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Deschutes County presents Transportation System Plan update and Tumalo Community Plan revisions
Summary
Deschutes County staff briefed the Bend MPO Policy Board on the county's Transportation System Plan update (2020–2040) and an updated Tumalo Community Plan appendix, emphasizing maintenance priorities, multimodal projects and a Tumalo policy recommending limits on multifamily development pending a separate zoning amendment process.
Deschutes County staff presented two planning updates to the MPO Policy Board: the county's Transportation System Plan (TSP) update for the 2020–2040 horizon and an updated Tumalo Community Plan appendix to the county comprehensive plan.
County staff said the TSP update emphasizes maintaining existing facilities and prioritizing multimodal and safety improvements amid constrained revenues. The plan includes project priorities for intersections, multi‑use pathways, bridges, federal lands access projects and transit coordination. County staff described public outreach (open houses, agency coordination and comments from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee) and said the plan incorporated feedback on projects including the Sunrise Boulevard functional reclassification, the Deschutes Riverwoods/Baker Road interchange concept, and multi‑use pathway connections (including a Sisters/Black Butte Ranch connection and a pedestrian/bike bridge in the southern urban growth boundary area).
Staff said the TSP documents an estimated $190 million in anticipated project costs over the 20‑year horizon and that the county intends to use the TSP to inform capital improvement programming and partner funding conversations. Staff noted the county has retained a roadway moratorium that limits acceptance of new roads into the county maintenance system.
On the Tumalo Community Plan update, staff described the appendix as guidance for a geographically defined unincorporated area. The plan contains vision, goals and policies addressing land use, public facilities, open space, and transportation. The board was told there were about 30 public comments on the Tumalo plan and that the county added a policy direction recommending pursuit of legislative amendments to Tumalo zoning that would, if adopted through the separate county code amendment process, limit multifamily developments to a maximum of four units per lot — a response to public concerns about sewer upgrades enabling denser housing. County staff emphasized that the plan language itself does not change zoning; any zoning text amendment would require a separate application and public review.
Staff reported that the TSP update took effect in June 2024 and the Tumalo Community Plan amendments became effective in August 2024 after the county's public‑hearing and adoption process. Board members thanked county staff for the presentation and noted the MPO will continue coordination on funding and project prioritization.
