McDonald's decision delayed for a month

An architect's rendering of the proposed McDonald's. Graphic courtesy Cache Mtn. Development Developers of a planned McDonald's restaurant at the west end of Sisters inched closer to approval on Thursday, September 16, but they have more work to do before the Sisters Planning commission is willing to sign off on the proposal.

After reviewing the Findings and Recommendations of the Planning Department concerning the Site Design Review and Conditional Use Permit request for a 4,453 square foot building containing McDonald's and a convenience market associated with a gas station, the commission followed the lead of the Planning Department and continued the hearing to a later date.

The next public hearing will be held Thursday, October 21.

This will allow Steve Rodgers/Cache Mountain Development to revise the necessary plans to address unresolved deficiencies identified in the Findings and Decisions Report. The developers provided last-minute additions to their submittal to clear up deficiencies.

Planning commissioners wanted those additions included in a completed report before they were willing to give the green light.

Tim and Marie Clasen spoke in opposition to the project. Both argued that the development would be more aesthetically pleasing if the location of the gas pumps and the restaurant and convenience store were reversed.

The developers had earlier indicated that such a swap was not feasible due to traffic flow requirements.

Marie Clasen also urged the developers to consider more pedestrian access. Tim Clasen proposed landscaping changes and expressed concern about control of litter from fast-food containers.

The site is Lot 1 of the recently platted Relco Station Subdivision, a six-lot commercial subdivision located just north of Mountain Shadow RV Park.

The Highway Commercial District zoning at the location specifies commercial uses and services primarily oriented toward automobile traffic with limited highway access points.

The Planning Department found that the gas station is a permitted use but the drive-in restaurant and food market are conditional uses.

Of interest is the planning staff's interpretation of Section 2.2.180.E. Automobile-Oriented Uses and Facilities: "This provision is internally inconsistent with other provisions in the code and is therefore difficult to interpret."

The staff report goes on to say, "The drafters of the code may have confused the reader, and in effect, the public, staff, and the Planning Commission by including those provisions within the Commercial District, which is mostly oriented to 'downtown' commercial uses."

According to planners, several items, specifically proposed window and door designs, do not conform to the Western Design Theme provision of the code. Although Pat Kliewer, Historical Planner for Deschutes County, had no adverse comments regarding the proposed western theme, she did offer several improvements.

The developers indicated their willingness to adopt her suggestions.

Concerning traffic flow, Ferguson & Associates estimated that the proposed development would generate 173 "p.m. peak hour trips," within the maximum allowable 180 trip limit.

The primary negative impact will be vehicle turning and connections (or lack thereof) to adjacent properties.

The developers agreed to reduce their number of parking spaces from 32 down to 20 to meet city requirements.