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Council liaison outlines housing projects, Juniper Ridge talks and electrification review
Summary
Council liaison Megan Perkins briefed the Human Rights and Equity Commission on local housing projects (Parkside Place, Stevens Road area, Caldera Ranch, Verde Pines and district partnership for Habitat homes), ongoing Juniper Ridge temporary safe-sleep-area talks with the county, and a multi-agency review of proposed electrification fees for new,
Council liaison Megan Perkins told the Human Rights and Equity Commission on Oct. 29 that several housing developments and related infrastructure needs are advancing in Bend, and she asked commissioners whether they would support renewed advocacy for the Juniper Ridge temporary safe-sleep area.
"There are about 7,500 housing units expected to go into the Southeast area, over, the next, probably, I don't know, decade or so," Perkins said during a summary of a recent legislative housing tour and local projects.
Perkins highlighted three items:
- Parkside Place, a middle-housing development created under 2016 legislation, visible from Big Sky fields. - A neighborhood-level focus on the Stevens Road/Southeast growth area and the Caldera Ranch extension tied to an urban growth boundary expansion. - Verde Pines, a planned 128-unit affordable rental development targeted at up to 60% area median income, built with Latino Community Association participation and bilingual (English/Spanish) leasing materials.
Perkins also described a school-district partnership to place Habitat for Humanity homes on a portion of Pacific Crest Middle School property for educators or staff.
On Juniper Ridge, Perkins said the county's initial response was neither an outright refusal nor agreement. "We did not get a no, from the county. We didn't really get a yes. We got a 'let's talk about it more,' from the county," she said, and staff agreed to continue discussions in January and to consider narrowing the canal-adjacent footprint to address irrigation-district concerns.
Perkins previewed a city committee to study potential electrification requirements for new construction that would include representatives from the Affordable Housing Committee, Bend Economic Development Advisory Board, Environment and Climate Committee, utilities and building trades representatives. She said the committee's work would examine both climate goals and housing cost implications.
Perkins also described a proposal to use some transient room tax funds for a downtown "flex plaza" and related amenities (a stage, improved trail access and public restrooms) to support small-to-mid-size events without full street closures.
Perkins invited commissioners to consider drafting another letter of support for sustaining the Juniper Ridge temporary safe-sleep area while longer-term options come online.
