Developers seek state approval for vote

Developers of a proposed business park at the north edge of Sisters are asking state land use officials to allow Sisters voters to decide on whether their property can be annexed to the city.

Barclay Meadows Business Park, LLC asked the Sisters City Council Thursday, February 11, to be placed on the May 18 ballot for a vote that would allow the property to be annexed once it is brought within the city's Urban Growth Boundary.

Sisters voters overwhelmingly passed similar votes in November authorizing the future annexation of industrial lands owned by the Sisters School District and the property where Conklin's Guest House is located.

But state officials don't want the city to allow that kind of "annexation authorization" vote again.

In a letter to the city, the state Department of Land Conservation and Development said the agency is "concerned that initiating annexation procedures for land outside of the city's Urban Growth Boundary is not permitted by (state statutes) and the City of Sisters Comprehensive Plan."

Barclay Meadows' attorney Tia Lewis argued that the business park developers should have a "level playing field" with other properties. She also believes the city can still hold such an election.

"If (DLCD) or the Attorney General thought it was illegal, they'd have told you so and they'd have invalidated the November election," Lewis said.

But the council was reluctant to challenge DLCD's opinion, even if an election is legal in a strict sense. The council postponed a vote on the matter to allow Barclay Meadows to seek a clear opinion from DLCD and the Attorney General on whether an annexation authorization election can be allowed.

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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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