Proposed Powell development project (Bend, Redmond: hotel, houses, schools)

[Thom52]

Interesting proposed major development. Not that far off in potential impact compared to a college. Dropping it into the Bend Bermuda Triangle between 20 and 97(Cascade shopping center area). Dropping in a Fred Meyer, Senior housing, and "other" stuff. What I find most interesting, is a Walmart was proposed right next to this, and that was not allowed due to traffic issues, even though it was literally across the street. ODOT does have concerns about traffic impact on the highways.

My house is about a mile or so away from this, so we would likely be impacted. But at first glance, I see this as a very logical place to put this development. It is a good shopping opportunity for Sisters, Redmond etc to hit on the outskirts of Bend without adding to the congestion inside Bend. And its sort of an awkward space between two highways, to be appealing for plunking down a bunch of houses.

From my home ownership standpoint, sure it would be nice if not another building was put up in Bend, now that we have our place. But the reality is that the world is not adopting Zero Population Growth and development will happen.

I would be interested in various opinions about this.

[redguard57]

Originally Posted by Thom52

Interesting proposed major development. Not that far off in potential impact compared to a college. Dropping it into the Bend Bermuda Triangle between 20 and 97(Cascade shopping center area). Dropping in a Fred Meyer, Senior housing, and "other" stuff. What I find most interesting, is a Walmart was proposed right next to this, and that was not allowed due to traffic issues, even though it was literally across the street. ODOT does have concerns about traffic impact on the highways.

My house is about a mile or so away from this, so we would likely be impacted. But at first glance, I see this as a very logical place to put this development. It is a good shopping opportunity for Sisters, Redmond etc to hit on the outskirts of Bend without adding to the congestion inside Bend. And its sort of an awkward space between two highways, to be appealing for plunking down a bunch of houses.

From my home ownership standpoint, sure it would be nice if not another building was put up in Bend, now that we have our place. But the reality is that the world is not adopting Zero Population Growth and development will happen.

I would be interested in various opinions about this.

My main concern is how it will impact the Hwy 97/Cooley Rd. intersection. It can already back up fairly bad in both directions. There is a desperate need for a Hwy 97 overpass there.

Otherwise I think it's a good thing.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

It's as good a place as any. It's the best place for shoppers from Redmond and Sisters.

I'd be really happy if Costco moved over there and got themselves a much bigger parking lot. I've got no objection to their current location, but they have outgrown their parking lot.

Walmart wasn't denied because of traffic. Walmart had offered to fix that intersection at their own expense so that it dealt with traffic better. Walmart was denied because Bend is full of knee jerk Walmart haters.

[ajams22]

Originally Posted by redguard57

My main concern is how it will impact the Hwy 97/Cooley Rd. intersection. It can already back up fairly bad in both directions. There is a desperate need for a Hwy 97 overpass there.

Otherwise I think it's a good thing.

Every morning when I drive into Bend for work or school at about 7:30-8:00am and get stuck in bumper to bumper going past the cemetery on 97 I fantasize about how easy of a commute it would be to have 97 just smoothly transition into the parkway without having to hit all the traffic signals

[Dry Side]

Walmart was denied because Bend is full of knee jerk Walmart haters.

Not exactly. The land use hearings officer denied the application because of traffic mitigation concerns. Walmart appealed the decision to LUBA and lost. They did not appeal further nor did they agree to do all the required improvements.

Bend Weekly News for Bend Oregon

[Thom52]

Originally Posted by redguard57

My main concern is how it will impact the Hwy 97/Cooley Rd. intersection. It can already back up fairly bad in both directions. There is a desperate need for a Hwy 97 overpass there.

Otherwise I think it's a good thing.

A Cooley road overpass was the first obvious solution that occurred to my wife and I. Sadly, we are guessing they will just use the easy, cheap solution of slapping in another traffic light.

We are coming from the Seattle area, where on one of the only two east-west routes over the cascades, Highway 2, they just kept slapping down more traffic lights. Over the years, this ground traffic to a halt in the area, on the main highway. If you want a perfect example of what NOT to do for traffic management....look to the greater Seattle area.

And I will say our impression of the Parkway is that its a great idea that just didn't take it far enough, with that little joggle of 20 through town, and the 97 gap mentioned by someone. They were so close to nailing with a really good long term solution.

It does seem like a logical location, other than figuring out, and funding, the traffic solutions.

[Dry Side]

Sadly, we are guessing they will just use the easy, cheap solution of slapping in another traffic light.

I doubt it. ODOT is working to remove traffic signals on hwy 97.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by Thom52

........, cheap solution of slapping in another traffic light. .........

You'd better hope they put in a traffic light and not another traffic circle.

[Dry Side]

Where is there a traffic circle or round-about on highway 97?

[theoaks]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

It's as good a place as any. It's the best place for shoppers from Redmond and Sisters.

I'd be really happy if Costco moved over there and got themselves a much bigger parking lot. I've got no objection to their current location, but they have outgrown their parking lot.

Walmart wasn't denied because of traffic. Walmart had offered to fix that intersection at their own expense so that it dealt with traffic better. Walmart was denied because Bend is full of knee jerk Walmart haters.

Its a strange demographic since there are wallmarts in nearly every Colorado ski town and all over Orange County !

What Bend needs is not necessarily Fred Meyer or Walmart. They need really good housing and a major regional mall. This brings even richer people in who pay the taxes for the schools, which are horrible.

And, bend needs permanent manufacturing, info tech, and aerospace jobs that pay high wages.

The old Bend city council wanted all this but has been taken over by anti growth councilors who favor a restrictive urban growth boundary and climate change mitigation.