Bend planning commissioners are concerned they have fallen behind on their review of city land-use rules to prepare for students to arrive at the expanding Oregon State University-Cascades campus.

Commissioners want to examine a wide variety of issues that could arise throughout the city as a result of the new OSU-Cascades campus planned in southwest Bend, such as the need to plan for student housing and possible parking rules. This is separate from the city’s review of the development plan for the first 10-acre phase of the campus, which would not be affected by the Planning Commission project.

Planning commissioners asked the city to hire a new land-use planner to help them review city development code and potential zoning for changes. In a memorandum to the Planning Commission in mid-May, City Manager Eric King and Assistant Manager Jon Skidmore said they are committed to hiring additional employees to help plan for the university expansion — but want to do so “at the appropriate time.”

Last year, several members of the Planning Commission and a city planning manager traveled to Corvallis to meet with Corvallis officials and learn about their experience with OSU.

Corvallis city officials recommended Bend get an early start on planning for the university expansion, including development that might occur throughout the city, Bend Planning Commission Chairman Bill Wagner said Tuesday. University-related development occurred wherever there was reasonably priced land in Corvallis, and Wagner said there is “no reason why it would be any different here.”

“The Planning Commission feels that we should have started that months ago,” Wagner said. “We should be laying out what our rules of the game are going to be way in advance of developers’ proposals.”

Planning Commissioner Laura Fritz said members of the public have told the commission they want the city to be proactive in planning for the university. “We don’t have to wait and see what happens at the proposed site to see that our development code is up to snuff and that we’re ready for the future,” Fritz said Tuesday.

King said Bend is just beginning to hire more employees in the Community Development Department and other areas, after layoffs during the recession. He said the demand for building and planning services can increase quickly one month and then drop just as fast the next, freeing planners to work on different projects.

“There’s no dispute about … the need, and what the Planning Commission is trying to accomplish,” King said. However, King believes existing city planners can handle the type of broad preparation for a university that the Planning Commission wants to do, including a review of city development code and zoning.

City planners are currently handling “a huge demand” for help at the front counter where they answer questions about potential development projects, and King said he expects those employees can turn their attention to a review of the city code and zoning this fall after the summer construction season.

“We don’t see the need to hire someone just for OSU to do code tuneups,” King said.

City Councilor Doug Knight said Tuesday he discussed the situation with King, after hearing concerns from the Planning Commission. Knight said the city must use its staff as efficiently and economically as possible, while also planning for the impacts of an expanding university. “(King) has in his mind an idea of how to handle this, and I’m going to respect that,” Knight said.

— Reporter: 541-617-7829, hborrud@bendbulletin.com