BEND, Ore. – Property owners on the east side of Bend are being asked to make adjustments to their properties in preparation for a new streetscape project aimed at improving accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.
The City of Bend plans to add 10-foot-wide pathways for pedestrians and cyclists along the north side of Bear Creek Road and the west side of 27th Street. As part of the project, the city’s engineering department has sent notices to several homeowners, requesting that fences extending into the public right of way be moved back to make room for the new infrastructure.
The letters, which were sent in November, inform homeowners that the encroaching sections of fence must be relocated by Monday in order to allow the project to move forward. According to Russell Grayson, Bend’s Chief Operations Officer, the city is not asking homeowners to move entire fences, but only certain sections where the paths intersect with accessible ramps at key locations.
“We’re not asking for the entire fence to be relocated but really, there are critical sections where the path comes into intersections and we need to build accessible ramps at these locations,” Grayson said. “That fence needs to be moved back so that the path can connect to that ramp.”
One homeowner, who reached out to Central Oregon Daily News, expressed concern about the new pathway coming close to her front porch and just feet from her home. However, Grayson reassured residents that the city does not actively monitor property lines for encroaching fences. Instead, the city addresses such issues when they interfere with public projects.
“When that intrusion interferes with a city project, the property owner has to bring those improvements back behind their own property line,” Grayson explained.
The streetscape project aims to enhance safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists in the area. Despite the inconvenience it may cause some homeowners, the project is part of a broader effort to improve transportation infrastructure and make the city more walkable and bike-friendly. Homeowners are encouraged to relocate the affected fence sections to ensure the successful completion of the project.
As the city moves forward with the project, residents in the affected areas are expected to comply with the requests, ensuring that the new pathways are constructed as planned while minimizing disruption to the surrounding neighborhoods.
