News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters voters will decide in the current election whether to bring the 34.3-acre Sisters Airport property into the city. If voters approve Measure 9-87, the city council will then decide on whether to actually annex the property and write an airport zone.
The airport hangar is owned by Sisters Airport Property LLC; the runway is owned by Sisters Runway, Inc. Both properties are managed by Julie and Benny Benson, whose ENERGYneering Solutions, Inc. (ESI) is headquartered at the airport.
Benny Benson told The Nugget that the airport is becoming a fully functional private airport resource for the Sisters community. Annexation into the city would enhance that capability.
"We'd like to improve on it further, but it is very difficult to do (under county jurisdiction)," he said. "What I dislike the most is expensive process."
Annexation would put land-use decisions into the hands of the City of Sisters. In a fact-sheet prepared for the annexation election, the proponents note that an airport zone would allow several uses subject to specific city review. Those include.
• Technological expansion of the airport;
• Separate pilot and passenger lounge for air ambulance, firefighters, and private flights, including restrooms, waiting area, and food service from city restaurants on as-ordered basis;
• Open-space community recreational uses (a community garden is starting now, subject to voter and governmental approval).
The fact-sheet notes that no new residential is proposed. A caretakers' home on site will remain.
The airport owners would "start safety and facility improvements on site as soon as approvals are complete."
Benson and proponents of the annexation believe that an improved airport could give Sisters a shot in the arm.
"It'll drive a lot of tourism, recreation and the core business of Sisters," Benson said.
The Bensons chose to locate their engineering firm in Sisters in part because of the airport. Benny needed to be able to commute to projects by air. He and other proponents believe that, with improvements, the airport could help attract similar firms - people who could conduct their business anywhere and choose to live in Sisters.
"Ultimately, we're trying to build a society, a city, that supports the quality of life we're trying to promote here," Benson said.
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.
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