Since the early 1970s Bend has had growth rates well in excess of the state average, and this trend is expected to continue into the first decade of the 21st century. The rapid growth has had an enormous impact on the physical character of the community, and has frequently resulted in a significant loss of the physical qualities that make Bend a unique and attractive place to live.

Simultaneous with this growth, a deliberate and continuous effort is necessary to see that the thousands of individual decisions made in the process of development collectively constitute tangible progress towards retaining and re-establishing the livability and appearance of our community.

The appearance of a community is a complex planning issue that involves both general concerns relating to categories of developments, and specific concerns about areas with high visibility and public use. These concerns are described under several categories in the remainder of this chapter.