Cities & Towns

Over just 32 days after it began, Oregon’s 2024 legislative session delivered a mixed bag for environmentally-minded housing and land use advocates. Here’s our take on what went well, what could’ve been better, and what we’ll be working on next.

Housing production bills have been front and center during Oregon’s 2024 legislative short session and we’ve heard an encouraging message from lawmakers that our advocacy matters. Proposed Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) expansion provisions are being scaled back.

Looking ahead to the Oregon state legislative session that opens on February 5, 2024, LandWatch will be counting on our members and supporters to voice their support for an approach to development that urgently addresses our housing needs without eroding bedrock laws that are vital to our livability, human health, and a healthy environment.

Trees are a terrific tool for making our city climate-resilient, livable and equitable. Bend is updating its tree code, and we’ve been working to ensure that more trees - especially large, mature trees - are being preserved as we continue to build the housing our community urgently needs.

Here are some exciting updates about how we’re helping make Complete Communities happen in our community, right now.

A vision for a safe and accessible way to cross east and west Bend has been years in the making. And we’ve got big news!

Take action! Let your elected leaders know that Oregonians are still ready for Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities and that’s why we oppose HB 2659.

After years of sustained advocacy, improvements to the Midtown crossings are coming - and soon!

The City of Sisters is gathering community input on two important projects that guide potential development and zoning changes – changes that will help determine what this community looks like for generations.

LCDC unanimously adopts new rules that will guide future development in Oregon’s largest urban areas.

More climate-friendly and equitable communities are ahead for Oregon’s eight largest metropolitan areas, including Bend.

Oregonians are ready for climate-friendly and equitable communities, but we need all the support we can get to carry this transformative work across the finish line.

Did you know? In Deschutes County, over 50% of daily car trips are less than 3 miles in length.

What if Oregon’s future housing and transportation projects were centered around justice, access, and climate action? They can be, with your help.

Transportation access is also a big piece of the puzzle in creating more equitable communities. We need to create a city where access to a car is not a requirement for holding a job or getting to a grocery store. Take action by February 28!

There’s a chance to take action for improvements to Bend’s Midtown Crossings. Sign on to this letter of support by Monday, February 14th.

Developments don’t pop up overnight, even though it can sometimes feel that way. What’s happening around Bend, and what’s coming next?

There are times when taking action truly helps bring about the future we want to see. Right now, there are two opportunities to do just that for Bend.

Voter-approved transportation projects are starting to happen in Bend’s neighborhoods! Open Houses are great opportunities to help ensure these projects set the bar high on improving safe ways to walk, bike and roll around our city.

Right now, Oregon is undergoing a once-in-a-lifetime process that has the power to transform our communities and tackle climate change head-on.

If you want to help make our communities safer, healthier, and more pedestrian-friendly, this is a pivotal moment to make your voice heard.

Growth in Deschutes County continues to outpace the rest of the state. But as places like Bend continue to boom, how can the county grow responsibly? We hear details from Ben Gordon, the executive director of Central Oregon LandWatch, and Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang.

There is a housing shortage across the country, driving up costs and limiting available housing options for residents in cities and towns nationwide. Bend is no exception. HB 2001 requires most cities in Oregon, including Bend, to allow more middle housing options within city limits.

We’ve got a community vision for Hawthorne Avenue and connecting the Bend Central District to downtown. Together, we can make this vision come to life. Learn more about the Hawthorne Bridge and find out how you can support the project.

The City has released its completed draft of its “Update.” This document is the result of the City’s process over the past year – including public comment from the various Open Houses, committee feedback, and other forms of public input.

We’ve been taught to reduce, reuse, and recycle, but to grow sustainably, we also need to reimagine to grow sustainably. Getting a new plastic bag every time you go to the grocery store wastes plastic, so we try to reduce waste by reusing sturdy bags we already have. The same principle applies to the land beneath us.

As cities and towns across Central Oregon grow, we need infrastructure to accommodate that growth without compromising livability.