Developer submits plan for McDonald's

The site of a proposed McDonald's. photo by Jim Cornelius After years of speculation and rumor, a moment that many Sisters area residents see as a watershed has arrived: A developer has submitted a plan for a McDonald's drive-thru restaurant in Sisters.

Cache Mountain Development -- comprised of partners Steve and Robin Rodgers and Darren and Donna Layne -- turned in documents last week requesting "site-plan review" by the City of Sisters for a gas station/convenience store/McDonald's to be located on the former Relco property at the far western edge of Sisters.

McDonald's calls the configuration a "small-town oil concept," according to Steve Rodgers.

There will be a four-pump gas station and convenience store in the same space as the fast food restaurant.

The building has a footprint of about 4,300 square feet and must meet Sisters' Western Architectural Theme standards.

"It's a beautiful building and I think it fits right in," Rodgers said.

The developer is a 30-year Sisters resident and he is aware that locals are very sensitive about a national chain coming into town.

"We're sympathetic to what Sisters wants and we're going to try to do our best job," Rodgers said.

McDonald's actually wouldn't be the first national franchise restaurant in Sisters, but the advent of the worldwide fast food giant has long been viewed with some trepidation in Sisters (see Letters to the Editor, page 2).

Some think a fast food restaurant doesn't fit into the look and feel and lifestyle of Sisters. Other residents and many visitors have indicated they would welcome the arrival.

Over the years, most of the concern about McDonald's has focused on signage, with residents worried about the famous "golden arches" being installed along Highway 20.

According to City of Sisters interim planning director Brian Rankin, city codes restrict what can be done with business signs.

No internally illuminated signs are allowed. A roadside sign would be limited to 50 square feet.

Since there will be other businesses in the six-lot subdivision, Rankin assumes the McDonald's sign would take up about 25 square feet.

Signs must be painted and have wooden supports.

Vinyl signs are acceptable if they are indistinguishable from a painted sign.

Those golden arches will be there, however.

"It's a corporate logo and since it is a corporate logo, the city can't tell them they can't have it," Rankin said.

Similarly, some residents don't understand that the city or its residents can't decide on what kind of businesses they want in town.

"The city can't outright prohibit things like adult businesses or fast food restaurants," Rankin said.

"People might not like them, you can regulate them heavily, but you can't outright prohibit them."

In Sisters, drive-thru restaurants can't be sited in the downtown core because of traffic restrictions. Such applications can only be successful in the Commercial Highway (CH) zone at the outside edges of town -- such as on the former Relco site.

Rankin also noted that he has heard both sides of the "McDonald's is coming" story.

He said he has had many people tell him they "can't wait" until there is a McDonald's in Sisters -- their kids love it, it's open later than other places; it's an inexpensive meal for a family.

According to Rankin, the planner has 30 days to make sure the application is complete.

Then the application will go before the Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission -- possibly as early as July, but more likely in August.

Rankin said he expects there to be considerable public interest.

He said he hopes those wishing to participate in the public discussion recognize that the debate is not over whether Sisters likes or dislikes McDonald's.

"The planning commission's job is to make sure this application meets the standards we have in place," he said.

According to Rodgers, no franchise owner has been named yet, but it appears that it will be one of the franchise owners from Bend or Redmond.