I understand that the Bend branch of the DMV is planning to lease a location in the Brookswood Plaza. For many reasons, this is an inappropriate location for the DMV.
The Brookswood Plaza is a small neighborhood commercial area in south end of Bend. The location, design and intended purpose of the Brookswood Plaza render it a completely inappropriate location for a regional government service provider like the DMV. To provide convenient services the DMV should be centrally located in the community near a major arterial with high traffic volume and have access to transit. The Department of Administrative Services policy number 125-6-115 directs public facility siting (sic). Specifically Subsection II directs:
II. Directors of state agencies shall cooperate with the Department to co-locate agency office quarters and activities, and locate state offices, and other facilities, when feasible, within certain targeted areas. These targeted areas are defined as: (1) in or surrounding the central business district of "cities", and the "capitol area" as defined in ORS 276.010, or (2) other areas which are designated as urban centers in the applicable comprehensive plan, and are highly accessible to the public, have fully developed pedestrian circulation system(s), and have high quality transit service (in those areas that have transit). While these policies shall guide siting facilities in all areas of the state, final siting approval within the area defined by ORS 276.028 shall be in accordance with adopted plans and procedures of the Capitol Planning Commission.
The Brookswood Plaza is located in the southernmost end of Bend, in the middle of several neighborhoods; just a stone's throw from the city limits and urban growth boundary. This is about as far from the CBD as you can get, there is no transit service
