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Planning Commission backs removing large agricultural buffer, trims landscape bond and raises small-project fee
Summary
Planning staff introduced amendments to Title 18 landscaping rules that would remove a 150-foot designated agricultural buffer, shorten the landscape maintenance bond from three years to one, and raise the small-project bond threshold from $5,000 to $7,000; the commission moved to recommend approval and to pursue the removal alternative.
The North Bend Planning Commission on June 18 heard staff proposals to amend the city’s landscaping regulations in Title 18 and moved to recommend approval of the revisions, including a staff-preferred alternative that would remove an existing 150-foot designated agricultural buffer.
Planning intern Chase Rick, who led the staff presentation, said the package "remedies code that may no longer be necessary, solves existing language conflicts, promotes sustainable landscaping methods, and simplifies the city's landscape maintenance assurance device." The draft changes also would shorten the landscape maintenance bond period from three years to one year and raise the small-project bond threshold from $5,000 to $7,000.
Why it matters: The amendments affect how future development abutting designated agricultural land and city trails will be buffered, how long developers must guarantee new landscaping, and which projects require a maintenance bond. City staff framed the changes as a cleanup that aligns the code with current practice and with the 2024 comprehensive plan references.
Details of the proposal
Staff presented two alternatives for the section…
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