BEND, OR — Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang wants state lawmakers to revise a bill that’s aimed at streamlining the approval process for homeless shelters. “Essentially asking them for flexibility to be able to site an outdoor shelter outside of Urban Growth Boundaries in resource lands, such as EFU zoned lands,” says Chang noting as written, the bill would allow homeless shelters outside an Urban Growth Boundary only if the land is zoned as Rural Residential. The commissioner says that’s standing in the way of converting a parcel known as the Gales Property, a half a mile east of Bend, near Ward and Hamby roads, “The Gales family owns nine acres nestled in between two churches, and all of those parties are supportive of doing some kind of an outdoor shelter-type facility there.
