News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Planners are working to tighten up city ordinances in an effort to strengthen Sisters' 1880s western theme.
The Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission discussed proposed changes to the zoning ordinance in their Wednesday, January 20 meeting.
The most significant change would require developers and builders to stick closely to the false-front architecture laid out in the ordinance's appendix.
Exceptions to the classic false-front style would be allowed only if a builder plans to replicate an 1880s commercial building of a different style that existed east of the Cascade mountains in Oregon. The builder would have to produce an historical photograph of the proposed building.
Planners hope the changes will take some of the subjectivity and interpretation out of the building review process. The changes came after citizens expressed concerns that some recently constructed buildings - while they have the required architectural elements - are not "western" in style.
Other proposed changes include mandating the use of flat or semi-gloss paints; high-gloss finishes would not be allowed. Under current rules, flat or low-gloss paints are recommended but not absolutely required.
Commissioners also discussed requirements for fences and gates. They proposed requiring wood as the sole building material, at least in visible parts of the fences (metal posts would be faced with wood). Again, execptions would require submitting an historical photograph.
The planning commission plans to hold a public hearing on the proposed changes on Wednesday, February 17.
In other business, the planning commission approved a draft proposal to create a "public facilities zone." The zone would cover schools and government buildings. It could also be applied to lands such as the Forest Service compound at the western end of Sisters and to Section 9, the land proposed for a sewage treatment facility at the south edge of town.
According to planners, creating the zone would clarify the city's inventory of buildable land. Lands in public facilities use - such as a school - would be removed from the inventory, since it is unlikely they would ever be redeveloped for another kind of urban use.
That, planners believe, would leave a more accurate picture of what land is available for development in Sisters.
The planning commission is currently short one member after Dave Elliott was appointed to the Sisters City Council.
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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