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