Progress on Neighborhood Commercial in Bend
LandWatch’s Cities & Towns Program is all about creating Complete Communities: neighborhoods with nature nearby and housing options for everyone where people can meet many of their daily needs within a safe, walkable or bikeable distance.
Bend has undertaken many efforts to create more options for housing and transportation, and provide greenspace in our neighborhoods. However, much of Bend is far from being walkable, and that’s because many of our neighborhoods don’t combine living, working, and gathering spaces.
Bringing small-scale commercial uses to our residential neighborhoods would give neighbors a place to gather and connect, reduce pressures on our climate and our transportation system, provide more equitable access to goods and services, and encourage entrepreneurship.
Bruno’s 6th Street Market in the Orchard District is a great example of a neighborhood commercial business that enriches the area and helps residents easily meet some of their basic needs.
A Bend staple, Jackson’s Corner in Old Bend is another example of neighborhood commercial — and also a purveyor of some of the most delicious, local farm-fresh dishes in town.
Having more businesses in our neighborhoods is a natural part of healthy urbanization and would support how much of the community would like to live. So, LandWatch is partnering with Bend YIMBY to find ways to make this happen. One of our strategies involves advocating for changes to the City’s “Neighborhood Commercial” code to allow a wider range of compatible businesses and building types in more locations — then crafting incentives and programs to help small businesses get started. Find more information and sign our petition to City Council here.
WHAT’S NEXT
On January 14th, the Bend City Council will have a work session exploring opportunities for legislative advocacy on the topic, short-term and long-term land use policy amendments, and financial feasibility and incentives. Neighborhood Commercial is an essential topic for this discussion, and LandWatch will be advocating for its inclusion.
