Trail advocates to weigh in on city code

The City of Sisters has invited the Sisters Community Trails Committee to participate with other local organizations and residents in reviewing the city’s development code.

Members will also look at currently funded bicycle and pedestrian projects and a future review of the city’s Transportation System Plan. Brian Rankin, city planning and community development director, extended this invitation during his presentation before the committee last Friday, July 7.

“You have a window of opportunity to review these plans and to offer your suggestions,” Rankin told the committee. “Once that window is closed, projects could dry up.”

While the trails committee has focused on developing a connecting trail system from the city limits outward to national forestlands, the organization has also participated in planning within the city. Trail advocates believe that well-planned urban paths and trails will play an important role in allowing non-motorized travelers to leave the city and enter the rural community trail system.

Several committee members will review the bicycle and pedestrian guidelines offered in the current development code and report back to the August 4 meeting. In addition, city projects will be reviewed and listed in a recommended priority ranking. The development code review is expected to be completed this fall.

Rankin also encouraged committee members to volunteer to serve on an advisory committee reviewing the city’s transportation plan. That work should begin next winter.

“Your committee can be a useful voice in representing non-motorized transportation in this process,” Rankin said.

“Right now, I’m hard at work trying to design an 1880s bicycle rack,” he said. “In an early-day photo hanging at City Hall is a Sisters street scene showing a bicycle rider and a horseback rider and no automobiles. So, we know that bicycles were here at that time.”