Flood plain concerns delay development

More homes are planned near Sisters Elementary School but development will have to wait a month.

Last week, the Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission delayed the 13-home River View Estates subdivision because members wanted to make sure no part of the land is in the flood plain. The 2.25-acre site backs up to the school playground and Highway 20 and extends beyond the Timber Creek subdivision.

As the commissioners began discussion, some members seemed inclined to vote in favor of the subdivision. City Planner Bill Adams said the site was not within any flood plain according to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) maps. However, these maps are fairly broad in scale and a question remained as to whether a part of one lot could be inches below the flood level.

Developer Tyler Fitzsimons said he thought the possibility was very remote. However, he told commissioners that if some land was lower than required, there was enough fill dirt on site to bring the level up.

“A half day’s worth of work could have it cured very easily,” said Fitzsimons.

Commissioner Carey Tosello asked, “Why hang it up?”

But in the end, commissioners voted “no” unanimously and the development will be voted on again at the March planning meeting.

This week Fitzsimons is having the land surveyed to get a final determination about the flood plain question.

Commissioners were concerned that the 24-foot-wide dead-end street was too narrow. They said it would be difficult for a fire engine to maneuver, especially if residents parked on street.

“It’s going to be tight with snow removal and everything else,” said Camp Sherman-Sisters Rural Fire Protection District representative Dave Wheeler.

Fitzsimons said he was not opposed to widening the street to 28 feet if needed.

There were no members of the public present. The issue will be on the March 16 planning meeting agenda.