[{"_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",6479429,"mediaKeyId","5693737-9632ca1c957c9310a6fa2f79d1588b36","parentId",5693737,"title","Board approves Cascades Academy plan amendment and zone change after deliberations; board asks for final decision drafting","audioSeconds",3320,"startMs",9171000,"endMs",12491000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693737-9632ca1c957c9310a6fa2f79d1588b36&start=9171&end=12491","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693737-9632ca1c957c9310a6fa2f79d1588b36/thumbnail_9171000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479429/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Board-approves-Cascades-Academy-plan-amendment-and-zone-change-after-deliberations-board-asks-for-final-decision-drafting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479429-7a088a261fa781fb4be56d4a9f24a8a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776413651&Signature=NfbdhBmal3M243w9raTDJ6HhIhaDugT1Sb4un-VS48tPIgb6y~7GMjlvUDizCXq~1Wou0JNAK8GbVtE6wBVQD4LZ0nsf2nXgIiMTrg5sSJAfaHmvikmZS5su7O9QD4tHQ3jHVDNOHcdCXQ3LTbh2weJuNoQJUl8S~SQvlahlVpWeqaNHtz3dI3zJqoAxXyJ5x6CfateNhkVOdhxcujdxCMBBgIsZ8KPh7wajz3iqYk3Pp0cfHXS54ktuolK4CdrHPQ~zDevnhBbUZu9szW8C0fcUS~Nh2vIVbtxB2Rh28vq05pYL4PMngD9g4JTVP66-qXpuKk0yaGbLQpmIYuGpCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Deschutes County, OR","date","2025-08-28T07:42:53Z","article","The Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners after deliberations voted Aug. 27 to approve a plan amendment and zone change application for roughly 22.5 acres west of Highway 20 at the Cascades Academy site, while instructing staff to draft final decision documents for board adoption.

Senior planner Nicole Mardell and community development director Peter Gutowski summarized the file history: the property consists of seven tax lots totaling about 22.5 acres, including portions previously zoned surface mine and other portions zoned EFU (Exclusive Farm Use). A hearings officer had recommended denial on goal‑5 (scenic and natural resource) grounds, citing insufficient findings. The applicant subsequently supplemented the administrative record with a site‑specific Order 1 soil survey and a follow‑up economic, social, environmental and energy (EC) analysis. Staff and the hearings officer reviewed the supplemental materials and recommended approval contingent on required findings.

Key technical points discussed during deliberations included soil capability and irrigation potential. Peter Gutowski cited the applicant’s soils report and summarized the parcel‑level findings: most of the subject acreage was classified as capability classes 7 and 8 (poor for irrigated crop agriculture), with a small portion classified as class 6 non‑irrigated (class 3 if irrigated). Gutowski read the record breakdown showing roughly 15.5 acres characterized mostly as class 7/8 soils and about 6.97 acres not in that category.

The board also considered whether the proposed MUA‑10 zoning would cause urbanization requiring a Goal 14 exception; the hearings officer and applicant supplied a Curry‑factor analysis and staff said the proposal was consistent with county practice of applying rural residential exception‑area designations to non‑resource lands. Commissioners debated enforcement, scenic‑corridor protections, wetlands mapping and whether the site is suitable for farm use. Staff noted the site contains mapped wetlands and landscape‑management overlay constraints near the Deschutes River and Highway 20.

After discussion, the board voted to approve the plan amendment and zone change application (file numbers as in the record: plan amendment and zone change materials on file). The recorded vote was Commissioner Dyer: yes; Commissioner Chang: no; Chair DeBone: yes. The board directed staff to work with the applicant to prepare final written findings and an order for the board to sign at a future meeting. Staff will return with the final decision language and any required conditions.

Ending

Staff will prepare the final decision and bring it back to the board for signature. The board’s tentative approval is contingent on finalized findings and standard ministerial steps; appeals and LUBA timelines were noted as applicable next steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","08/27/2025 - Board of Commissioners - Wednesday Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 27 approved a plan amendment and zone change application for about 22.5 acres west of Highway 20 to allow MUA‑10 zoning, contingent on final findings to be drafted by staff and the applicant.","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},6479438,"Deschutes County holds public hearing on dark‑sky code updates; commissioners direct staff to return with revised text",5004,1988000,6992000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693737-9632ca1c957c9310a6fa2f79d1588b36&start=1988&end=6992","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693737-9632ca1c957c9310a6fa2f79d1588b36/thumbnail_1988000.jpg","/articles/6479438/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Deschutes-County-holds-public-hearing-on-darksky-code-updates-commissioners-direct-staff-to-return-with-revised-text","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479438-b4131cb955c0cc67cac713d3081d4d47/orig.mp4?Expires=1776413651&Signature=HZRrvTSi~fbmwC-CD~05zo7gNzCCMEGidP72SBK067ic9FSBG~B48MScLwPxzjp7SmD1I7Ug1P48yFsHRV57f32zL9IyZBeWPHdYT4hUYgFCi70jZDEDjCxf-DiuHK2bBQ2emmFU1ltWZWslaq-Gaa2zdbn2kQojYCM4xokxGRg7Fia9rvwyPrRZqBZk8StdGn73RmuHz5hi2Z4657R1-QAWyy4o9DjlWpKBXJTdZNLmDcpsr6ttvpli7hlrivkVTcQefhRdaaPLnI2RcQfgvBUzzOvfhWcgQ~6rrnJxD4vTqYYPF74SSqXGMElF5YUZNhXnGWVOOAvmTjXXm5LUNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deschutes County commissioners held a hybrid public hearing Aug. 27 on proposed amendments to the county’s outdoor lighting control chapter, a legislative effort staff said was intended to modernize rules first adopted in 1994.

Tanya Salzmann, county planning staff, opened the hearing and outlined procedures and the project website for the full record. Senior planning staff presented the proposed changes and said the draft replaces complex wattage‑and‑bulb‑type tables with three primary requirements for non‑exempt fixtures: downcast orientation, full shielding and no light trespass. The draft also adds definitions for downcast and string lighting, consolidates exemptions, and includes non‑regulatory guiding principles drawn from Dark Sky International and local examples such as the City of Sisters.

Dark Sky Oregon representatives and tourism operators testified in support. Bill Kowalik, chair of Dark Sky Oregon, said, “Dark Sky Oregon strongly supports the recommendations of the planning commission,” and urged the county to seek Dark Sky certification within five years. Chris Hill, also with Dark Sky Oregon, recommended additional measures the group believes necessary for certification, including limiting color temperature to 3,000 kelvins or lower, inventories of public lights, and measurement of night‑sky darkness.

Several residents described local lighting problems and asked for stronger enforcement in built‑up areas; one resident from inside the city of Bend described bright industrial lighting at a warehouse and was informed the county’s ordinance would apply only to unincorporated areas, not properties within city limits.

Planning staff noted the planning commission recommended lowering the nonconformance compliance window from five years to three and recommended pursuing Dark Sky certification within five years. Staff also said enforcement is complaint‑based, and that building inspectors do not currently review lighting as part of plan checks; staff emphasized that outreach and education would be a major part of implementing any code changes.

Commissioners discussed enforceability and implementation costs of additional certification steps, including inventories and retrofits of public lighting. Community development director Peter Gutowski told the board such a certification program for a county the size of Deschutes would require additional staff resources and coordination and that Sunriver and other gated communities administer their own programs.

After public testimony and staff discussion the board voted to close the hearing and proceed to deliberations. Commissioners signaled support for the draft with edits discussed during the meeting. Among the key directions recorded by staff were:

• Retain the three core requirements in the draft: downcast direction, full shielding and no direct light trespass.

• Adopt a three‑year compliance/nonconformance window for existing fixtures rather than five years (a planning commission recommendation the board supported).

• Use fixed holiday dates for the main winter holiday period (day after Thanksgiving through Jan. 15) and allow a small number of additional discretionary days (staff and commissioners discussed 14 cumulative days) for other holidays; staff will finalize the exact fixed dates in the revised draft.

• Include guiding principles (preferred lower color temperatures such as warm lights) in the zoning chapter as nonregulatory guidance, but do not place Dark Sky certification language inside the zoning code; certification will remain an aspirational goal to pursue outside the code.

• Emphasize education and outreach as the primary implementation tool; staff to work with community partners (including Dark Sky Oregon and tourism operators) on public information and retrofits.

Commissioners asked staff to return to the board with a revised draft that reflects the meeting’s edits and an outreach plan; the chair said the aspirational target of seeking Dark Sky certification within five years will remain part of follow‑up planning but not codified in the ordinance text. Staff also noted that public facilities and existing landscape management overlay requirements would be used to limit visual impacts for development near the Deschutes River and Highway 20 scenic corridor.

Ending

Staff will prepare a revised ordinance reflecting the board’s requested edits and return with a timeline for education and outreach; the board closed the public hearing and moved into deliberations during the same meeting.","Deschutes County commissioners on Aug. 27 conducted a hybrid public hearing on proposed outdoor lighting code amendments that would require non‑exempt fixtures to be downcast, fully shielded and to prevent direct light trespass; commissioners directed staff to return with a revised draft and outreach plan.",{"_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},6479442,"Deschutes County accepts OHA expansion for veteran peer support; funds 18‑month case manager position",611,1428000,2039000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693737-9632ca1c957c9310a6fa2f79d1588b36&start=1428&end=2039","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693737-9632ca1c957c9310a6fa2f79d1588b36/thumbnail_1428000.jpg","/articles/6479442/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Deschutes-County-accepts-OHA-expansion-for-veteran-peer-support-funds-18month-case-manager-position","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479442-5bf8ce9f4deb090a9cafaffb20c84882/orig.mp4?Expires=1776413651&Signature=UZaEULIpnGwLPAjyIKdD05qvQsX7CoxgRfjpIhzNI1XoHj4iaKNTfl2IA8vfcirf7DQIXyWcmb80XiGDKSWO3Xdbmez79sliXQY~Br3c4YNn8dWnm4cdiDfe79~6CW0HYckTm725HkqBOkYxDNYwIvtIsMQYTJq43xm7IOWS9Ldw7U0eEeDKTJ8buyb4Ny~PRpNx-0ZMJXAmjgrnGjMJKEU0ftz~hULWE7D07WTXkcc57c4i3Kxd0ZitUwvYGTMymY7ymOLIxTXfHQwqX5bPmEyWar~Fx4WMvCrmIQrdRcic2txrkfYxapC27QcKlhfFUZ9Kt7n1E3AYyqtJmiZWZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 27 authorized acceptance of an expansion to the county’s veteran behavioral health peer support grant from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and approved adding a limited‑duration full‑time behavioral health specialist I to the county payroll.

Kristen, a county program staff member who presented the request, told the board the county’s veteran peer support specialist has exceeded the original grant deliverables and is carrying a caseload far above expectations. “She has made contact with over a 100 veterans in our community and has sustained interactions with 76 individuals throughout the course of the grant,” Kristen said, adding that the workload is more than one peer can sustain and that the expanded funds would support pairing the peer with a behavioral health case manager for about 18 months.

The grant expansion is intended to help the existing peer provide more intensive case management, coordinate resources, and connect veterans to services in the community. Kristen said the additional staff would allow the program to “meet veterans where they are” and to better link them with the VA, Vet Center partners and local housing programs the peer already coordinates with.

The board recorded two separate motions under this agenda item. First, a motion to authorize acceptance of the OHA veteran behavioral health peer support specialist grant passed unanimously. Second, the board approved a separate motion to add one limited‑duration FTE behavioral health specialist I to support pairing with the peer specialist; that motion also passed unanimously. The board vote was recorded as Commissioner Dyer: yes; Commissioner Chang: yes; Chair DeBone: yes.

The commissioners’ discussion emphasized the program’s community reach, with the board and presenter noting the peer’s role in connecting veterans to the Veterans Village, the Central Oregon Veterans Ranch and other local services. Kristen said the peer works by referral and outreach across multiple sites and that community partners call on the peer for clients who might not otherwise engage with county behavioral health services.

The county described the position as limited duration tied to the OHA expansion funds; the board approved accepting the grant and creating the position, and staff will return with the paperwork necessary to implement the hire and accept the funds.

Ending

Staff will manage hiring and implementation; the board did not set a separate follow‑up date during the meeting. The vote authorizing the grant acceptance and the limited‑duration FTE was unanimous.","The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners voted to accept an Oregon Health Authority grant that expands veteran behavioral health peer services and to add a limited‑duration 1.0 FTE behavioral health specialist I to support the work.",{"_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},6479434,"Deschutes County adopts revised 2040 comprehensive plan on second reading; 2‑1 vote",1767,7354000,9121000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5693737-9632ca1c957c9310a6fa2f79d1588b36&start=7354&end=9121","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5693737-9632ca1c957c9310a6fa2f79d1588b36/thumbnail_7354000.jpg","/articles/6479434/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Deschutes-County-adopts-revised-2040-comprehensive-plan-on-second-reading-21-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479434-46046270d079dc8101784b62c24680dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1776413651&Signature=c-ubRhIrXdsMmoyuyc-cfGVJozjte8O4YO3f~tcZXG-WmiGzY~iTTjUxq8F1TckGh-ehxHZDs20d8ZX1tyiu~TNNuCpQSdoXIFjU80q3N1q-vtClQ1brKPXjrht5BCrW4qoRCovQuYiygP4xzJKmomueQflViox210ae~yziM70M9g2AsyWISmse-oAqbWKlv-DLRxJbkAfnNtNrkqECqpWnplUoLVZRIM9Pe8n~GA3lJZvXYx39QZEgXWlnz4ybIrVJLP975ltHBNJpn5L7RbTT2XdGGsOqtrb~6sf6Dd9wHDSLrO0u4Hez530F1204EL0Mnwbgc5EgROigl2wbhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners adopted the county’s updated 2040 comprehensive plan on second reading Aug. 27, approving Ordinance No. 2025‑007 by a 2‑1 vote.

Nicole Mardell, senior planner for Deschutes County Community Development, summarized the reconsideration process leading to the second reading. The board reopened the plan following earlier appeals and a Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) reconsideration process; staff held additional hearings to address items raised by a subsequent LUBA ruling (the Destiny Court case) and to refine policies and findings. Mardell told the board the decision must be submitted to LUBA by Sept. 8.

Commissioners discussed the plan during deliberations. Commissioner Chang criticized the reconsideration process and said constituent input had been insufficiently reflected in the final document, while other commissioners defended the plan as a 20‑year vision document and highlighted the county’s resource and housing considerations.

A motion for second reading and adoption was made and seconded during the meeting. The roll call on second reading and adoption was recorded as Commissioner Dyer: yes; Commissioner Chang: no; Chair DeBone: yes. The board recorded the effective date of the adopted plan as the date of adoption, subject to any appeals to LUBA; staff noted that if appealed, the ordinance’s effective date would be the date the ordinance is no longer subject to appeal.

Ending

Staff said they will transmit the adopted ordinance and record to LUBA and to interested parties. The board directed staff to continue implementation work and to return as required during the appeals process.","On second reading the Board of County Commissioners adopted the Deschutes County 2040 comprehensive plan (Ordinance 2025‑007). The vote was 2‑1, with Commissioner Chang recorded as the dissenting vote. Staff will submit the decision to the Land Use Board of Appeals as required.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves Cascades Academy plan amendment and zone change after deliberations; board asks for final decision drafting

Deschutes County holds public hearing on dark‑sky code updates; commissioners direct staff to return with revised text

Deschutes County accepts OHA expansion for veteran peer support; funds 18‑month case manager position

Deschutes County adopts revised 2040 comprehensive plan on second reading; 2‑1 vote