Planners okay River View Estates subdivision

More new homes can now be constructed near Sisters Elementary School. The River View Estates subdivision got the green light at last Thursday’s Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission meeting. The 2.25-acre site backs up to the school playground and Highway 20 and extends beyond the Timber Creek subdivision.

At the monthly planning meeting in February, commissioners voted against the 13-home subdivision because they were concerned about the possibility of flooding from nearby Whychus Creek.

Flooding was still the main issue discussed at this month’s planning meeting. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the subdivision with conditions designed to guard against a flood. The main condition is that the base floor level of the homes be built one foot above the 100-year floodplain map.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) produces floodplain maps for lands adjacent to rivers and other waterways which have the potential to flood. The “100-year flood” is defined as a flood that has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year.

“That’s a typical kind of condition of approval to insure that living spaces aren’t inundated by floodwaters in the case of a hundred-year flood event,” said City of Sisters Planning Director Brian Rankin.

Another condition is that the dead-end street, designed in a “hammerhead” configuration, be widened to 28 feet. Also, fences will be required along the border of the subdivision and Highway 20.

Developer and President of Desert Sun Development Inc., Tyler Fitzsimons, said his company may chose to retain 10 of the lots for its “employee build” program. That would enable some of his 70 employees to buy a new home at a reduced rate.

Fitzsimons said he was pleased with the planning process.

“I look forward to working with them again,” said Fitzsimons.

This will be the company’s second project in Sisters. Fitzsimons’ first is Timber Creek Estates, which is next to his new subdivision. Desert Sun Development Inc. is involved in residential and commercial development projects throughout Central Oregon.

Although last week’s meeting was a public hearing, no members of the public spoke.