Editorial

Put the brakes on density

Sisters needs to close the giant zoning loophole that allows developers to put up duplexes in single-family neighborhoods.

Time is running out. If we don't fix this mistake immediately, the character of Sisters will be forever damaged.

Ten duplexes were built in single-family residential neighborhoods from 1999 through 2001. Nine more were built or permitted this year, according to the city planning department.

Smaller lot sizes are not the problem. A 6,000-square-foot lot inside the city limits is actually pretty generous. The problem lies in the kind of development that is occurring. Duplexes allow developers to pack four dwelling units onto lots that should have two standard houses with modest yards. That changes the feel of a neighborhood.

The City of Sisters should immediately restrict the standard residential (R) zone to single-family homes.

The "density bonus" for affordable housing should be eliminated. Neighborhoods should not be sacrificed for the sake of cramming an extra unit onto an undersized lot.

Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Sharlene Weed says that eliminating the density bonus would reduce Habitat's land inventory by approximately 40 percent.

That may, indeed, pose a challenge for Habitat. But Habitat has met the challenge of providing housing in Sisters largely because the organization has a broad base of support and goodwill in the community.

Disgruntled neighbors of Habitat's proposed Tamarack Street project argue quite rightly that the directors of Habitat would scarcely approve of such radical impositions on their own neighborhoods.

Habitat can ill afford to impose greater and greater density in neighborhoods where it is not wanted. That will only generate ill will and hostility, damaging the reputation and the effectiveness of the organization.

Multiplex development should be confined to high-density residential (R-MF) zones and subject to architectural design standards in keeping with Sisters' turn-of-the-century Western theme.

Habitat can continue to build single-family homes where land is available. If demand is so great that it outstrips their inventory, they can build townhouses in R-MF zones.

The City of Sisters cannot wait to grapple with this issue. Finger-pointing and investigations into how the current code was developed are a waste of time.

Decisions have to be made and implemented now. The hammers are swinging.

J.C.