News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Gutenberg College is one step closer to moving to Sisters.
The Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of a conditional use permit and the site design review for the college's proposed site at the former Weitech building at the north end of Sisters.
The actual approvals must be made by the city council, which is scheduled to hear the college's request for a text amendment to the city code on March 24.
Testimony at Thursday's planning commission hearing focused on the building's position relative to the Sisters Eagle Air runway. City planner Eric Porter noted that the Federal Aviation Administration had no comment on the building's position in the airport overlay zone.
The Oregon Department of Aviation was unsupportive of the siting of a college in the building, but their concerns "are not substantiated by any hard rules," according to Porter.
"Although they weren't supportive, they weren't steadfastly against it, either," Porter said.
Several pilots, including the academic dean of Gutenberg College, were at pains to debunk the idea that the proximity of the airport should be a concern.
Jack Addison, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot who worked in NASA's test pilot program, noted that he owns the building directly across the parking lot from Weitech, the one that houses the local sheriff's substation.
"I was extremely aware of the airport," he said. "I found that not to be a factor in my choice of that site."
Addison noted that, even if a plane did hit the concrete structure, "It would be difficult for a general aviation plane to penetrate the building."
Addison, like other pilots, also testified that there are a great many airports with significantly more daunting obstacles than the Weitech building, which is, in fact, not in the usual approach pattern for the airport. Addison singled out the San Diego airport, which is bordered by a multistory
hotel.
"You come a lot closer to that hotel in San Diego than you do the Weitech building," Addison said. "If that's a concern to you, you shouldn't fly into San Diego - and if you do, don't look out the window."
Benny Benson, manager of Sisters Eagle Air and future owner of the airport, offered visual aides to his neutral testimony so that planning commissioners could see the "imaginary surfaces" pilots navigate around the
airport.
Benson demonstrated that there are many open areas around the airport where a pilot in trouble would go rather than attempting to land on a large concrete building. He also demonstrated that the top of the building is 72 feet below the base of the approach zone.
The Weitech building was completed in 1992, approved for occupancy by 240 workers. Gutenberg College anticipates a maximum of 179 students and staff at the site. That number raised questions from Commissioner Ed Protas about the adequacy of the 77 existing parking spaces. However, planning staff noted that parking issues were not germane to the substance of the hearing.
In testifying in favor of the college's application, college President David Crabtree said that the building - extensively remodeled to create office and conference space by Multnomah Publishing - "is so well set up for our particular needs. We don't intend to make significant changes to the
building."
However, he noted, the school would like to alter the industrial appearance to make it more "academic looking."
There was no testimony against the recommendation for approval of the conditional use permit or the site design review.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
Reader Comments(0)