City to take on code challenges

In the face of widespread criticism from citizens, the Sisters City Council and the Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission will meet Wednesday night, February 12, at 5:30 p.m. to consider changes in the city code.

Citizens have rallied in recent weeks to protest against the partitioning of lots and construction of townhouses that they perceive as damaging the character of their neighborhoods.

City Planner Neil Thompson has floated some ideas for the council and commissioners to consider in the Wednesday workshop at Sisters Fire Hall.

"I have read through the ordinance and pulled some sections of the code that I believe we can use to preserve the character and livability of existing neighborhoods," Thompson said in a memo to the commissioners and council.

One proposal would limit duplexes to multi-family districts except in the case of new subdivisions.

"My logic is that this would insure 'like uses' in existing neighborhoods," Thompson said.

Other changes would change setback requirements to preserve similar front yard patterns in neighborhoods and to minimize the appearance of crowding on one site.

Thompson also proposes modifying the way the city administers the density bonus for affordable housing to minimize differences in lot sizes in established neighborhoods.

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Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

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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