Sisters residents argue over density

Ardent residents packed Sisters City Hall on Thursday, March 25, to voice their desires for future residential development in the City of Sisters.

The Sisters City Council was considering an amendment to the Sisters Development Code (Ordinance 348).

Two people encouraged the council to modify the amendment to better accommodate affordable housing. About eight other speakers asked the council to modify the amendment to allow for lower density and larger lot sizes.

The councilors decided to delay action on Ordinance 348, which would have prevented the construction of town homes, duplexes and triplexes in existing residential districts. The ordinance would raise the minimum lot size for duplexes to 7,500 square feet from 6,000 square feet and for town homes to 3,750 square feet from 3,000 square feet.

Terri Gallegly, president of Habitat for Humanity, and Don Lee, a co-owner of the Edge of the Pines, told the councilors to remember that affordable housing is a necessity.

"Efficiency and dwelling units are fiscal and economic realities," Lee told the councilors. "As you sift through the discussions on this topic, you have to make the tough decision -- in the best interest of the community in the long run. Efficiency is appropriate and I think that includes building duplexes and triplexes and multiplexes in town."

Gallegly read a letter dated March 25 from Sisters Habitat for Humanity.

The letter thanked the city for recent steps it has taken to provide affordable housing, including the passing of the comprehensive plan, which requires that one in 10 of all new housing units built in the city by 2025 be affordable to families with low incomes.

The letter, however, urged the council to change Ordinance 348 to permit the construction of town homes, duplexes and triplexes in old subdivisions and to allow for new duplexes to be constructed with smaller lot sizes.

"High land costs in Sisters make the construction of common-walled units a necessity if we are to provide housing for working community members," Gallegly said. "In agreement with the Comprehensive Plan, Habitat believes that these affordable homes should be 'sprinkled' throughout the community in order to avoid the isolation and 'ghettoization' of low-income families."

If the ordinance is passed at this time, duplexes and town homes could only be built on Washington Street and Jefferson Street, Gallegly said.

"This would result in the majority of low-income units being constructed within two city streets," Gallegly said.

During the 14 years Habitat for Humanity has built houses in Sisters, housing costs have more than doubled, according to the letter.

"We have been able to mitigate this increase by building townhouses," Gallegly said.

Referring to the many residents who told the councilors Thursday they want less density and larger lot sizes, Lee told The Nugget: "Some people are fearful of having a duplex or triplex next door. They say it's okay, but not in my back yard. They are more worried about what could happen than what would."