Bend council approves first reading to annex 10.66 acres in Northeast Edge

The Bend City Council on Nov. 5 approved the first reading of an ordinance to annex 10.66 acres at 21620 Butler Market Road into the city’s Northeast Edge urban growth boundary expansion area and to apply the RS plan designation.

Planning staff explained the annexation would implement an RS zone designation consistent with the Petrosa master plan area and allow an administratively processed development concept for a proposed 58‑lot subdivision in two phases. Karen Swenson, a city planner, said the site is in the Avion Water service area and lies in a separate drainage basin so sewer and stormwater must route north to an existing pump station; she also noted that Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID) submitted letters requesting that eight acres of water rights be quitclaimed or transferred to avoid losing them.

Joey Shear, a planner with AKS Engineering and Forestry representing applicant Venture Properties, said the project meets the review criteria and that earlier Petrosa infrastructure planning accounted for the build‑out impacts of nearby phases, which should reduce off‑site mitigation requirements.

Councilor Ariel Mendez raised concerns about how incremental annexations affect the broader comprehensive plan objective of creating a mixed‑use, complete community in the Northeast Butler Market Village area; staff and the applicant said the Petrosa master plan already meets the comprehensive plan’s acreage and housing‑mix requirements and that adjoining properties not in Petrosa may develop residentially consistent with RS standards.

Councilor Mendez moved for first reading of the annexation ordinance; Councilor Perkins seconded. The council voted unanimously to approve the first reading.

The annexation does not itself approve final subdivision plans. Staff told council that some exhibits to the annexation agreement had not uploaded to the packet but would be added to the record immediately after the meeting; COID requested water‑rights quitclaim documentation prior to subdivision.