City of Sisters Principal Planner Matthew Martin was notified last week that the Sunset Meadows housing development by Woodhill Homes will be built as approved by the Sisters Planning.

During their January 19 hearing on Sunset Meadows, the commissioners approved the master plan with the condition that the multifamily apartments, which were slated for the last phase (of five) of the development would be built as phase three, to ensure they would be available sooner.

Initially, the applicant, George Hale of Woodhill Homes, announced he would appeal that decision, and it was scheduled for a de novo (new) hearing before the Sisters City Council on February 28. However, several weeks later the appeal was withdrawn. Therefore, according to planner Martin, the January 19 Planning Commission decision is final.

In a phone interview with The Nugget, Hale said his partner, who is building the apartments, wanted to go ahead with the apartments to be built simultaneously with the construction of the single-family homes and townhouses. Therefore, they will be complying with the conditions of the master plan approval.

Hale indicated that, if all goes according to schedule, street construction within the development should start sometime this summer. The site plan for the apartments must be approved by the City prior to the start of construction. The master plan indicated the apartment complex might include a dog park and playground.

The entire 12.92 acres was approved as three parcels, one for the single-family homes and townhouses, one for apartments, and a third one on the southeast corner of the property bounded by West Hood Avenue and Highway 242, which will be an open space with trees.

The entire development will be market-rate dwellings.