News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
A previous amendment to Title 18, adopted last December, had restricted people from putting secondary-type buildings, such as garages and sheds, on their property unless the property's "primary use" was established. This law was proposed to stem the ongoing problem of landowners converting garages into dwellings without a permit.
In a public hearing last March, Deschutes County residents raised strong objections to the blanket law, saying it penalized honest people who were not living in their accessory structures. Critics also cited the need to build storage buildings for tools and recreational equipment.
Resident Steve Hanson said, "The bottom line is it's not fair to the honest person."
Responding to the objections, the county formed a committee to come up with an amendment allowing accessory buildings that meet certain guidelines. The structure, or structures, can total no more than 2000 square feet, can have no windows, plumbing, or stack vents, and can have only one floor. It must not require mechanical permits and it must have an operable garage door.
The committee maintains that placing structural restrictions on the buildings rather than restricting them outright will allow property owners to have garages and storage sheds while still discouraging people from living in them.
Most people attending the County Commission's public hearing on July 25 agreed with the changes. Resident Jerry Neuberger voiced his need to build pole barns to store equipment on his property, saying December's decision was too restrictive. "This (new) ordinance would work for me," he said.
Under the new ordinance, officials can police the use of accessory structures visually, without restricting landowner's rights to build on their own property.
"With this new ordinance," Hanson said, "the county has a chance to make money, and it gives them a chance to check the places from the street."
On Thursday, July 25, the County Planning Committee heard final comments from the public and adopted the new amendments.
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