Letters, letters, letters

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To the Editor:

I read the article pertaining to the growth of Sisters in relation to the sewer grant ("Growth could threaten sewer grants," The Nugget, October 27, p. 1) and I had to laugh.

With all the promotion for tourism to Sisters and these high-dollar developers, what did they expect? Their proverbial nose is being cut off to spite their face.

The people in positions of "importance and power" have no one to blame but themselves. Low- to moderate-income people are the ones who helped build Sisters and now it seems their needs are being shunned or put on the back burner.

I am all for progress until I see it begin to threaten the quality of life of our longtime, local citizens.

Don't you think it's time we look out for ourselves and say to developers enough is enough!?!

Brenda Colburn

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To the Editor:

I have noticed recently that between 5 and 6 p.m. there is a steady stream of cars on the Bend-Sisters Highway, in both directions - it's like rush hour clear out at Cloverdale Road!

This shows there are a large number of people who live in or near Sisters and work in Bend and just as many who work in Sisters and live near Bend. Those folks often can't afford to live in Sisters, but work there.

I have no magic solution to growth. It appears that in five years the population inside the city limits will be past 2,000 and climbing.

Demand for the area is such that I'm afraid it's too late for low-cost housing, unless someone plans an apartment complex that most folks around here will object to. Prices for lots in the area now exceed "low cost" for an entire house.

I suppose a low cost development could be built somewhere outside the immediate area, maybe near the rodeo grounds? If land use planning doesn't get in the way.

Many of us in the neighborhood (I live near Plainview) prefer to maintain at least the illusion that Sisters is a tiny, pleasant, walkable community.

I'd like to see the downtown as a destination shopping area with the ambiance of an old timey, pre-automobile small town.

Plan for what the town will be when the population is 5,000 and the school district has 15,000 or 20,000. Plan to enhance the resort, vacation and shopping attractiveness so that folks will plan on coming to Sisters, off the highway.

My personal preference would be for a downtown that is primarily designed for walking and alternative transportation - bikes, electric scooters, golf carts, with some delivery vehicles - with the ability to get a car close enough to the stores to pick up big items without a long hike.

Call it one of the first 'post-freeway' towns and make it a feature.

Gary E. Bickford