by Sara Odendahl, Director of Government Affairs & Strategic Initiatives, Bend Chamber

Earlier this week, City Council approved adding 91 acres in southeast Bend to the city’s urban growth boundary (UGB) on a 4-2 decision.  The new site, called Caldera Ranch, will produce 700 units of housing via an expedited UGB process authorized by legislation in the 2024 session. Of those units 238 will be deed restricted affordable homes for people with incomes of 80% or below of area median income.

SB 1537, passed earlier this year, authorized the expedited UGB expansion process for up to 100 net acres with strict affordability standards, and the City of Bend is among the first to take advantage of the new policy. During the 2024 Legislative Session, the Chamber stepped out early in support of the legislation and actively advocated for its passage.

As the fastest growing city in Oregon, Bend needs all the tools in the toolbox to make strides towards solving our housing crisis. Businesses are strained as it is harder to recruit and retain talent in Bend due to the high cost of living. In our October 2022 employer survey conducted by ECONorthwest, 91 percent of the over 200 Central Oregon businesses stated the high cost of housing limits their growth and strains their existing workforce. Additionally, 66 percent of respondents experienced decreased revenue due to hiring shortages, most of which were small businesses.   

We applaud the City Council for their leadership on this issue and paving the way for Bend to be at the forefront of smart growth to meet our community’s needs.  For more information on Caldera Ranch and the City’s site selection process, visit here (https://bend.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=826&meta_id=82453)