Letters to the Editor 04/14/2010

To the Editor:

I have known Keith Cyrus for a number of years. He is a decent and honest man whose intentions are honorable. If he recused himself from deliberating on and voting on decisions related to the destination resort zoning, then the citizens of Deschutes County and the city of Sisters should believe him.

It is my understanding that the Cyrus property is already on the planning commission map. The opposition simply wants to change county rules and remove the Cyrus property from the planning map. I think it's ironic that his most vocal opponent lives on the Aspen Lakes rim where the first Cyrus development was constructed.

Steve Denton

Editor's Note: See related story, page 16.

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To the Editor:

Deschutes County Commissioners:

As I write this, the Cyrus family is working furiously with chain saws and back hoes on their controversial proposed destination resort property. (See related story, page 16.) The only living things left in their wake are large trees. They started out clearing a two-hundred-foot-wide "fire-protection" strip around it's border (with public funding?), but are now deep into the interior, far from the view of the public eye. I realize that it is their land and they can clear it if they choose. But it seems that their activity is directly connected to their persistent belief that they will prevail against every legal decision made so far.

I am one of many who are sick of special interest groups eroding the democratic process in this country. More than ever we are looking to elected officials to represent the views of the majority. Please put an end to this sham. Keith Cyrus is using the system for the benefit of his family, against the will of the majority.

Enough time has been spent on this issue. Hundreds of acres of prime wildlife habitat are being destroyed over one family's dreams of wealth. I don't think the Cyrus family would continue if they didn't somehow think it was going to "all work out" in the end.

Please help them understand that they need to find alternative uses for this property, before they destroy it all.

Dennis McGregor

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To the Editor:

I guess at first I seemed about 50/50 on the back-in angle parking. Sure, it would take people a little while to learn it, but if it is safer than that is worth it.

Then I thought about the ideas brought up about exhaust emissions. Who is going to make sure people don't idle their car while their exhaust is pointed toward people and businesses? Who is going to say sorry to the businesses who don't get frequented because their business smells like exhaust, like the elementary school before they started the "it's not cool to idle at school" program?

Who is going to say sorry to the businesses who don't get frequented because the parking in front of their business is back-in angle parking and tourists don't want an education on how much safer it is to back in? Will patrons even go down the side streets when they come to Sisters if they are all backed up with people learning the safer way to park

back-in-angle-style?

Seems if I was a business owner in Sisters (which I am not) I would want to make it easier for the tourist patrons to park and do some shopping. Do they publish parking accidents in The Nugget? If they do, I can't remember any listed.

If a vocal minority gets this done, I think it is a big mistake.

Bill Farley

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To the Editor:

Mr. Veroske asked in last weeks letter to the editor for communities where back-in angle parking might be found.

Try Australia. I lived there for three years and every town that I went through had back-in angle parking.

It probably will turn out like Bend's roundabouts; everybody will shortly become used to the new way of parking.

B. Graham

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To the Editor:

Wolftree has a pair of golden eagles on the property on Whychus Creek. Forrest Babcock has a telescope trained on them with a video camera, and we are streaming live from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.

The eagles are sitting on two eggs which should hatch any day now. (Editor's note: One hatched on Monday.)

You can access the video stream by going to the Wolftree Web site at http://www.beoutside.org and clicking on the nest link. We are 300 yards away and so sometimes during the day it is not very clear due to air turbulence. But early in the day and then again in the late afternoon/evening it's pretty clear.

Janet Zuelke