Bend, OR – The City of Bend is moving forward with plans to expand its urban growth boundary to accommodate much-needed affordable housing. The city has identified two potential sites for the expansion and is now inviting public input as it considers which site will be selected.

This development effort follows a new state law that allows cities to expand their urban growth boundaries by up to 100 acres of residential land, with a requirement that at least 30% of the housing units must be affordable. Under this law, affordable housing is defined as being within reach for households earning 80% of the area median income (AMI) for renters, which is about $83,750 annually for a family of four, or 130% of AMI for homebuyers, approximately $136,110 annually.

The two parcels identified for potential development are Jasper Ridge, located north of Highway 20 and west of Hamby Road, and Caldera Ranch, situated on the south end of Knott Road near the new Caldera High School. While both sites have been earmarked for consideration, only one will be selected for the expansion.

Private landowners of both sites are already working with affordable housing developers to create housing options that will meet the state’s affordability requirements. The city is now asking residents to weigh in on which location they believe would be best suited for the proposed development.

Bend has seen rapid population growth in recent years, increasing the demand for both market-rate and affordable housing. City officials hope that expanding the urban growth boundary will help address this shortage and provide more housing opportunities for residents across various income levels.

The public feedback process is an important part of determining the best course of action, with the city expecting to finalize its decision based on the community’s input in the coming months.