Letters to the Editor 12/04/2013

Editor's note:

The Nugget introduced a typographical error into Betty Hoffman's letter to the editor in the November 27 edition, regarding the paved trail near Crossroads. The relevant sentence should have read: The property owner on Bluegrass Loop east fire exit does NOT want their private property paved.

Jim Cornelius, Editor

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To the Editor:

Seize the opportunity for a negotiable, positive outcome to this trail-path matter.

The Crossroads community was missed when the March, 2012, letter was sent by the U.S. Forest Service. Sisters Trails Alliance (STA), announced in November 2011, that the Crossroads HOA was in support of this trail project, and that was a very premature statement. A community can't support a project without knowledge.

The Sisters District Ranger has recently reopened the trail comment period, following the trail-path meeting on November 5, which was prompted by the September 3rd meeting. The Sisters District Ranger has stated that "the trail project was intended to bring Sisters together, not tear communities apart," adding she could rescind all or part of this trail project.

A November 1 private meeting with Kristie Miller and the Deschutes NF Supervisor resulted in a walk with her, providing Crossroads an opportunity to present two acceptable, alternate trail routes along Hwy. 242. The walk along the current approved route resulted in mixed opinions from residents throughout Deschutes County.

With a decade of trail descriptions, the STA proposal of a trail from Crossroads to Sisters High School now has a recent update, October 22, 2013, which is different than the USFS Final Decision description approved, September 10, 2012.

A majority of Crossroads lot owners have not expressed need or desire for a paved path, particularly one leading into the private community's emergency fire exits.

Children riding into the forest, out of sight, add to safety concerns. The majority of Crossroads residents are interested in a well-established route to Sisters for everyone, keeping the path along Hwy. 242.

District Ranger Miller, this is the USFS's opportunity to conscientiously correct the mistakes made in the process of this project. Rescind the portion of this project as it pertains to the community of Crossroads.

Joanne Anttila

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To the Editor:

A Crossroads Committee met on November 18 with Sisters District Ranger Kristie Miller to walk an alternate path which Crossroads residents would be OK with, then on November 19, a public walk down the approved path was done.

This path was not on an existing trail as stated by STA/USFS back in June. This would be a new 10-foot road, which Gary Guttormsen/STA had marked. As we came to the end of this approved 10-foot road, dogs started barking. It is approximately 100 feet from private residences!

Kristie Miller has always stated how sorry she is for overlooking Crossroads in the scoping period, but from the looks of it, it would be darned hard to "overlook" scoping a complete private community since the trail is so close to the backyards of said private residences!

Ms. Miller stated that to have another EA performed would cost more money, which she hinted that Crossroads might need to come up with since STA spent $25,000 on the EA for the current "trail." Why should Crossroads come up with any money for anything? This was the mistake of STA/USFS. Why did red flags not go up by Mr. Guttormsen, Ms. Miller or anyone else involved in performing this EA when they saw how close this was to private residences? Why, at that point, did someone not say "whoa, did we talk to Crossroads residents to see how they feel about this intrusion?"

What we get is Mr. Guttormsen/STA not caring and continuing their push, and the USFS continuing to say I'm sorry and we'll hear you now.

Yet, when asked by Crossroads if funding through ODOT does not happen will she stop the project, the answer was no, she'll just continue to look elsewhere until all resources are exhausted. Now, I ask you, does that sound like she is willing to hear the community or like she has already made up her mind and is just doing this "listening to the community" as a formality?

The information to have your voice heard was in last week's Nugget, so please send your comments to USFS and to The Nugget.

Brenda Hartford

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To the Editor:

As a Crossroads resident and road cyclist, I was excited to hear about the proposed paved trail between Sisters High School and Crossroads subdivision, as the current bike lanes are very narrow and in many places in a state of disrepair.

However, now having walked the proposed trail and seeing how close it comes to some Crossroads residences, I can't help but put myself in those property owners' place and wonder how I would feel if all of a sudden I had a stream of bicyclists, runners and hikers passing so close to my house and invading the privacy, peace and quiet I so enjoy and was the main reason I chose to live here.

I wish everyone who walked the proposed trail would stop for few minutes and think about how they would feel if such a trail and the activity that came with it, came so close to their own homes.

As one alternative, there is an established path that parallels Hwy. 242 on the south side and doesn't infringe upon any individual's private property. Another alternative path would be along the north side of Hwy. 242. This would be the safest route as most cyclists continue their ride west on Hwy. 242 past Crossroads and could ride from Sisters all the way up the McKenzie Pass without having to cross the highway. Crossroads residents could cross the highway just past the main entrance thereby avoiding cars turning in to the subdivision.

I hope that both the Sisters Ranger District and Sisters Trails Alliance would please consider and be respectful of property owners' privacy and in the end come to an agreement that is acceptable to everyone.

Dee Merandi

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To the Editor:

Scene: Council Chambers/City Manager's office.

"Yawn! Been pretty quiet around here! Paved trails issue isn't in city boundaries, back-in parking is moot ... hmmm..."

"Um, we need a senior center and maybe a local pool."

"WAIT! I've got it! Out of the blue let's propose a 3,500-person amphitheater with parking for fewer than 900! Since it'll be open air it can sit unused for three-quarters of the year along with a big empty parking lot! We'll say community groups can book it, local restaurants can cater it, and we won't even ask them about it! We'll just spring it on 'em! That ought to get things stirred up!"

"Oh boy! Oh goody!"

I preferred it quiet.

Karly Drake-Lusby