Citizens protest crowding in Sisters

Many were forced to stand at a crowded city council meeting as residents spoke out against increased density in Sisters.

The strong turnout was the result of two proposed lot partitions, each of which involves an existing lot being partitioned into three separate lots: a 12,945-square-foot lot on South Pine and St. Helens and a 16,770-square-foot Habitat for Humanity lot between Maple Lane and Tamarack Lane.

The lot owned by Habitat for Humanity is eligible for a 25 percent density bonus, which under current zoning is available to affordable housing. This allows a lot to be partitioned down to a minimum of 4,500 square feet.

"We're not against Habitat housing," said a number of citizens who voiced their discord with the potential for greater density in Sisters.

The council listened as neighbors of the partition stated concerns with the livability and densification of their neighborhoods.

"We promise we will have a workshop," said council member Deb Kollodge.

The partitions in question are an administrative decision. Comments on the Maple Lane lot were due to City Planner Neil Thompson by December 13. Thompson said that he received eight separate comments, some of which were signed by multiple parties. Thompson approved the partition on Maple Lane with certain conditions.

The comment period for the lot on the corner of South Pine and St. Helens is open until December 18.

Should residents choose to appeal an administrative decision, the appeal would go to the Sisters Planning Commission. The appeal process moves next to the city council, said City Administrator Eileen Stein.

Former Sisters Mayor Steve Wilson turned out to testify.

"It appears the cavalry has shown up, more people are taking notice," said Wilson, who noted the city council had looked into this issue a couple of months ago.

As mayor, Wilson voted to change the minimum lot size from 10,000 square feet to 6,000 square feet last year, but had some confusion as to certain allowances in the zoning.

"I thought that 6,000 square feet would be the minimum," said Wilson.

Former council member Tim Clasen also described discrepancies between what he thought he had voted on and what is actually in place.

"I thought one of the things we talked about was not allowing duplexes," said Clasen, who said the new zoning seemed to be a "social experiment with the sewer going in. It happened faster than we thought it would."

Wilson said he believed that he and Clasen "erred in their vote."

"Things got stuck in there so fast that no one really got a chance to understand them," said Wilson of the re-zoning process.

David Ellison said he had been in Sisters almost 29 years. "When I moved here we had space, we could have a garden," said Ellison, "This is a good little community, we need to keep it that way."

Mel Bryan and his wife moved to Sisters a number of years ago. Their house is near the lot being considered for partition on Pine Street. Bryan said the main reason for their moving to that location was its livability and openness. The appeal of the area is changing, said Bryan.

"Too often it seems decisions are being made by planners," said Bryan.

Resident Merl Monroe passed around a petition which called for "... an immediate moratorium on any and all residential building within the city limits until this issue is revisited and resolved."

The petition, delivered to the city on Friday, December 13 with 41 signatures, has no legal standing but shows the community's concern, said City Administrator Eileen Stein.