North Bend officials outline urban renewal amendment, defend 30-year plan amid school board concerns

City consultants and North Bend officials spent much of a work session explaining a proposed amendment to the city's urban renewal agency (URA) plan and a related workforce-housing project, saying the changes are intended to address blight and attract residents and workers while disputing some concerns the school board raised.

The consultants, David Bewlhyar and Jeff Bridal, told board members the district is "the least impacted by any of the taxing districts within the urban renewal agency boundary," while saying the proposed project could increase enrollment and revenue by bringing residents into the community. Bewlhyar said he was "surprised by the number of questions posed by the district," given what he described as minimal expected financial impact.

Board members and district staff asked detailed questions about the URA amendment's duration (discussed as 30 years), how tax-increment financing would affect the district and other taxing authorities, whether the city could use eminent domain to acquire district property and who would manage and maintain any new housing. Several speakers raised concerns that extending the URA for 30 years is a much larger commitment than the district's previous experience with shorter terms.

Why it matters: The URA amendment would freeze the taxing base for the properties inside the URA and allow tax-increment revenues to be used for redevelopment and to repay debt. Some district members worried a long URA term could constrain revenues available for…