Planning commission defers Willitts request

The Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission tabled an application by developer William Willitts to subdivide a 15-acre parcel of land into 11 lots, ranging in size from almost half an acre to about three acres.

The commission met on Wednesday night, September 18 and held a public hearing on the application.

Willitts wants to develop the land into a health campus. The plan is to have The Sisters Athletic Club and Therapeutic Associates (Sisters office) relocate there.

In addition, there would be restaurants, cabins, and a conference center. The land is located across from the Sisters Mobile Home and RV Park on Highway 20.

Planning Director Neil Thompson presented a staff report and noted that no specific uses were identified in the application. The critical issue has to do with traffic, and Thompson mentioned that the Transportation Impact Analysis from ODOT had arrived on his desk at 5 p.m. that day, and he had not been able to review the sizable document.

His recommendation was to approve the Willitts' subdivision, contingent upon the results of the traffic report.

Willitts then spoke to the commissioners and fielded a number of questions. He maintained, "We are collaborating with neighbors to make it a contiguous development and not so choppy."

He also emphasized his commitment to being environmentally friendly. "We will work around any pine tree that is over 12 inches in diameter."

Proponents of the subdivision then had an opportunity to speak, and Mark Ford of the Coyote Springs development took advantage to express his support for the health campus and address his concerns at the same time.

Two lots in Phase Three of Coyote Springs will be neighbors of the subdivision, and Ford stated his concerns.

A new public street will be built by Willitts, to be named Zoe Lane (after his wife.) It will be the primary access to his health campus. Ford noted that Zoe Lane was straight and felt that something needed to be done to slow traffic down.

"Either add curvature to Zoe Lane, or make use of greenbelt islands," was his recommendation. He added that the greenbelt islands would also help make a buffer between the residential and commercial developments.

Planner Thompson remarked that there was nothing the city could do to make Willitts add curvature to Zoe Lane, as the property line is straight, and he is building the street at his expense.

But, he added, "We are encouraging everyone to work together and get along on this."

Opponents then had an opportunity to speak, but there were no takers.

The Planning Commission intends to look at the Transportation Impact Analysis and then make a decision on the Willitts development at the October meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m.