Planners set subdivision hearings

Developers will take a second crack at getting their requests for two new Sisters subdivisions heard by the Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission next week.

The planning commission did not have a quorum at its Wednesday, March 20, meeting and was forced to cancel hearings on a 45-lot subdivision and a 16-lot subdivision -- both off Larch Street on the north side of town. Also delayed were hearings on several variance requests.

The hearings have been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 3, 6 p.m. at Sisters City Hall (see agenda, page 3).

According to city planner Neil Thompson, commissioners Dayton Hyde, Darryl Carper, Dorro Sokol, and Sharlene Weed were absent from the March 20 meeting. The commission has seven members.

"We knew about Dayton, Darryl and Dorro in advance," Thompson said. "Then Sharlene got stuck in an airport."

While Thompson regretted the problems posed by the rescheduling, he noted that the planning department has 120 days in which to process applications and the city is well within that window.

Thompson noted that it is exceptionally rare that a hearing is delayed due to lack of a quorum.

"I think we've missed a quorum twice since I've been here, which is, what, seven years?" he said.