Sisters has plenty of parking capacity

The City of Sisters conducted a survey of downtown commercial parking in July and August.

The overall conclusion of the ad hoc parking committee and selected planning commission members is that the city needs to attract more people to the downtown core since the parking is not near capacity. The detailed results of this study were presented in a summary report to the city council Thursday by Community Development Director Pauline Hardie.

The only problem area was around Sisters Coffee Co. on Hood Avenue and down Oak Street to Washington Avenue. Hardie pointed out that only one-half of the block on Oak between Hood and Washington is striped for parking. Finishing out parking stalls for that area should be quick and inexpensive.

The council also discussed the possibility of leasing several of the open lots in town, like the vacant lot south of Sisters Coffee, to provide for additional parking.

Councilor Pat Thompson said, "I wouldn't say that we don't have a parking problem, I'd say that we don't provide enough of the right kind (of parking)."

Thompson got some agreement that there was a need for more dedicated RV parking spaces close to the downtown core. The consensus was that if dedicated easy-access pull-through RV spaces were provided and advertised, there is a good chance that such a move would increase RV tourism in the downtown corridor.

The city's study was based on a guide entitled "Parking Management Made Easy: A Guide to Taming the Downtown Parking Beast." Surveys were conducted from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, July 25 and 28 and August 8 and 11.

Comprehensive findings of the study can be obtained from Pauline Hardie at Sisters City Hall. The results and a copy of the guide used in the study are also available on the city's website as part of the October 18 workshop meeting packet (www.ci.sisters.or.us).