Sisters planners look to the future while trying to keep up

Every day the City of Sisters Planning Department is faced with applications for residential and commercial development requiring immediate decisions. Should a zone change be approved? How wide should a driveway be?

But with each current decision, Planning Director Brian Rankin tries to look years ahead.

"How is this going to be in five years?" Rankin said he asks himself. "We do current range planning with an eye to the future."

Rankin said the increase in population of the city and the greater Sisters area will bring new needs for development. Rankin said new residents tend to be more educated, more affluent and middle aged rather than young. He said while those families are going to continue to expect excellent schools, they also want some new things. Residents will want more restaurants and entertainment; they will want access to wireless technology, and they will want a convenient transportation network including walking trails. He also expects to see more small businesses in the high-tech and artistic fields.

"Entertainment is potentially a big resource for the city," said Rankin.

He expects community members to want to take current events such as the folk and jazz festivals to the "next level" with a permanent concert venue rather than tents.

So it is not surprising that one thing community members would like to see on U.S. Forest Service land is a performing arts stage. The Sisters Ranger District is planning to sell most of the 80 acres where it now sits bordering Highway 20. Rankin said his department will facilitate a process to enable the community vision to happen on that land.

"I'm excited about what this can be for Sisters," said Rankin.

Rankin said this coming year, there will be opportunities for local residents to voice their opinions on the future of that key parcel of land in the heart of Sisters. He encourages community involvement in all development projects by speaking at public hearings and by serving on committees. Other issues in which he wants to engage the public include the current plans for parks and transportation. Rankin said, "We've outgrown those plans," and they need to be updated to reflect the growth in the community.

"Because we're so small, a few people getting together can make a big difference if they choose," Rankin added.

One current challenge for Rankin is that his department is short-handed. He has advertised for a planner but is not getting applications. He said salary is an issue, and the city is reviewing salaries to insure they are competitive.

"My dream would be to attract the best and the brightest to Sisters," said Rankin.

With more community participation and one more employee, Rankin thinks the resources will be in place to plan the Sisters of tomorrow.

"You can protect the future by doing a good job today," said Rankin.