Commissioners prioritize wildfire mitigation mapping, Terrebonne plan and groundwater tracking in planning work plan

Deschutes County planning staff briefed commissioners July 23 on potential long-range projects for the coming year and received direction to prioritize wildfire mitigation mapping and fire-hardening guidance, to actively engage with state developments under Senate Bill 1154 regarding groundwater contamination and potential sewer policy changes, and to advance work tied to the Terrebonne community plan as sewer infrastructure moves toward 2028 availability.

Why it matters: Each of the prioritized items could steer zoning, subdivision rules, and infrastructure policy that affect housing, wildfire risk reduction, and future urbanization in portions of the county.

What staff presented - Projects under way: Planning staff listed ongoing work including the county comprehensive plan update, minor variance changes, and housekeeping code amendments. Staff emphasized that much of Deschutes County’s most granular Census data remains the 2020 decennial counts. - Three candidate priorities: (1) Wildfire mitigation mapping and fire-hardening standards (staff noted the state’s repeal of a draft wildfire hazard map and new latitude for local standards under Senate Bill 83); (2) Terrebonne Community Plan update to reflect the sanitary district’s sewer main installs and annexations and to tune development standards ahead of an anticipated 2028 opening; (3) a “high desert lands” community conversation to consider policy options for non-prime agricultural lands, incentives and clustering options on rural lands. - Groundwater policy (Senate Bill 1154): Staff advised that SB 1154, which passed the legislature, could allow DEQ-declared groundwater concern areas to alter the county’s path to community-level sewer projects without a Goal 11 exception, and staff recommended monitoring and engagement with DEQ on implementation.

Board direction and remarks - Wildfire mitigation mapping: Commissioners directed staff to place wildfire mitigation mapping and fire‑hardening work at the top of the list. Several commissioners said the county should be prepared to conduct public education and map-making even if the community conversation is likely to be politically charged. Staff noted R327 (building code) tools and that local adoption options will follow state implementation guidance. - Terrebonne plan: Commissioners said Terrebonne requires near-term attention because the sanitary district has installed mains and annexed properties; timing was important if the board wants development rules in place before service begins. One commissioner said they would pursue additional state-level funding to support Terrebonne infrastructure work. - Senate Bill 1154 and groundwater: Commissioners asked staff to engage with DEQ and other state actors so the county can be prepared to use any new SB 1154 authority and to track potential sewer policy pathways that could affect Newberry Country and South County.

Next steps: Staff will return with work plans and scopes for the wildfire proposal and for a Terrebonne plan schedule. Commissioners asked staff to report back on SB 1154 implementation and to continue internal and interagency coordination where infrastructure timelines (sewer) and planning updates intersect.