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The Housing Affordability Survey and Forum results, a look at what comes next, and more...
DECEMBER 2014 - BEND 2030 VISION NEWS

MESSAGE
FROM THE CHAIR

by Betsy Warriner



It's been a great year for our Bend 2030 progress. Back in 2006, our community adopted a vision for Bend in 2030, with six comprehensive Focus Area goals, and since then we have been working with our community partners to track, update, and further the actions to achieve these goals.

In 2014, with the encouragement of many community members, our community partners, and our Leadership Alliance supporters, we put a new focus on civic engagement -- bringing diverse community voices into addressing our key community issues. To begin, we initiated our Livability Series with our Housing Affordability Survey & Forum, and presentation to the Bend City Council as reported in this newsletter. FULL REPORT

Upcoming in 2015, we will hold our second Livability Series Forum on transportation issues. These issues, especially public transit, are closely tied to affordable living in Bend, allowing us to sustain economic diversity, a key component of a truly livable community. We are grateful for the grant we received from The J.G. Edwards Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, so that we will be able to hire a part-time Executive Director in 2015 to further our work.

THE SIX VISION FOCUS AREAS

1.  Well-Planned City
2.  Vibrant Economy
3.  Quality Environment
4.  Strong Community
5.  Safe, Healthy People
6.  Creative, Learning Culture
BEND 2030 REPORTS TO CITY COUNCIL

On Dec. 17 Bend 2030 board members presented the Housing Affordability Survey & Forum findings to the Bend City Council. The following community-supported solutions were recommended:



IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS
-  Approve the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) recommendation to remove conditional use permits for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and increasing the ADU square footage to 800 square feet.
- Approve the AHAC recommendation to implement a cottage code that would allow small single-family detached units with shared spaces within residential zones.
-  Approve the AHAC recommendation to adopt a more broadly applied density bonus for projects that provide a specific amount of affordable housing.



ONGOING SOLUTIONS
-  Direct City staff to analyze the possibility of charging a small tax on second homes in the city to offset the cost of affordable housing development in Bend.
-  Direct city staff and the planning commission to identify additional ways to increase density within the current city limits, including taller buildings in the core of the city and along Third Street, and then adopt measures to do so in the urban growth boundary expansion plan.



NEAR-FUTURE SOLUTIONS
Increase available lands for housing development.
Develop strategies for affordable housing to be included in new land that is brought into the city.

 

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ADDRESSED


One of the most critical challenges facing our community—squarely addressed in the 2030 Vision—is the need for more affordable housing.

The Housing Affordability Survey & Forum were both designed to help us better understand the depth of the problem and how to meet this need. In using the term “housing affordability” we were clear this is a challenge that affects community members of all different ages, income levels and backgrounds. 
 


We interviewed numerous community stakeholders that work closely with housing issues, conducted an online public survey that attracted nearly 1,200 respondents and finally staged an open community forum with audience polling.

Based on that process, Bend 2030 developed community-supported recommendations that are aligned with the 2030 Vision to address the affordable housing crisis (see side panel for a list of recommendations presented to the City Council). FULL HOUSING REPORT

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY  SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS


The survey revealed the following about survey-takers' opinions on the housing problem:
  • About 84 percent of survey-takers said the affordable housing problem is critical or extremely critical.
  • About 89 percent said the issue will be critical or extremely critical in the future.
  • The survey showed that survey-takers felt our community has a moral obligation to provide greater housing affordability and said the responsibility to do so is shared equally by the City of Bend and housing developers. 
The survey showed the following ranking for the top four housing types most needed in Bend:
  1. Single-family homes to rent.
  2. Rental apartments.
  3. Single family homes to purchase.
  4. Cottages with common spaces.  


The survey revealed the following attitudes about solutions:
  • One of the most strongly supported solutions was adding “a small increase to your monthly water and sewer bill (for example $10) to fund affordable housing development.”
  • Increasing density levels within the current city limits was also strongly supported. Respondents favored allowing “more apartment buildings in your neighborhood” and “smaller building lots in your neighborhood,” and “creating more density by allowing grouped housing with common spaces,” and “creating more density within the city by allowing additional units within a property.”
  • Expanding the urban growth boundary also ranked highly as a solution, with survey-takers supporting areas of the urban growth boundary expansion devoted specifically to affordable housing.
  • Other creative solutions that received support were placing a small tax on second homes to fund affordable housing development and creating more density by allowing for taller buildings outside of downtown, for example along Third Street.
  • The survey showed support for exempting developers who build affordable housing from City of Bend system development charges. 

THANK YOU!


To the following housing partners who helped us in the Housing Affordability planning process:

Acadia Properties, City of Bend Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Bethlehem Inn, Central Oregon Association of Realtors, Central Oregon Builders Association, Central Oregon Community College, City of Bend Affordable Housing Coordinator, Economic Development for Central Oregon, Habitat for Humanity, Housing Works, Latino Community Association, Neighbor Impact, Oregon Housing and Community Services, Deschutes County Planning Commission, Deschutes County Commissioner Tammy Baney, and City Care.

Also a big thanks to the Deschutes County Commissioners for the discretionary grant support on the forum!
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Happy Holidays to our wonderful community from the Bend 2030 team!
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Bend 2030 Vision News

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