This 2022 file photo shows construction of an apartment complex on southeast Reed Market Road in Bend.

The city of Bend is accepting proposals from landowners and developers who want to take part in the city’s next expansion.

Aiming to boost affordable housing supply, state lawmakers created a one-time process for some cities to quickly add 100 acres to their urban growth boundaries. The bill, SB 1537, was pushed by Gov. Tina Kotek. It requires the added land to host at least 10 houses per acre, or at least 1,000 units for the full area. Of those, 30% must be affordable to households below a certain income threshold.

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Bend to pursue fast-tracked 100-acre UGB expansion

The Bend City Council decided to jump on the opportunity during a work session in June, aiming to have a plan approved by the state by summer 2025. Toward the end of 2024, council will choose between landowner proposals that will include plans for housing, mixed-use development, parks and transportation networks. The 100-acre addition must be contiguous to Bend’s existing urban growth boundary, which is an invisible perimeter around the city used to limit sprawl.

“It’s on them to show us how it will work,” said Lynne McConnell, housing director with the city of Bend.

The city will interview applicants later this month and gather public input after the application period closes Oct. 14.

Although the bill allows the city to sidestep normal land use planning laws, the new development is still subject to the city’s master planning process, McConnell said. That process, which includes annexing the land into the city limits, typically takes at least a year, she said.

McConnell estimates Bend is currently 5,000 units short of current housing needs. While SB 1537 does not restrict development to a certain housing type beyond the 30% affordability requirement, the city is seeking proposals with a diversity of housing types, according to a release.

The bill defines housing as affordable if households making 80% of the area median income — roughly $83,750 for a household of four — are spending less than one-third of their income on rent. For buyers, homes are considered affordable if they are similarly attainable to households of four making $136,000 or less.

“There’s a lot of households who are working and have dual incomes and still can’t purchase a home in Bend,” McConnell said. “This pilot is intended to address that part of the workforce.”