News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters voters spoke loud and clear on one issue in particular on November 6: They want to bring the Sisters Airport property into the city limits.
The Sisters City Charter requires voter approval prior to any annexation. That approval came with 85 percent of the vote.
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 last week that a master plan for the property should be put before the Sisters planning commission in the next few weeks.
Prior to the election, Benson told The Nugget that the airport is becoming a fully functional private airport resource for the Sisters community. Annexation into the city will enhance that capability.
With annexation, land-use decisions rest in the hands of the city, which will have to create an airport zone when the 34.3-acre property is formally annexed into the city.
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).
No new residential development is proposed. A caretaker's home on site will remain.
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. Proponents of the annexation believe that, with improvements, the airport could help attract similar firms - people who could conduct their business anywhere and choose to live in Sisters.
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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