along the rail corridor; residents and an environmental group raised procedural and substantive concerns about farmland, water, air and the targeted approach.","taxTitle","Prineville, Crook County, Oregon","taxId",70324,"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},6037645,"Prineville council approves intent to award contract for Ochoco Mill apartments waterline improvements",211,1764000,1975000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3861204-241ba189a5b25b0322dfd55908b68d14&start=1764&end=1975","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3861204-241ba189a5b25b0322dfd55908b68d14/thumbnail_1764000.jpg","/articles/6037645/Prineville/Crook-County/Oregon/Prineville-council-approves-intent-to-award-contract-for-Ochoco-Mill-apartments-waterline-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6037645-066126fad92ccf5a001af3b5a3dca439/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207232&Signature=Chmq3eMPxiF-ZNrYFz~liTthoB82tTtI6zkaRypwyBNQr6j2pHmijCne3BI2cCRB77be0sc9RlvkhrV3in3IL4V6VlXpo7FrucVgkpOci8lthZAC1ylAd~5bv91AZhJhn3sHIDiyPPsTJwIvsbHmfCMbHmAnkhs3EmEtXiOz7FCnpS1At-Gv5du9wzNkEesYal6K-RuFf1h7YLMuABKEGgvgZWtx-eWJv0qRevCvry0k-R9vIcXx77VDxjSTmKtOJJVOb9ressSRQOXND4pwBjXWLCQiBJbzoLV4Qf77c6OYOHlpP68sm0yEw3b~q8sHuUAONSC5UCVyirXiqQi13A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Public Works Director Casey Keiser recommended the Council approve an intent to award the Ochoco Mill Apartments waterline and wastewater public infrastructure contract to the apparent low bidder. Keiser said the work will serve a multifamily housing development funded in part by a $2 million grant secured for infrastructure to support multifamily housing.

Keiser said five responsive bids were received and identified the apparent low bidder as CBRL with a bid of $232,377.79. Keiser recommended the council approve the intent to award to the low bidder in that amount.

A council member moved to approve the intent to award for the 2025 Ochoco Mill Apartments waterline improvement project; another councilor seconded. During discussion Council members noted the bid spread and asked about the engineer\u0000s estimate; Keiser and others said the city\u0000s estimate had been approximately $600,000. The council then voted and the motion passed with the members present voting aye.

Votes: Mayor Beebe voted aye; Councilor Sumner voted aye; Councilor Smith voted aye; Council President Uffelman stated he voted aye as well. The City will proceed with the intent-to-award process and return with final contract steps as required by procurement rules.

Ending: City staff said they will finalize award paperwork and proceed with project procurement and scheduling; staff are available to provide additional bid documentation to council or the public on request.","The council approved an intent-to-award for water and wastewater infrastructure to serve the Ochoco Mill multifamily housing project, awarding the low bid and noting a large difference between the engineer\u0000s estimate and bid prices.",{"_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},6037650,"EDCO urges Prineville to boost regional membership support as Crook County posts rapid growth",1536,221000,1757000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3861204-241ba189a5b25b0322dfd55908b68d14&start=221&end=1757","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3861204-241ba189a5b25b0322dfd55908b68d14/thumbnail_221000.jpg","/articles/6037650/Prineville/Crook-County/Oregon/EDCO-urges-Prineville-to-boost-regional-membership-support-as-Crook-County-posts-rapid-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6037650-47fbb1d3967ed21658e5f6f4f65f5399/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207232&Signature=l~W6fbi7IXu5LPAvCly~3W4CBw3s-x1Rn3U2porYzmGm5uRM-4A51SehArISt-A4aVWKRUP0rND8G8maO24dsRHr-DvWKUgdPBadPukJjleoNOiZqzgXDSYuDryR-b9rMdX8vWNZ7p4keDu1nALkcaQfYBjuqmJrAPghiodPyWKacBuucDlLH4kXl-5vfcvXYRqGc~KSFAzinkqtNcyOqLx0knsMyOb28-OiwRIJRZXh3vXk5ULp5Pc6lS9QAVh9hkkvmUHkMnN1wbVUK3O17cytqXIXUwKYLeO5AreeqohcWp10JD1nR62MQg-DR5yUx2~MCFL1GlJwaqcsVyKPeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kelsey Lucas, Crook County director with Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO), told the Prineville City Council that the Central Oregon metropolitan area and Crook County have seen strong recent economic growth and that EDCO seeks increased municipal support to expand advocacy and regional services.

Lucas said the Central Oregon MSA ranked fourth among small metros in the Milken Institute’s 2025 rankings and that Crook County posted “a remarkable 52.5% growth in GDP” over five years, along with workforce and household income gains. “Moving forward, we must stay ahead of the curve on addressing housing availability and innovative infrastructure solutions to attract and retain talent here,” Lucas said.

John Stark, EDCO chief executive officer, described EDCO as a regional economic development organization with a hub in Bend and local directors in the three-county area. He said EDCO’s current $2.1 million budget is funded by private membership (about 37%), public contracts (about 33%), earned revenue from events and some grants. Stark said EDCO’s budget and staffing have grown in recent years to meet increased demand for services.

Michael Warren, EDCO board president, asked the council to consider a larger, recurring local contribution: “I get tons of compliments … talking about how easy it is to do business in Prineville,” Warren said, arguing that stable annual funding would allow EDCO to retain staff and provide consistent services to local businesses.

EDCO asked the council to consider two specific adjustments to local support: raising the local membership level referenced in EDCO’s materials from “50” to “60” (the presentation did not specify currency or units for those numbers) and adding an EDCO “platinum” membership at $10,000 to support statewide advocacy and regional marketing. Lucas and Stark said the membership and advocacy request would be incorporated into the city’s next biennial budget process, which begins July 1; city staff confirmed the proposal will be considered during budget deliberations.

Council members voiced general support and asked procedural questions. Council President Uffelman and Mayor Beebe thanked EDCO for the presentation; Councilor Sumner said the materials supported EDCO’s request. Council members asked for the request to be reviewed in the normal budget process and for additional documentation to be provided to city finance staff.

EDCO representatives outlined several programs and performance metrics they said support the request, including a list of top employers to be released soon, industrial space developed in Tom McCall Industrial Park, and enterprise zone filings EDCO manages. Lucas said EDCO recorded multiple traded-sector leads in 2024 and that the organization supports targeted recruitment, entrepreneur services and regional advocacy.

EDCO said it partners with statewide and regional organizations including Business Oregon, the Oregon Economic Development Association (OEDA), the Association of Oregon Counties and the League of Oregon Cities to advance legislative priorities around infrastructure, workforce development and incentives. “We work on this every day,” Stark said.

The council did not take a formal vote on EDCO’s membership request during the meeting; city staff said the request will go into the upcoming biennial budget cycle for review. Council members and EDCO agreed to follow up with staff and provide additional budget detail ahead of formal budget hearings.

Ending: EDCO will provide written details and a proposed budget figure for the council’s review during the city’s upcoming two-year budget process; councilors said they expect to consider the request with other budget priorities before any funding decision is made.","EDCO representatives presented regional economic data and asked the council to increase Prineville’s membership support for EDCO, outlining program results, funding mix and a request to adjust the city’s contribution as part of the upcoming biennial budget process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Prineville opens public hearing on comprehensive plan updates and possible UGB expansion tied to proposed biomass site; council leaves record open

Prineville council approves intent to award contract for Ochoco Mill apartments waterline improvements

EDCO urges Prineville to boost regional membership support as Crook County posts rapid growth