(ODOT plans to build a second roundabout in Sisters at the intersection of U.S. 20 and Locust St. | Rendering provided by Andrea Hine)
“It will take all of us as a community, along with a variety of policies and programs, to address the issues we face in Sisters, of which one of the most important is increasing the housing supply to address affordability and meet anticipated demand,” emphasized Community Development Director Scott Woodford.
“Our current population is projected to almost double in the next 20 years, which is kind of frightening,” he added. “An analysis done in 2021 (which we’re currently updating) estimated that up to 100 acres will be needed to accommodate future population growth, yet Sisters currently has no place to expand within its current urban growth boundary (UGB).”
(A UGB circumscribes a geographic urbanized area used by local governments as a guide to zoning and land use decisions, and is used to designate where a city expects to grow over the next 20 years. Cities may amend their UGB as needed to accommodate growth, once approved by the State of Oregon.)
“Speaking in broad terms, it seems the ‘newcomers’ are most resistant to growth, while the ‘old timers’ are more open to it,” said Woodford. “Newer residents are worried that Sisters will turn into the overdeveloped places they left, and are concerned that development could change the town’s character. (As an example of development, a lot of infill in housing has occurred over the past three years — a pace that has been too fast for some.)”
According to Woodford, “Sisters faces a choice of whether to grow by building either up or out. The sweet spot may be doing a little bit of both — allowing more density with multifamily units (such as duplexes, triplexes, and fiveplexes) by changing the development code; and modestly expanding the UGB, an issue that can be as controversial as situating a homeless shelter.”
“While many in the community want to maintain the rules that are in place,” he said, “more flexibility in housing types, and a possible expansion of the UGB, would result in more opportunities to accommodate new growth — which I believe can be done without ruining the small town feel that we know and love.”
“Another challenge we face in Sisters is traffic, especially on the main artery through downtown — so much so that some residents have decided not to go downtown at certain times,” Woodford noted. To address this, ODOT plans to build a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 20 and Locust St. — which has the highest number of vehicle collisions in the city.
This new roundabout will connect with the roundabout at the other end of town, at Barclay Avenue, but with steeper curvature to slow traffic going in and out of town. Both will be equipped with flashing beacons and ADA-compliant crosswalks and ramps.
Contributing to the town’s traffic, especially during summer, is tourism — “which also accounts for a significant part of the local economy,” he said. “It’s a balance — we want to keep attracting visitors, yet accommodate existing residents. And because we have to balance so many different needs — nobody will get everything they want.”
Woodford praised people in the town as “very engaged, smart and savvy. They know the issues, and are not afraid to get involved and express their opinions. Residents also participate in a lot of volunteer committees and commissions.”
He’s equally complimentary about local government. “We have 17 fulltime employees — a lean and mean operation that gets a lot of work done — with a very supportive city council. Sisters is a great town, and we all want to keep it that way.”
