Letters to the Editor 08/01/2012

To the Editor:

Last week I was shocked to look out my window and see eight to 10 beautiful old ponderosa trees being taken down in the 400 block of North Locust near East Black Butte Avenue. I assumed (wrongly, as it turned out) that there was a permit to take down the trees. Later in the week construction equipment arrived at the site and began grading for a foundation. Since I did not see any building permit at the location, I went to the City of Sisters Building Department, where it was confirmed that there was no permit to take down the trees or to build on the site.

City Planner Eric Porter immediately went out to the location and was told that an old house would be transported to the location over the weekend even though there was no building permit and the city had no idea what the house looked like or if it would comply with any requirements of the building code or City of Sisters design requirements.

I later learned that the city does not require a building permit prior to moving a house onto the property even though a permit would be required to build a new house. This makes no sense at all.

The City of Sisters advised me that if no building permit is obtained or the building is not brought up to code and design standards, the city will fine the owner. It would be better to require permits, fees and a design in advance as every other builder is required to do instead of taking a "wait and see" attitude and deal with it later. It seems that the City of Sisters spends a lot of time trying to fix problems that could have been avoided if they were dealt with up front instead of trying to remediate the damage later.

I invite anyone interested to take a ride by the site and ask yourself if you would like this building in your neighborhood. And when did we start allowing our beautiful Sisters ponderosas to be cut down without even applying for a permit?

Jerry Hanford

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To the Editor:

City development code is requiring me to do landscaping in the Sisters Industrial Park. I am not terribly thrilled about being told by government to do something aesthetic but costly on private property. However, the situation has caused me to become much more aware of landscaping efforts around town.

Would you just look at Main Ave.? It is really-I mean REALLY attractive! The landscaped areas that some might argue take away a parking space or two are full of great-looking plants, trees and flowers. It is an absolute delight to bike along this bright and colorful route.

Furthermore, the front-out (not backwards!) parking has to be the most sensible safety precaution I have seen in some time. It is understandable that some people are resistant to new ideas and change that may require developing a new skill-like turning while using rear-view mirrors or navigating a traffic circle. But what is truly amazing is that there are folks on city staff, and volunteers on city committees and council who had the vision and thick skin to come up with these great ideas, figure out the funding, and tactfully but respectfully resist mirror-challenged naysayers, many of whom I count as good friends.

Nice work, Sisters! And kudos to all those who are entrusted with keeping it and us alive and in color.

Kris Calvin

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To the Editor:

I am a cyclist and make every effort to obey traffic laws and ride safely and respectfully. This weekend, I was riding my bike in a marked bike lane in Sisters. A car passed me and I noticed the blinking signal to turn right at the approaching intersection. The brake lights came on and the car slowed but I didn't know if it was to make the turn or to stop and allow me to safely pass. Because the car was in front of me, there was no way to make eye contact with the driver to determine awareness and intent.

Despite having the right of way, several cyclists are killed every year in just this situation when a car fails to yield to the cyclist in a bike lane. Because the car was in front of me, in the name of caution and safety, I stopped and allowed the car to turn.

To the driver: If you plan to yield to me, please don't pass me but let me proceed through the intersection in front of you. To the passenger in your vehicle: Your spew of road rage was rude and unappreciated.

Thanks to all the many Sisters Country motorists and bike riders who obey traffic laws, are kind, courteous, safe, and share the road.

Gabrielle Franke

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To the Editor:

My wife and I have been coming to Sisters since the 1970s. We love the city and the area.

Recently tried your back-in parking. Too much effort with our large Jeep Grand Cherokee. Don't want to ding anybody. We are big walkers, so we will just avoid parking on Main and Larch and find "old fashioned" parking.

Ed Colbach

West Linn, OR