Planning commission backs removal of large agricultural buffer, recommends other landscaping code changes

The North Bend Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council adopt proposed amendments to Title 18 that would remove a longstanding 150-foot designated agricultural buffer in some locations and make multiple other landscaping-code changes.

City planning staff said the package of amendments is intended to resolve conflicting code language, encourage sustainable landscaping and simplify the city’s landscape maintenance assurance process. “The purpose of these amendments is to remedy code that may no longer be necessary, to solve existing language conflicts, promote sustainable landscaping methods, and simplify the city's landscape maintenance assurance device,” said Chase Rick, a city planning intern who led the drafting work.

Staff described several core changes. The commission was asked to consider either (a) removing the 150-foot buffer that applies near designated…