Letters to the Editor 06/19/2013

To The Editor:

As a fellow resident of Sisters Country, I must speak out against the Cyrus family's most recent attempt to develop yet another destination resort here.

I object to this proposal (HB 3536) because it would allow major development without following any state or county land-use laws; it would allow them to ignore existing water-rights laws.

This means that over 1,000 acres of land, including sections of Whychus Creek and many acres zoned exclusively for farming, could be turned into more golf courses, RV parks, motels, swimming pools, and hundreds of home sites without following current laws and regulations for protecting our unique natural beauty and resources as well as the rights of ALL Sisters-area residents.

This bill would also allow the developers to change or add onto their current proposed plan at any time in the future with no further restrictions.

This bill does not provide for local public hearings where Sisters-area residents can become informed about the plan and voice their questions, concerns and objections about a huge development, which would have an irreversible impact on their community and way of life.

This bill has not been approved by Deschutes County Commissioners because it was taken directly to the legislature - an end-run around our locally elected officials who are supposed to approve all development proposals and protect the legal land-use rights of all Deschutes County residents. Even state legislators have expressed concern that our local governing body was bypassed in this procedure.

We must contact and urge our state and county elected officials to exercise their legal authority and responsibility to block this bill from moving forward during this session. There is no time for public hearings or thoughtful analysis of the serious issues and problems in this bill.

Donna Lipscomb

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To the Editor:

Reduce vehicular traffic congestion and pollution.

We can promote commuting on bicycle and foot by supporting the proposed paved multi-use paths connecting the communities of Black Butte, Tollgate and Crossroads to schools, the town of Sisters, the Three Winds shopping complex and Bi-Mart.

These paths would be ADA compliant to also allow safe travel by users of wheelchairs.

For more information about the proposal, contact Michael Keown, Sisters Ranger District, 541-549-7735.

Suzanne Pepin

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To the Editor:

There is no need to pave a path through our national forest between Black Butte Ranch and Sisters. The forest should be left in its natural state for all to enjoy.

Why not widen the shoulder on the highway to make it easier for cyclists to travel?

Marianne Stipe

Tollgate

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To the Editor:

In my opinion, there is a significant difference between improving the trails to the Sisters High School and creating a new paved trail between Sisters and Black Butte Ranch.

The former supports local residents who actively use the pathways to the school on a daily basis. That I can support.

The latter project appears to be a marketing dream of a few people. I do not support digging up more of the forest when trails and paved roads to Black Butte Ranch already exist.

Marty Stipe

Salem, Oregon

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To the Editor:

Here in the Sisters community and surrounding area we have an opportunity to support the Forest Service plans to build a multi-use paved path to interconnect the communities of Crossroads, Tollgate, Black Butte and Sisters. This path will be a wonderful addition to our area by encouraging citizens to walk or bike to school or into town. It will make a statement about the type of community we have here: a socially, health-conscious and environmentally friendly group of

people.

I support the Forest Service efforts to build a trail system that will accommodate the many needs of our community. The multi-use paved path will enhance the existing trail system. It will meet further needs of the community such as the safety of our children riding or walking to school, provide a biking path for those who don't want to or can't ride on dirt trails and it will open up a wonderful opportunity for citizens with disabilities and those who would otherwise have difficulty traveling on a dirt path.

Please show your support for the Forest Service and the multi-use paved path.

Bunny Thompson

s s s

To the Editor:

I think the proposed path - paved or unpaved - from Sisters to Black Butte Ranch is a bad idea. It will end up costing taxpayers money for maintenance. Not right away, but down the road a bit.

I'm so tired of people moving into the Sisters area from bigger cities and then trying to put in the amenities they had in the bigger city area they came from. Don't we move to Sisters because we like how small it is and how there is so much beautiful open space and nature surrounding it?

I don't understand why so many transplants want to change Sisters into something different from what attracted them in the first place. I've been here for almost 20 years, and I've been saddened to watch the quiet little town I came to turn into a busy, bustling, much bigger little city. It no longer feels like a rural community. Instead it's suburbia - the place and lifestyle so many of us escaped from.

Kathryn Johnson