Deschutes County Zoning Decisions: October 2026

In October 2026, Deschutes County held 11 public meetings covering zoning matters. 17 zoning decisions had a recorded outcome this month: 14 approved (100% approval rate), 3 deferred. Activity was up 520% compared to September (130 activity items across 7 meetings).

Zoning Decisions This Month

LUBA remand: comp plan amendment and zone change EFU to MUA-10, 240 acres east of Bend

Deferred.

Remand hearing under LUBA Final Order 2026015 on a 240-acre comprehensive plan amendment and zone change from exclusive farm use to multiple use agricultural (MUA-10). The properties are at 21875 F Road, 21850 Highway 20, 21700 Bear Creek Road and a Lord Road parcel. The original approval ordinance was signed January 2026 and appealed by Central Oregon Land Watch. LUBA remanded on four issues: lot size under cluster development, historic irrigation water, Goal 14 density and UGB effectiveness, and adoption of a site-specific ESEE. New evidence showed about 4 acres of irrigation rights on tax lots 900 and 1000, transferred off the property in 1985. The Board closed the oral record and left the written record open; deliberations will follow.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Plan amendment and zone change at 68589 Highway 20 (Jaros)

Approved.

R. Derek Jaros LLC application to change comp plan designation of 64 acres at 68589 Highway 20 near Sisters and rezone from EFU to MUA-10. Board found property not agricultural or forest land and that the conditions of approval agreement (10-acre minimum lot size while outside UGB) addresses Goal 14. Hearings officer had recommended against approval on Goal 14 grounds. Approved; Chair Chang voted no.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Appeal of Thornburgh Destination Resort site plan review (golf accessory facilities)

Deferred.

Appeal by Annunziata Gould of staff approval of a site plan for golf accessory facilities at Thornburgh Destination Resort. The facilities are a 14.1-acre driving range, an 11.1-acre 9-hole par-27 short-game practice facility, two comfort stations with snack sales, and an irrigation pump station. The appeal was called up by the Board under Order 2026035, which passed in September. The appellant argued that permit G17036 has expired and that the par-3 course is a substantial change. The Board closed the oral hearing and left the written record open on a 7-8-7 schedule: new evidence due November 4, with the deadline shifted for Veterans Day. The 150-day deadline is January 8 and is extended by the open record.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Plan amendment and zone change at 68621 Highway 20 (Willitts)

Deferred.

Willitts LLC application to re-designate 20 acres adjacent to City of Sisters and Five Pines from Agricultural to Rural Residential Exception Area and rezone EFU to MUA-10. Majority supported findings on Goals 3, 5 and 14, but deliberations continued so staff can review hearing video and draft two versions of a condition (applicant's 10-acre minimum condition vs. Chair Chang's verbal condition limiting development until UGB inclusion).

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

City of Sisters UGB expansion (~318 acres, Concept AA)

Approved.

Plan designation change from Rural Residential Exception Area to Sisters Urban Growth Area for ~318 acres (about 202 net developable; 48 net acres employment land, ~19 acres parks, 15 acres future school) east/northeast of Sisters, north of Highway 126 and south of Sisters Eagle Airport, including Barclay Meadows and lands along Indian Ford and Whychus Creeks; existing county zoning retained (original rezone to UAR-10 rescinded). City Planning Commission approved (May 21), City Council unanimously (Oct 14); County Planning Commission voted in favor on all matrix items (5-0 / one 5-1). Board approved; ordinance to return for first reading. Must be locally adopted before Jan 1, 2027 to avoid redoing land need analysis under new OHNA rules.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Dickey Road LLC plan amendment and rezone, EFU to MUA-10 (51.86 acres)

Approved.

Deliberations on Dickey Road LLC's request to change the comprehensive plan designation from Agriculture to Rural Residential Exception Area and to rezone 51.86 acres from EFU to MUA-10. The property is within a mile of the Bend UGB. The hearings officer had recommended approval. Commissioners Adair and DeBone sided with the hearings officer on most issues and found the proposed condition was not a modification and did not require new DLCD notice. Chair Chang cited the 7.7 acres of 36A soils and the existing water rights, and voted no. The motion approved the application with a final board decision to follow, passing 2-1.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Reopen record on remand for BCL LLC plan amendment and zone change

Approved.

Board adopted Order 2026-029 reopening the record for a LUBA remand hearing on the BCL LLC comprehensive plan amendment and zone change for 240 acres east of Bend north and south of Highway 20 from exclusive farm use to multiple use agricultural. LUBA remanded after appeal by Central Oregon LandWatch. Record reopened only for history of irrigation, Goal 14 density analysis, and Goal 14 Bend UGB effectiveness. Vote, Chair voting no (preferred reopening all five issues). Remand hearing tentatively October 26, 1 p.m.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Annexation to Rural Fire Protection District No. 2 – Board Order 2026-036

Approved.

First of three annexations into Fire District 2 for parcels near Ward Road (Gelfie and Camp 5-acre parcels; Daniels 8.6-acre parcel). Unanimous approval.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Showing the 8 most significant of 17 recorded zoning decisions. See all Deschutes County meetings →

Zoning Changes

• EFU → MUA-10, 240 acres at 21875 F Road, 21850 Highway 20, 21700 Bear Creek Road and Lord Road parcel, east of Bend
• EFU → MUA-10, 64 acres at 68589 Highway 20, Sisters (R. Derek Jaros LLC)
• EFU → MUA-10, 20 acres at 68621 Highway 20, Sisters (Willitts LLC)
• FP → MUA-10 at 17 properties near Tumalo Road and 85th Street
• EFU → MUA-10, 51.86 acres (Dickey Road LLC)
• EFU → MUA, 240 acres at 240 acres east of Bend, north and south of Highway 20 (BCL LLC)

Top Keywords This Month

• comprehensive plan: 104 instances
• land use: 102 instances
• zoning: 100 instances
• residential: 51 instances
• annexation: 47 instances

What to Watch

• Comprehensive plan mentions were up 700% from September.
• Land use came up 240% more often than September.
• Zoning saw 525% more mentions month-over-month.
• Residential increased 410% compared to September.
• Annexation is new this month with 47 mentions, not present in September.

Stay on Top of Deschutes County Meetings

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