Land exhange probed

A proposed three-way land exchange between federal, county and local public agencies will provide land for a future school near Tollgate.

Tollgate property owners want to assure that the exchange, once completed, will protect the quality of life of residents in the forested subdivision one mile west of Sisters.

The proposed exchange would trade 250 acres, now Deschutes National Forest, along the south boundary of Tollgate to Deschutes County for two parcels of county land.

Once the exchange is completed, 80 acres of the 250 would be deeded by Deschutes County to the Sisters School District for future school use. The balance of 170 acres could be used by the school as a forest laboratory.

The 250 acres borders the McKenzie Highway on the south, the Sisters Middle High School on the east and the Reed family's Cold Springs Ranch on the west. The county land to be exchanged includes a parcel west of Plainview and a parcel approximately 14 miles south of Bend.

Thirty-four Tollgate residents attended a public hearing Tuesday, February 27 at the Tollgate Recreation Hall to emphasize to federal and Deschutes County officials the need to protect the undisturbed rural and forested nature of the area.

"We will add deed restrictions to a portion of the land which will keep it undeveloped as undisturbed natural forest," said Blaine Kalar chairperson of the Tollgate Information and Exchange Ad Hoc Committee.

Specifically the Tollgate committee is recommending that the 170 acres adjoining the Tollgate subdivision be retained in the status of undisturbed natural forest.

"An additional use might be as a nature laboratory supervised by the Sisters School District," read a memorandum distributed at the meeting.

The memo continued: "No other new usage, no developed roads, no buildings or other structures are to be allowed." Tollgate also requested that no trails be developed within 300 feet of the Tollgate subdivision.

Kalar said the deed restrictions will allow for activities in the area for fire prevention and preservation of forest health.

"I was pleased at the turnout of the owners and their support of our suggestions," Kalar told The Nugget. "If the county commissioners will be as supportive as the forest service and county officials, the process will continue smoothly."

Earl Armbruster, Sisters School District business manager said the site could be used for a new middle school.

"Our plan is to take that 80 acres and put it in reserve for a future school site, possibly a middle school," he said.

"Obviously larger chunks of land near the city are hard to come by. We feel this property would be an asset well into the 21st century. As far as the school district is concerned, we would like to have access to the balance of 170 acres as far as nature studies, perhaps as an enlargement of the existing nature/interpretative trail west of the student parking lot."

During the February 27 Tollgate meeting, Jeff Simms, Lands Forester, Sisters Ranger District, and project manager for the exchange, emphasized the desire for cooperation between agencies.

"The county wishes to work with Tollgate property owners and the school district to develop a management plan for the 170 acres," he said.

Brad Chalfant, Deschutes County Property Manager, urged Tollgate residents to put their concerns to the county in writing.

"Once the Forest Service completes the Environmental Assessment process, the county goes through an exchange process with the Forest Service," Chalfant said. Then a public hearing is held for the exchange between the county and the school district, following which the county authorizes the exchange.

"If the property is not used for public purposes for the school, the property reverts back to Deschutes County," Chalfant said.

To date Armbruster said the school district has spent between $8,000-$9,000 on studies required by the Forest Service. The district will spend a total of about $15,000 by the time the exchanges are completed, Armbruster estimated.

"If everything proceeds smoothly, the exchange could be completed by fall," Armbruster said.