PMR decision goes to court

Opponents of the Pine Meadow Ranch development at the western edge of Sisters have taken their case to the Oregon Court of Appeals.

The Alliance for Responsible Land Use in Deschutes County is claiming a March 14 decision by the state Lan

d Use Board of Appeals wrongly let stand several county decisions which would allow residential development on Pine Meadow Ranch.

The LUBA decision agreed with one of five arguments against a zone change from urban reserve to residential use. LUBA directed that Deschutes County reconsider whether changing the designation of the PMR property better served the community's needs than other available properties.

But ARLU DeCo believes LUBA erred in letting stand the county's acceptance that 75 percent of the city had been developed - a requirement for a zone change.

According to the appeal, LUBA "failed to recognize 417 acres, the size of the city set forth in the (comprehensive) plan, as the number by which the percentage of development is measured."

Because of this, ARLU DeCo argues, LUBA erred in letting stand the county's decision that there has been a "change of circumstance" that warrants a zone change.

PMR developer Steve McGhehey told The Nugget that he is confident the county's decisions will stand.

"We are very confident that we'll be fine," McGhehey said.

McGhehey said that, since the matter has been appealed, PMR Development will appeal the requirement that the county reconsider the comparison of PMR to other properties.

"We feel we'll come away with possibly a cleaner decision," McGhehey said

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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