Candidate offers a 'vision of Sisters'

Brad Boyd at his forum. photo by Jim Mitchell Brad Boyd began his pre-election forum last Wednesday by offering his vision of Sisters.

"A McDonald's out on the edge of town is okay. I don't get real upset about it. But, to be honest with you, that's not my vision of Sisters."

The candidate said, "My vision of Sisters is a small town that has great parks, good schools, easy for pedestrians and bicyclists to get around in, has a vibrant downtown core and that maintains it's small-town feel and minimal sprawl at either end."

He, along with several in the audience, wondered about the need for growth and, especially, the basis for recent population forecasts. One audience member offered, "Are we letting population projections drive our growth?"

Regarding the recent announcement that 65 acres may become available from the Forest Service he posed the question, "What do we want to see?"

He questioned the need for 100 additional acres proposed for inclusion in the Urban Growth Boundary: "I don't know if anyone has seen that 100 acres; where it is, and I'm not sure we even need that."

Taking into account those 100 acres, another 65 from the Forest Service, and the fact that the Mountain Shadow RV Park is for sale, Boyd said, "In another 20 years we could be looking at a very different Sisters. Do we put in parks and pedestrian friendly amenities or do we end up with Burger King and Taco Bell next to the McDonald's with maybe a Wal-Mart or Fred Meyer?"

He emphasized that delaying until the next "McDonald's" issue arises will be too late. "We, as a community, need to address code changes now, not at the 23rd hour."

He admitted that he does not have all the answers. However, he has done his homework. Boyd had attended a formal training session and was quite familiar with Government Fundamentals for Elected Officials, a publication for candidates for public office.

"The Sisters Comprehensive Plan is one of the guiding tools that is allowing some of these things to happen," he said. "We are paying the price for having poor prior planning and an inadequate Comprehensive Plan in place at this time."

Boyd pointed out that the Comprehensive Plan can be amended at any time.

He concluded, "It's important that not just I or a small group of citizens come out to public meetings regarding the future of Sisters but that we all participate."