Developer changes subdivision plans

Developer Peter Hall appeared before the Sisters Planning Commission last week with what he said is the last request for an amendment to the original ClearPine subdivision plan.

Hall's application was for the subdivision of an approximately 10.02-acre parcel within the ClearPine subdivision to create 34 single-family detached lots and 24 single-family attached townhome lots.

The site already had tentative subdivision approval for 33 single-family lots and an 88,976-square-foot multi-family parcel. Hall proposed reconfiguring the lots and access so that the single-family detached houses would face Lundgren Mill Drive and be alley-loaded. He also wanted to subdivide the multi-family residential zoned lot to accommodate nine pairs of townhouses and three single-level affordable attached duplexes.

Due to the scope and extent of the changes from the existing approval, a new subdivision was required and proposed. The Planning Commission approved the proposal unanimously (with conditions) with little discussion.

According to the original approvals, there is a requirement that 10 percent (eight units) of the ClearPine housing units be affordable. The current drawing of the multi-family residential zone shows six affordable units (the three attached units). When questioned by The Nugget about the affordable requirements, Hall said, "We'll get the other two in somewhere" and the Planning Commission accepted that.

Hall reports that he won't be building the nine pairs of townhouses. He indicated that Habitat for Humanity is building the three single-level attached 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom units (six individual units). The exteriors must be designed to meet ClearPine design standards to make them blend with the townhouses. Habitat plans to build one per year, according to Hall.

There are two 275- to 300-year-old trees located in the open space among the townhouses. Hall reported that since 2006, 70 trees that needed to be removed were taken out intact, with attached root balls, and donated to the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council to be transplanted in the Tumalo Falls area. Fagen Tree Service of Bend donated the time and trucks for the transplanting.

Due to reorientation of the single-family lots to Lundgren Mill Drive, utility cuts will be necessary and the City is requiring Hall to apply an asphalt overlay the length of Lundgren Mill. Hall asked that future industrial tenants across the street be required to share the cost of the overlay. Commissioners denied that request, stating they can't put current requirements on future possible property owners.

The square footage of the single-family lots is slightly reduced to accommodate the width of a new road as part of the redesign and an 18-foot buffer between Lundgren Mill and the single-family lots.

Phase 3 of ClearPine, with 14 more lots along the northern perimeter on Heising Drive, are ready to be built on. They have been able to save seven of eight significant trees on those lots. From Heising Drive there is a 200-foot path that links the subdivision to National Forest land.