Bend City Council advances Core Area Plan!
Exciting news for the Bend Central District! The Bend City Councilors advanced several aspects of the Core Area Plan at their meeting on Wednesday, May 20th, 2020.
Adopted with a 6-1 vote (Councilor Moseley opposing) a resolution adopting the Core Area Report and its guiding principles, recommendations, and actions. The resolution also directs staff to take appropriate action to implement and advance the guiding principles, actions, and recommendations reflected in the Report, subject to future Council direction, guidance, and action for adoption where necessary.
Acted as the Bend Urban Renewal Agency to adopt the TIF District Plan & Report, and sent to the other Taxing Districts and Planning Commission for formal review/comment.
The co-chair of the citizen Urban Renewal Advisory Board, Whitney Swander, presented a memo to BURA with (3) additional priorities from the committee:
“No net loss” housing policy – The URAB recognizes the displacement of existing affordable housing units as a potential and likely unintended consequence of the creation of the Core Area TIF Area (TIF Area). As a result, the URAB requests that BURA, during plan implementation and program development, consider a “no net loss” policy as it relates to the use of TIF revenue for development and/or redevelopment of housing. This policy would aim to preserve, rehabilitate, and/or require the replacement of naturally occurring affordable housing units that would otherwise be lost due to a development and/or redevelopment project.
Future advisory committee composition and compensation – URAB values participation by community members not currently engaged and/or represented by other City committees and commissions, and sees a role for stakeholders that represent a broader community interest/experience than the adjacent industries of real estate, development, and finance. We request that BURA explore using TIF revenue funds for stakeholder compensation, as a tool to encourage equitable stakeholder participation and compensate community members in future advisory committees applicable to the TIF Area.
Prioritize affordable housing projects – The URAB recognizes the importance of
providing housing units within the TIF Area, and has recommended allocating approximately eighteen percent (18%) of the potential TIF Revenue toward the development and/or redevelopment of low-income, transitional, and/or affordable housing opportunities. While the TIF Report indicates a recommendation that the first major expenditure for this type of project occur in 2026, URAB requests that any opportunity to provide low-income, transitional, and/or affordable housing assistance prove to be feasible prior to 2026 in the TIF Area, BURA should prioritize the expenditure of TIF Revenue to accomplish such a project
Next Steps
Now, in order to meet the adoption deadline of October 1st, 2020, the following must occur:
Planning Commission must hold a public hearing and give a recommendation regarding TIF Plan & Report compliance with Comprehensive Plan
Staff will present the TIF Plan & Report to Taxing Districts
The City Council will review comments from Taxing Districts and the Planning Commission
Finally, the City Council must adopt the TIF Plan & Report in their role as City Councilors (they have only adopted it in their role as Bend Urban Renewal Agency members)
