News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Food carts are popular in cities across the U.S., from New York City to Bend, Oregon. Sisters businessman Brad Boyd plans to test their popularity in Sisters, siting food carts in the courtyard of Eurosports on the corner of Hood Avenue and Fir Street.
Boyd's site plan for the siting of food carts was approved by planning staff late last month. Each food cart will be required to conform to the City's Western theme requirements, and Boyd must make some additional improvements to his lot, including planting at least one "street tree." Each food cart operator will be required to have a City of Sisters business license and would have to pay systems development charges only if they connect to City sewer or water services.
Boyd envisions the carts as a permanent fixture in the back area of his lot. How many will be there depends on how much space each takes up of what is allowed - and on what the market will bear, he said.
"Food carts are popular and a lot of people who visit here are used to having that as an option," he said. "From a businessman's point of view, it's about revenue streams. We're looking at multiple revenue streams."
Eurosports rents and sells recreation equipment, winter and summer. Boyd purchased the corner lot and moved the 25-year-old business last spring and summer. He also sells micro-brew beers and is trying to develop the courtyard into a pleasant place for people to hang out - "a cool, fun space."
The food cart operators will pay Boyd an annual lease. He hopes to establish whatever number is viable as permanent fixtures - though he acknowledges that there may be turnover.
"Will my tenants come and go, like any other business in Sisters? They might," he said.
Food cart operators will not be required to obtain a transient merchant license or a temporary-use permit (TUP).
"They were approved under a different process," said City of Sisters Senior Planner Eric Porter. "It's more permanent in nature than a TUP."
The site plan review process Boyd undertook means that he, as the commercial lot owner, undertook the planning fee costs, which amounted to about $2,500, and he will be responsible for the improvements to the lot to make it compliant for the use.
The site plan review does not require a hearing before the planning commission, although staff has the option to bring any application up to the commission for review.
"We collectively (the community development department staff) didn't feel it would be controversial," Porter said. "Had we felt that, we possibly might have sent it to the planning commission, depending on the concerns raised by the community. I didn't foresee any concerns being raised by the community over this request."
Neighbors were informed of Boyd's application, as per requirements of the site plan review process. Melissa Ward, owner of Sisters Bakery, submitted a letter registering her opposition to allowing food carts in downtown Sisters.
"Given the difficulty of successfully managing any small business in Sisters, I would like to see an unbiased explanation of the value of this proposal, which effectively alters the scope of existing business in Sisters and most certainly establishes a precedent for transient vendors in the future," Ward wrote. "We seriously need policies that will not allow but will protect the City of Sisters from encroachment from any enterprise that contributes little and brings down the new image of town, which has just begun to come into its own as a well kept, interesting place, not just the backdrop for a few hectic events."
Ward did not appeal the approval.
While food carts could be sited on any commercial lot in Sisters, those properties would have to have the kind of improvements and amenities the Boyd's lot will
have.
Boyd says he hopes to establish food options that aren't already available in Sisters.
Under the terms of his approval, Boyd has two years to enact his plans. He told The Nugget that he may start with just one cart, and the timing will depend on how soon he can make the improvement to the property that is still required.
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.
Reader Comments(0)