Town Hall set on formula food

Sisters citizens can weigh in on how they want the City of Sisters to handle "formula food" establishments.

The Sisters Planning Commission will hold a Town Hall meeting to discuss possible changes to the development code, which could affect the definition of a formula food establishment and whether these facilities should be regulated in the city's Downtown Commercial District.

The Town Hall meeting is set for Tuesday, April 8, 5:30 p.m. at Sisters City Hall, 520 E. Cascade Ave.

The current definition of a formula food establishment is "an eating or drinking establishment that: (a) is required by contractual or other arrangements to offer standardized menus, ingredients, food preparation, employee uniforms, interior decor, signage or exterior design; or (b) adopts a name, appearance or food presentation format that causes it to be substantially identical to three or more other establishments regardless of ownership or location."

Possible changes to the definition include:

• Change the number of required "substantially identical" facilities from three to 10, or...

• Exempt restaurants that have substantially identical facilities in two (or one) states from being categorized as a formula food establishment, or...

• Exempt restaurants that are headquartered in Central Oregon, or...

• Put a cap on the total number of formula food establishments in the Highway Commercial zone, or...

Other suggestions are requested. For more information contact Eric Porter, planner, 541-323-5219 or [email protected]