City approves two new subdivisions
By Jim Cornelius

 

Several new homes are going up in Buck Run in Sisters. Nearby, a new nine-lot subdivision has been approved.

City planners approved two new subdivisions in Sisters on Wednesday, February 21.

The Sisters Urban Area Planning Commission gave the green light to Mylon Buck's nine-lot subdivision in the Buck Run area and to a five-lot proposal on East Cascade Avenue just east of Sisters Elementary School.

Both approvals are preliminary and subject to conditions, including requirements that the developers mitigate traffic impact.

The Buck subdivision drew criticism from neighbors who are displeased that the new subdivision has smaller lots than in the rest of Buck Run.

"It seems to me that we're doing a Southern California number by chopping up these beautiful lots," said David Blair, a recent immigrant from California.

While the lot sizes are smaller than those in surrounding neighborhoods, city planner Neil Thompson noted that the smallest is still 67 percent greater than the minimum lot size allowed in the city and at least one is more than twice the minimum size.

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Smaller lots are possible now that homes will hook up to a municipal sewer system instead of septic tanks. Greater density is also encouraged to cut down on urban sprawl.

"The city is moving in the direction of ever smaller lots and greater density and they're getting pressure from the state to do so," planning commissioner Wayne Kimball said.

He noted that the trend toward densification is a political issue and encouraged those who don't like it to get involved in the local political process.

Kimball voted against both approvals, saying the city should approve no new subdivisions until the city's Transportation System Plan is finished and solutions to increased traffic are identified.

Traffic concerns were highlighted in the preliminary approval of the Cascade Avenue subdivision, owned by Troy and Merrilee McCabe.

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Thompson noted in his staff report that "the street system is inadequate to accept additional daily trips generated by the subdivision."

The applicant will be required to participate in traffic improvements in the area, possibly including a traffic signal at Locust Street and Highway 20 and an alternative access route across adjoining properties either to the north or to the south.

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