Business park planned along Camp Polk Road

A partnership of Arnie Swarens, Jack Rinn and Mark Higham has purchased 35 acres of unimproved land bordering the city limits of Sisters. The partners plan to develop a business park on the property.

The parcel is immediately north of the Conklin Guest House, across Camp Polk Road from the Sisters Airport.

The project will be named the Barclay Meadows Business Park, according to a press release from the partnership.

On August 24, Swarens, who owns Arnie Swarens Town & Country Realty in Bend and a number of commercial properties in Central Oregon, said the three bought the property within "the last 15 days."

Jack Rinn is president and managing partner of INVESTwest Real Estate of Bend, and Higham is a partner of INVESTwest, according to Rinn.

The partners preferred not to disclose the purchase price. The property was purchased from Richard Mittry, a California family trust which had owned the property for about two years, according to Rinn.

Swarens anticipated 34 lots will be available for development. The lots will range from 20,000 square feet to 40,000 square feet or "almost an acre" in size, Swarens said.

The developers plan to ask for annexation to the City of Sisters, said Swarens. Jack Rinn said they had not yet decided whether to ask for annexation to the city before or after development, or whether to apply to the city or the county for a zone change.

"We want to brainstorm with city officials and citizens before we make that decision. We will make that decision rather fast, but not until we talk to city officials" Rinn said.

The land is currently zoned "Exclusive Farm Use," according to Rinn.

"In the new comprehensive plan that was passed by the city council, but not acted on by the county, the city h\ad recommended that (the land) be rezoned for light industrial," Rinn said. That is the zoning the partnership needs for the business park, he indicated.

Swarens said he thought it would take about eight months to "clear the hurdles" of a zone change.

Construction could then begin on roads and sewer lines. Swarens said he thought the project "would be off the ground in 10 months," with construction on individual business buildings within a year.

"The park will include extensive landscaping, underground utilities, paved access and very strong covenants, conditions and restrictions for tenants locating in the park," according to the press release.

Swarens said the construction materials, design and landscaping required of lot developers will provide the project with very high standards.

Swarens said the partners hoped to keep the old Barclay barn on the property.

"We have to donate and want to donate land for a park. There is no reason why that barn couldn't be part of that, for an activity center or a Boy's and Girl's Club," Swarens said.