News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
The site plan for the new Sisters High School has a green light from the City of Sisters.
The Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission approved the site plan at its Wednesday, May 15, meeting. There was no opposition.
The school and attendant facilities such as ball fields and parking lots will be built on 46.81 acres of a 102.87 acre site at the far west end of Sisters. The site was annexed by voters this spring.
Planners noted that the school district will extend McKinney Butte Road from Highway 20 through the site to Highway 242.
School Superintendent Steve Swisher told the commission that the school district wants to forge some kind of reimbursement agreement that would allow the district to recover some costs from later developers who benefit from that road.
The City of Sisters will charge the district $412,230 in systems development charges (SDCs) for water and sewer, based on a calculation of 70 equivalent dwelling units (EDU). That figure represents an eventual student population of 700.
Swisher confirmed to The Nugget that the school district plans to challenge the SDC calculation, arguing that it should be based on actual water use data rather than on a "book" estimate of 70 EDU.
Architect Mike Gorman said the district will offer historical usage data extrapolated from actual consumption at the current high school. Gorman also noted that the school plans call for low-water-use fixtures that will reduce consumption.
The architect also questioned the inclusion of 70 EDU worth of connection fees calculated into the charge, since the school will have only one connection point.
The city has charged a multiple connection fee to restaurants and apartments that also have only a single connection.
Gorman also assured the planning commission that the school will address fire department concerns that there be enough fire hydrants and water available.
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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