Land swap may mean motel expansion

While the Forest Service and Crown Pacific get set to swap thousands of acres in Central and Southern Oregon, the Sisters Ranger District is focusing on the exchange of a 16.2-acre parcel inside the city limits.

The United States Forest Service has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed land exchange, which would include almost 72,000 acres of land in the Deschutes, Fremont, and Winema National Forests.

The Sisters Ranger District will acquire a total of 9,200 acres, 2,080 acres on Little Squaw Back near Green Ridge north of Sisters, and 7,120 acres between Three Creeks Road and Tumalo Reservoir.

The district will transfer 74 acres to Crown Pacific in a 57.8-acre parcel south of Sisters and a 16.2 acre rectangular-shaped parcel between Sisters' Best Western Ponderosa Lodge and land leased to the state highway department..

"The main intent (of the exchange) is to square up checkerboarding in the forests, eliminating management challenges," said Sisters Ranger District Lands Forester Jeff Sims,

When small private parcels are surrounded by National Forest lands, the Forest Service must maintain approximately two miles of boundary around these parcels. Easements are often required to provide access to the property. The private land is also subject to sale, which could place private homes in the middle of the National Forest.

In the southern portion of the exchange, the swap clearly cleans up the "checkerboarding" described by Sims, but not without challenges.

"(These areas) contain sensitive habitat and old growth that could be exchanged for previously cut (Forest Service) lands with less old growth," Sisters' new District Ranger Bill Anthony explained.

Because of these issues, much of the public and media attention around the exchange has focused on the southern portions. Sisters' parcels haven't gotten much attention. There is no old growth here and no sensitive plant or animal species.

It appears that Crown Pacific wouldn't keep the 16.2-acre parcel in Sisters for long. If they acquire the parcel, Crown is likely to turn around and sell it to Bill Reed, owner of the Best Western Ponderosa Lodge.

Reed says the land would be used for an addition to his existing motel facility.

The property would be used for additional meeting facilities and motel rooms, providing a "much needed space for community events," according to Reed.

Earlier this year, the Sisters community showed vocal support for Reed's project and the Crown exchange. Letters and formal endorsements came in from the Sisters City Council, and from Sisters Chamber of Commerce, Sisters Rotary, and others.

In addition to providing more lodging, and increased revenues for Best Western, Reed believes that the additional facilities will present economic benefits for the community.

Since the property is inside the city limits, it would create tax revenues if privately owned; the Forest Service does not pay property tax.

The increase in rooms would also mean increased transient room tax for the city, and a larger facility may mean more jobs for Sisters residents.

"The new facility would not create additional highway frontage and is considered 'in-fill' development," Reed added. "(It) would be designed perhaps along the same lines as the historical Great Hall at Sunriver, with (partitioned) meeting rooms that could create a large area capable of seating up to 250-300 people."

The Sisters Ranger district hopes to hear from the community about the exchange proposal.

"The land exchange must be to public benefit or serve the community in some way," Sims said. "We are looking for community input."

The public has until January 9, to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Copies are available by calling Kathy Farrell, Deschutes Ranger District, at 383-5571.

Anyone with specific questions or those wishing to see the Sisters parcel may contact Jeff Sims of the Sisters Ranger District, at 549-7706.