Code discussions continue in Sisters

A small group of business owners met with Sisters planning commissioners and planning director Eric Porter on Tuesday, February 23 to wade through the final round of updates to the city's development code.

Business owners weighed in strongly on issues related to the Light Industrial (LI) zone while touching lightly on issues affecting other zones throughout the City of Sisters.

The tone was cooperative.

"I came to realize," stated business owner Kris Calvin, of Earthwood Timber Frame Homes, "I have not been consistent in my thinking about the development code and how it applies to the industrial park. It is unreasonable for any to demand a wide range of permitted uses and then expect minimal development standards."

City planners and commissioners have had the daunting task before them of painting broad strokes to support the needs of local businesses while simultaneously protecting the look and feel of the City of Sisters.

"I think the more we and the public interact, and you know where we are coming from," said planning commission vice chairman Alan Holzman, "it is almost always going to turn out a lot better."

While this was the last public hearing and deliberation by the commissioners before turning over their proposed updates to the Sisters City Council, it doesn't end here.

"Just to let the commission know," explained planning director Eric Porter, after this process is complete, we are probably going to be right back before you with yet more changes."

Several issues have not been attempted in this code update for various reasons, Porter stated. Among them are public art; a flood plain ordinance; and solar setbacks for which staff is not proposing changes at this time, instead focusing on regular setbacks.

Commissioners supported senior planner Pauline Hardie's recommendation to keep the setbacks to the current code for lots under 10,000 square feet, and increase them for lots more than 10,000 square feet.

Much discussion focused on the extent to which retail should be allowed in the LI zone.

"Currently we're allowing it," Porter stated, "and we're proposing not to."

Porter went on to say that basically it is assumed, but not written, that people could sell their product in their facility, but he'd like to see it in the code text.

"The basic gist is, if it's associated even loosely with your current enterprise out in the LI, it's fine, but we don't want commercial entities to just move in and begin selling out there that have nothing to do with any activity at that site," Holzman said.

Connie Morris brought the evening's most widely debated issue to the table: parking. The current proposal suggesting parking to the side and rear of the building, Morris said would be bad for businesses.

During deliberations at the end of the public session, commissioners proposed front-of-building parking in the LI zone be limited to six parking spots for customers, with the rest along the side or back - again, with the knowledge that this will only impact future redesigns or newly built sites.

Staff will present the planning commission proposals to the Sisters City Council, which will review them in five workshops before their first public hearings planned for mid April.