2001-37-Minutes for Meeting December 27,2000 Recorded 1/11/2001VOL: CJ2001 PAGE: 37
RECORDED DOCUMENT
STATE OF OREGON
COUNTY OF DESCHUTES
*02001-37 * Vol -Page Printed: 01/16/2001 09:28:53
DO NOT REMOVE THIS CERTIFICATE
(This certificate constitutes a part of the original instrument in accordance with
ORS 205.180(2). Removal of this certificate may invalidate this certificate and affect
the admissibility of the original instrument into evidence in any legal proceeding.)
I hereby certify that the attached instrument was received
and duly recorded in Deschutes County records:
DATE AND TIME:
DOCUMENT TYPE:
Jan. 11, 2001; 4:35 p.m.
Regular Meeting (CJ)
NUMBER OF PAGES: 40
uv� 0.,
MARY SUE PENHOLLOW
DESCHUTES COUNTY CLERK
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MICROFILMED
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JAN 17 2001
C, J I, V - 9 7
Board of Commissioners
1130 N.W. Harriman St., Bend, Oregon 97701-1947
(541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 388-4752
www.deschutes.org
Tom De Wolf
Dennis R. Luke
MINUTES OF MEETING Mike Daly
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
Including a Joint Meeting of the City of Sisters on a Land Use Issue
- Barclay Meadows Business Park and the Sisters School District -
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
The meeting was held in the Sisters City Hall Building, 150 N. Fir Street, Sisters.
Chair Linda Swearingen called the meeting of the Deschutes County Board of
Commissioners to order at 10:00 a.m.
Deschutes County Commissioners Linda Swearingen, Dennis Luke and Tom
De Wolf were present. Also present was Barbara Warren, City of Sisters
Administrator; and Sisters City Council Members Dave Elliott, Lou Kellstrom and
Tim Clausen. Mayor Steve Wilson was unable to attend.
Also in attendance were Michael Dugan, District Attorney; George Kolb, Road
Department; Timm Schimke, Solid Waste Department; Rick Isham, Legal Counsel;
Jim Bonnarens, Property Management; Dan Peddycord, Health Department; and
Commissioner -elect Mike Daly. In addition, Chris Schmoyer and Kevin Harrison,
Community Development, attended, along with members of the media and
approximately forty citizens.
Chair Linda Swearingen indicated Items I through 5 of the Agenda would be
addressed later in the meeting during a joint hearing with representatives of the
City of Sisters.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
Quality Services Performed with Pride
Page 1 of 40 Pages
6. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of Order No. 2000-115,
Denying Review of Appeal No. A-00-13, Submitted by Richard and Jean
Schrader regarding the Final Master Plan for Eagle Crest Phase III.
DEWOLF: I move approval.
LUKE: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
7. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of a Contract for Medical
Examiner's Professional Services.
Mike Dugan, District Attorney, explained the agreement, and indicated it would
involve a transfer of funds with no additional funding being required.
LUKE: I move approval.
DEWOLF: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
8. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of a Contract between
the State of Oregon Adult and Family Services and the Deschutes County
Health Department for Public Health Nurse Services.
LUKE: I move approval.
DEWOLF: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
9. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of Order No. 2000-129,
Surrendering a Portion of 23rd Street to the City of Redmond.
DEWOLF: I move approval.
LUKE: Second.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 2 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
10.
11.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
Before the Board was Consideration of Approval of the Purchase of a
Replacement Front-end Loader.
George Kolb indicated that two bids had been received, with one bid being
quite a bit less than the other. This is the first of two pieces of equipment that
are budgeted for replacement.
DEWOLF: I move approval.
LUKE: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of an Agreement with
Bend Garbage Company and the Bend Recycling Team.
Timm Schimke indicated the Recycling Team is selling, and Deschutes
Recycling is purchasing the transfer license.
DEWOLF: I move approval.
LUKE: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
12. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of a Memorandum of
Understanding between the City of Redmond and Deschutes County
regarding the Vacation of a Right -of -Way off Canal Boulevard, Redmond.
This item was temporarily been put on hold, and was removed from today's
Agenda.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
Page 3 of 40 Pages
13. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of Order No. 2000-126,
Accepting a Petition for Annexation of Territory into Deschutes County
Rural Fire Protection District No. 2, and Setting a Hearing Date (Jacobsen
Annexation).
DEWOLF: I move approval.
LUKE: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
14. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of an Acceptance of Aceti
Correction Bargain and Sale Deed.
Rick Isham explained the history of the transaction between the County, the
Oregon Department of Transportation, and the Aceti Family.
LUKE: I move approval.
DEWOLF: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
15. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of Various Aceti
Documents: (1) Underpass Easement; (2) Underground Utilities Easement;
and (3) Waterline Easement.
LUKE: I move approval.
DEWOLF: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
Page 4 of 40 Pages
16. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of Documents Relating to
the Royal Blend Coffee Company Business Loan.
Rick Isham gave a brief explanation of the small business loan package and the
transfer of assets and liabilities between Royal Blend Coffee Company and
Mock Enterprises.
LUKE: I move approval.
DEWOLF: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
17. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of Resolution No. 2000-
092, Approving an Economic Development Grant for Public Entities (for
the Health Department, to Equip a New Building).
Rick Isham explained that this is a part of the new Health and Human Services
Project equipment authorizations, under the economic development ordinance.
Both the Becky Johnson Community Center in Redmond and the new Human
Services Building in Bend are involved.
LUKE: I move approval.
DEWOLF: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
18. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of Resolution No. 2000-093,
Transferring Appropriations between Health Department Funds, within the
Fiscal Year 2000-2001 Deschutes County Budget, and Directing Entries.
DEWOLF: I move approval.
LUKE: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 5 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
19. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of Resolution No. 2000-
096, Declaring the Intent of Deschutes County to Exchange Real Property
within Oregon Water Wonderland.
Jim Bonnarens gave a brief overview of the situation requiring the exchange of
property between the County and a private party. He indicated the private party
(the Hoffecker Family) would be paying the necessary costs.
DEWOLF: I move approval.
LUKE: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
20. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of an Intergovernmental
Agreement between Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and
Deschutes County, for Completion of the Indicators/Database Project.
This item will be addressed at the next regular Board meeting, and was
removed from today's Agenda.
21. Before the Board was Consideration of Approval of an Amendment to
Deschutes County's General Policy No. P-001-2000, Regarding Employee
Mileage Reimbursement.
This change will bring the County into compliance with the new mileage rate of
$.345 per mile as set by the Internal Revenue Service for 2001.
DEWOLF: I move approval.
LUKE: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 6 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
A) Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of Ordinance No.
2000-021 and Ordinance No. 2000-022, Closing the Public Record and
Adopting the Airport Safety Combining Zone, and Scheduling the First
Reading for January 10, 2001.
C)
DEWOLF: I move approval.
LUKE: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
Before the Board was the Re -appointment of James McGrath to Special
Road District No. 1 through December 31, 2003.
SWEARINGEN:
DEWOLF:
VOTE: LUKE
I move approval.
Second.
DEWOLF:
SWEARINGEN
Aye.
Yes.
Chair votes aye.
Before the Board was the Approval of Deschutes County Fairgrounds
Agreements and the Acceptance of Deeds.
Rick Isham gave a brief overview of the history of the Fairgrounds agreements.
He indicated that there are some further documents requiring Board signature in
due course.
A general discussion then occurred regarding the nature and amount of the bills
the County is to cover, the plans for future management of the facility and the
operation of the Fair, and the role of the Fair Association in the future.
Commissioner Luke indicated that this situation was one of the most difficult he
has ever faced during his years of public service.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
Page 7 of 40 Pages
Commissioner DeWolf wanted the audience to be clear in their understanding
that the Board of Commissioners' problems were not with the Deschutes
County Fair Association's volunteer group, rather, it was with the management
that was supposed to run the Fairgrounds in a businesslike manner. He stated
that many of the volunteers have come to the Board of Commissioners
indicating their embarrassment at the situation, and who were offended by what
has transpired due to the mismanagement of the facility.
He stressed that the Board has supported and continues to support the efforts of
the Deschutes County Fair Association volunteers. He said the County is
taking over a great deal of obligations, but with the full intention that receipts
from the facility, once it is running appropriately and with full accountability,
will be able to raise the funds necessary to repay these debts to the Deschutes
County taxpayers.
DEWOLF: I move approval, subject to the receipt of the remaining
documents (the corporate agreement).
LUKE: I second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
At this point the joint meeting of the Board of Commissioners and the City of
Sisters was opened to conduct a public hearing on the Sisters School District/
Barclay Meadows issue. See Pages 11 through 40 of these Minutes.
CONTINUATION OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS' MEETING AGENDA
CONVENED AS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE 4-H/EXTENSION
COUNTY SERVICE DISTRICT
22. Before the Board was Consideration of Approval of Weekly Accounts
Payable Vouchers for the 4-H/Extension County Service District in the
Amount of $295.04.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
Page 8 of 40 Pages
DEWOLF: I move approval, subject to review.
LUKE: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
CONVENED AS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE 9-1-1 COUNTY
SERVICE DISTRICT
23. Before the Board was Consideration of Signature of a Motorola Service
Agreement for Maintenance of the 9-1-1 Telephone and Radio Systems.
DEWOLF: I move approval.
LUKE: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
24. Before the Board was Consideration of Approval of Weekly Accounts
Payable Vouchers for the 9-1-1 County Service District in the Amount
of $63,011.00.
DEWOLF: I move approval, subject to review.
LUKE: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
RECONVENED AS THE DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
25. Before the Board was Consideration of Approval of Weekly Accounts
Payable Vouchers for Deschutes County in the Amount of
$295189355.48.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
Page 9 of 40 Pages
DEWOLF: I move approval, subject to review.
LUKE: Second.
VOTE: LUKE: Aye.
DEWOLF: Yes.
SWEARINGEN: Chair votes aye.
Being no further input offered, Chair Linda Swearingen adjourned the meeting at
12:10 p. m.
See Minutes of Hearing, Attached as a Part of these Minutes, Page No. 11
through Page No. 40.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 10 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
Minutes of Joint Meeting and Hearing
Board of County Commissioners and the City of Sisters
Agenda Items 1 through 5:
1. Citizen Input
2. Consideration of Signature of Findings and Decisions for Files ZC-99-3/
PA -99-5 (Sisters School District #6), Resolution No. 2000-095, and
Ordinance No. 2000-042, Ordinance No. 2000-043, and Ordinance No.
2000-044.
3. Consideration of Signature of Findings and Decisions for Files ZC-99-1/
PA- 99-4 (Barclay Meadows Business Park), Resolution No. 2000-094, and
Ordinance No. 2000-038, Ordinance No. 2000-039, and Ordinance No.
2000-040.
4. Public Hearing to Consider Two Development Agreements Relating to
Files ZC-99-1/PA-99-4 (Barclay Meadows Business Park) and Files ZC-99-
3/PA-99-5 (Sisters School District #6) - Land use File #IA -00-6.
5. Possible Consideration of Signature of Ordinance No. 2000-041 and
Ordinance No. 2000-045, Approving Development Agreements, the
Adoption of Findings, and Signature of Development Agreements.
Chris Schmoyer of the Community Development Department gave a brief
overview of Agenda Items No. 2 and 3.
Rick Isham indicated the final draft of the findings of the development agreement
are not yet ready, but would be ready by the end of the week if the Board is
agreeable. He indicated these items are not required to be a part of the Hearing
today. He further indicated if there is a split decision, the law (the "rule of
necessity") requires that a tie -breaking vote be taken.
LUKE: I move approval of Findings and Decisions for Files ZC-99-3/PA-
99-5 (Sisters School District #6), and Resolution No. 2000-095.
DEWOLF: I second.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 11 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
VOTE: LUKE
DEWOLF:
S WEARINGEN:
Aye.
Yes.
Chair votes aye.
LUKE: I move approval of Findings and Decisions for Files ZC-99-1/PA-
99-4 (Barclay Meadows Business Park), Resolution No. 2000-094.
DEWOLF: I second.
VOTE: LUKE:
DEWOLF:
S WEARINGEN:
Aye.
Yes.
Chair votes aye.
Dave Elliott of the City of Sisters then called to order a Special Meeting of the City
of Sisters and the Board of County Commissioners, and asked for the Pledge of
Allegiance to be conducted at this time.
He then opened a combined public hearing on the Development Agreements as set
forth in today's Board of County Commissioners' Agenda.
Chair Linda Swearingen opened the combined public hearing for the Deschutes
County Board of Commissioners, and read an introductory de novo hearing
statement regarding pre -hearing contacts, as required.
Commissioner Dennis Luke indicated he had no pre -hearing contacts other than
with staff during public meetings.
Commissioner Tom DeWolf stated he had received a letter from Tom Weeks, and
e-mail messages from Denny Ebner, and all have been submitted into the record.
Chair Swearingen indicated she had received what she believes are the same letter
from Tom Weeks and the same e-mail messages from Denny Ebner. These were
submitted into the record.
(The audio tape on this hearing, from which this transcription originates, begins
approximately at the beginning of Side B, Tape No. I of 2; and continues through
Side B, Tape No. 1 onto Side A, Tape No. 2.)
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting(Hearing with City of Sisters
Page 12 of 40 Pages
Chris Schmoyer gave an overview of the items to be addressed by today's Public
Hearing. The purpose of each development agreement is to provide for limitations
on the types of industrial uses allowed on the properties, special setbacks at the
north property line, and monetary contributions required under the agreements
toward traffic impact issues.
He indicated he had received written comments from Patricia Kearney, Howard
Paine, Tom Weeks, and Bill and Kathryn Perry. These comments are now a part
of the written record.
He stated that staff and legal counsel have reviewed the development agreements,
and found them to adequately satisfy requirements of Oregon Revised Statutes. He
indicated that revised Development Agreement was received on December 20,
2000 regarding Item #1, page 3, relating to the effective date and the term of the
agreement; this has been reviewed and revised, and was found adequate.
(He then read this clause to those citizens attending the meeting.)
The attorney representing the both applicants, Tia Lewis, then spoke.
LEWIS:
Since both of these development agreements essentially contain the dollar
contributions associated with the land use decisions that were just signed, I'm not
going to give a very lengthy presentation. However, I do want to give a little
background on the intents of these agreements, although I'm sure you don't need to
be reminded about the effort that has been put into developing these agreements.
The agreements themselves started about a year ago, mostly in cooperation with
MOT and the transportation engineers. It came about after the hearings officer's
decision, and was designed to address the compatibility and traffic impacts impacts
raised by the hearings officer in her decision associated with the land use files.
The compatibility issues have mostly been addressed now through the zoning, with
the imposition of the limited use combining zone through your decision. The
important part about these agreements is how they address the transportation
impacts. They do that in two ways.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 13 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
LEWIS:
The first way is that they propose a development limitation on the properties to be
developed at 68% of the density that would otherwise be allowed; and they also
provide for substantial developer contributions to the Sisters transportation system.
These are substantial contributions, which are outside of and precede the SDC
process.
That is essentially all these development agreements do. They don't give approval
to build anything, and they don't determine what transportation improvements will
ultimately go in. That is through the TSP process, and any approval to build
anything has to go through the City's application process.
These agreements simply estimate the traffic impacts, which could one day occur
when this process is developed. They estimate the cost of the transportation
facilities that could ultimately be approved through the TSP; they provide
substantial developer contributions to the traffic facilities, and they contain a
development limitation on the properties. They still contain setback restrictions
and use restrictions, but those same restrictions are imposed through the limited
use combining zone, so those restrictions imposed through the development
agreement are not as important as they once were.
The transportation numbers that are in the development agreements were
developed by our transportation engineers, David Evans and Associates. This is
also the transportation firm that is developing the Sisters TSP. They were
developed closely and with the cooperation of ODOT. In fact, ODOT has written
a letter of support for the development agreements, which is in the land use file and
incorporated by reference into this file.
As you may know, these development agreements originally started out as one
document, and they went through the City's process as one document. There was a
public hearing held; the City Council voted on the document; and it was ultimately
approved and adopted. It was submitted into the record for the land use files prior
to the close of the record in July before the County.
In fact, the ten -percent contingency fund that you'll see in the chart on page 6 of
each agreement is the result of that City of Sisters process. The agreements were a
little different before we went through the hearings process, and that's what
resulted.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 14 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
LEWIS:
The only difference between the two agreements that are before you now and the
one that went through City Council adoption is that they've been separated into two
agreements, one for each property. The County has been made a party to the
agreements during the period of time that the property is inside the UGB but not
yet annexed, which we believe will occur in about a month. The prohibited uses
have been somewhat expanded to include everything that was listed in each
ordinance.
LUKE:
Has notice been sent out regarding the possible annexation by the City?
LEWIS:
The annexation has already been voted on. Council action is to occur in February.
The limited use combining zone will be adopted in about a month, in January. No,
this has not yet been sent out for the February meeting, but it will be within the
City's time frames.
We believe that both of these development agreements will provide a substantial
benefit to the City of Sisters. When you look at them in their simplest form, and in
the land use files for that matter, what you essentially have is two quasi-judicial
applications, the results of which were already planned through the City of Sisters'
legislative process through its comp plan process.
This went through many public hearings of its own; and the result of which would
otherwise still be in that process had these two quasi-judicial applications not been
filed. Through that quasi-judicial process you have two development agreements
which impose development assurances on the property in the form of prohibited
uses, increased setbacks, and substantial developer contributions; all of which
precede any developer approval and all of which that are separate from the SDC
process. For this reason, we ask you to approve these two development
agreements.
LUKE:
Measure 7 was passed last November. If Measure 7 is enforced and these
agreements hadn't been signed, how would that affect the property?
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 15 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
LEWIS:
I think the impacts of Measure 7 are a little too complex to be boiled down into a
simple answer at this time.
SWEARINGEN:
I don't think this particular property owner has owned the property long enough to
benefit from Measure 7.
LEWIS:
Possibly not Barclay Meadows; but the School District has owned it quite a bit
longer.
Chair Linda Swearingen then opened up the public hearing for testimony on the
development agreements for both Barclay Meadows, LLC and the Sisters School
District.
Sisters City Council member, Dave Elliott, opened up the public hearing, and
asked that speakers observe a five-minute time limit.
WILLIAM BOYER (representing ArluDeco):
We've reviewed the development agreements and wish to make the following
comments. On page 4 of Section 3, there are permitted uses listed. This only
eliminates five objectionable uses from the Sisters light industrial zone. What
about the many remaining allowed uses that are incompatible with the adjacent
residential subdivision?
Consider the noise and activity, twenty-four hours a day, associated for instance
with a creamery, bottling plant, laundry, storage warehouse, transfer trucking
company, and so on; and how do you propose to quiet intrusive truck backup
alarms that may even be operating at night.
How do you plan to contain odors generated from electroplating, dry cleaning, rug
drying, and the processing of fish and meat? Further, this agreement is
meaningless because it gives the City of Sisters authority to add or change uses and
increase building size and height, all of which could be detrimental to the
residential property owners to the north.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 16 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
BOYER:
Under various ORS provisions, Deschutes County is required to make findings that
show "the proposed uses are compatible with other, adjacent uses or will be so
rendered, through measures designed to reduce adverse impacts". The County has
failed to make adequate findings showing the proposed uses have been rendered
incompatible. Murray v. Marion County, under LUBA 260.9, is quoted here.
The proposed uses are not compatible with the adjacent residential uses, and
measures designed to reduce adverse impacts are inadequate. Clearly, the
development agreement fails to meet the requirements of law. On the development
agreement page 4, there is a minimum setback, allowing a twenty -foot high
industrial building fifty feet from a residential subdivision. This is unacceptable,
and does not satisfy the compatibility requirements of the law.
The development agreement fails to address or limit uses that can occur within the
building setback area. Most industrial buildings use the rear of the building for
truck loading and unloading, trash containers, parking lots and so forth. These
uses are incompatible with upscale residential subdivisions.
Furthermore, we believe the setback requirements violate Sisters' urban area
comprehensive plan, industrial policy #2, which states, "a buffer of open space and
landscaping shall be maintained around industrial areas". A twenty -foot strip of
land between industrial buildings and residential property cannot be construed as a
buffer of open space.
DEWOLF:
Did you mean to say twenty feet?
BOYER:
No, I meant a fifty -foot strip of land. The Sisters zoning ordinance defines open
space as the uses, which exhibit an open character, commercial forestry, natural
areas, commercial agriculture, or large lot hobby farming consistent with the
surrounding landscape. This includes parks, golf courses, and other non -intrusive
recreational uses with a minimum of associated structures.
The plan then defines a buffer as a strip of land created to separate one type of land
use from another; for example, as a screen of planting or fencing to insulate the
surrounding property from the noise, smoke, or visual aspects of an industrial zone
or junk yard.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 17 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages I through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
BOYER:
Current use zone provides a 1,300 -foot buffer of open space that now separates the
existing industrial park from the homesites. What sense does it make to reduce this
to fifty feet?
I'd like to reference the development agreement, page 5, of the traffic impact
comments. Traffic studies show that these developments will cause a significant
increase in traffic on Locust Street. This creates safety problems for children in the
middle and elementary schools. It is highly likely the Sisters School District
would oppose this if they weren't one of the participants. A few years ago the
school district opposed Hap Taylor's gravel operation off Highway 242 because of
the heavy truck traffic that would pass by the high school. How is this any
different?
Page 5 of the development agreement states that the School District agrees to
restrict development on its property, with uses that will not produce in excess of
203 peak hour trips. There's a similar restriction on the Barclay property of 230.
Who is going to monitor and enforce these provisions?
It is our position that these are just numbers on paper, and are unenforceable. Once
the property has been subdivided and sold, the School District and Barclay
Meadows are out of the picture. How is the City going to limit the number of
employees and vehicle trips? Look at what is now happening in the building
formerly operated by Wytech. Since Northwest Marketing has moved in, the
number of vehicles has increased, overloading the parking lot and causing street
problems.
Another transportation safety issue is not addressed in the development agreement,
in Barclay Meadows. This is the close proximity to the airport. In a letter to the
County from Thomas Hyland, ODOT planner, he recommends denial of the
Barclay application because a portion of the proposed industrial park is within the
runway protection zone. In the letter he says, "The purpose of the RPZ is to
enhance the protection of people and property on the ground. An agricultural
zoning designation of lands adjacent to airports is a compatible land use, and
provides open space. Open space limits the number of people beneath aircraft
overflies, which enhances the safety of people on the ground. ODOT Aeronautics
prefers that the land remain zoned agricultural."
LUKE:
What is the date of the letter?
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 18 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
BOYER:
August 9, 1999. It was sent from ODOT to Chris Schmoyer.
S WEARINGEN:
Who signed that letter?
BOYER:
The aviation planner.
LUKE:
That was just about the time ODOT lost control of the airports.
SWEARINGEN:
So, we have conflicting information from ODOT. One department within ODOT
agreed with this, and another has disagreed.
LUKE:
To be fair, there have been a lot of negotiations since that letter was written.
In conclusion, the burden of proof is on the County to show that residential
property values will not decline as a result of these land use actions. I'm going to
submit a list of the affected properties with a listing of the real market values as
determined by the Deschutes County Assessor's Office.
The total real market value exceeds six million. If these applications are approved,
it is highly likely there will be Measure 7 compensation claims for the losses. Is
Deschutes County financially prepared to pay $500,000 to $1 million in these
claims?
Finally, pursuant to DCC, we request that the record remain open for seven days to
allow submission of further written testimony.
LUKE:
Is it your contention that Measure 7 affects property that has not been directly
zoned? Everything we have seen from the Attorney General and different
attorneys is that your property has to be the property that local government is
dealing with, and not the adjacent properties.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 19 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
BOYER:
I think those will be legal questions that the residents will certainly want to look into.
W8103
That's true, but you explain this as fact and I don't believe that's been found yet.
BOYER:
There are likely to be claims.
DEWOLF:
You're not claiming that it's likely they will be successful.
BOYER:
You never know.
101NO10 VA910.10111 N
I'm a residential property owner, right on the direct property line with the Barclay
Meadows property. I'm here today to strongly disagree with your earlier written
decision, as well as the proposed development agreements.
My reason for strong disagreement is the deterioration of public health, safety,
welfare and the increase in traffic congestion, and the incompatibility with
residential property.
Mr. Boyer just mentioned Thomas Hyland's letter. I want to emphasize his quote.
"Agriculture zoning designations for land adjacent to airports is compatible with
land use, and provides open space. Open space limits the number of people
underneath airport landing zones and aircraft overflights." This enhances the
safety of people and reduces noise and complaints, and all that.
We bought our property fifteen years ago with the understanding that the adjacent
land would remain in exclusive farm use, and that is, in fact, what his
recommendation is. This is a public safety issue. This is going to increase the risk
to public safety from aircraft overflights.
Secondly, school children are at risk, as a result of a generation of traffic from the
development going on off Camp Polk Road, heavy trucks, lots of employees; all of
who would go right between Sisters Elementary and Middle schools. This
necessitates what ODOT believes is a requirement for a traffic signal light there.
This is increasing the risk to these students. There's a public safety issue here.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 20 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
EBNER:
Why would any public representative allow this to happen? It blows my mind.
When a better alternative is available for this development.
S WEARINGEN:
What's a better alternative?
EBNER:
A better alternative is an exchange of Forest Service lands to the west. I presented
this to you before, but you've ignored it. Let's move on to traffic congestion. I am
on the Sisters Citizens' Transportation Planning Committee. We have been
studying traffic congestion and methods to reduce it for over a year. Sadly, this
proposed development would place a tremendous burden on that traffic system.
Speaking about the traffic around Camp Polk, N. Larch and N. Pine; they lead right
into Cascade Avenue, which is our fundamental problem in Sisters, and has been
for over twenty years - congestion on Cascade Avenue.
At last count from our committee, there have been ten different committees and
organizations during the past twenty years in Sisters trying to solve the traffic
congestion problem on Cascade. Our group is number eleven. Even sadder about
this whole situation is that exchanging property to the west of Sisters eliminates
that burden, and eliminates the saturation at Camp Polk, N. Larch and N. Pine.
You talk about public welfare and the cost of lights and roads, an exchange for
property to the west would eliminate it, with direct access to Highway 20.
DEWOLF:
And there would be no impact at that point?
EBNER:
Certainly there will be. You'd have to have some access.
DEWOLF:
So you'd be transferring the problem, you're not eliminating it.
EBNER:
Why would you agree to this proposal? Why would you allow that extra load on
Cascade Avenue when you don't have to? There's a better alternative.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 21 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
EBNER:
Land use incompatibility? Industrial development is not compatible with low-
density residential neighborhoods to the north. Extensive testimony by the public,
findings of fact by the hearings officer, and even your concerns have articulated
that incompatibility. Everyone understands that.
Over the past year two residences that border directly on that property have been
unsuccessful in selling. All prospects for these sales went sour after the potential
industrial development rezone was disclosed.
(He then entered some photos of the current Sisters industrial area into the
record.)
This is what scares people. If you haven't driven through an industrial
development, do it sometime. It's not done well.
S WEARINGEN:
What would you suggest for an adequate buffer?
EBNER:
Just for the compatibility issue alone? Four or five hundred feet. But this does not
resolve the public safety issues and traffic congestion issues. Measure 7 is very
complicated, but you've got to believe that we're going to go after that if necessary.
We have to. You have somebody proposing something to you that I feel is against
the public good. They stand to make millions of dollars; and in fact, some of that
money is going to come directly out of our assets as residential property owners.
That's the way I look at it. Once again, this does not have to happen.
Measure 7 wouldn't be operative, I believe, if we do in fact pursue an exchange
with the Forest Service for lands to the west. Why not protect citizens and the
taxpayers, and look at the Forest Service lands to the west. It is much superior in
terms of the public good.
In summary, I've offered a viable solution to exchange lands with the Forest
Service, which would largely eliminate these issues of public safety, traffic
congestion and compatibility; and you continue to support these applications to the
detriment of the Sisters' area. I'd like you to explain to all citizens why you chose
to degrade public health, safety and welfare when an excellent alternative can be
implemented to satisfy all citizens, not just those who stand to make potential
financial gain by this decision.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 22 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
EBNER:
When you do explain it, the original owner of that property sold his water rights -
Squaw Creek water rights, a good thing for conservation - and that turns out to be
the argument the developers use, a key argument for why these lands are no longer
capable of supporting agriculture. Fair enough. Dig some wells. Take that large
sum that they received for Squaw Creek water rights, and dig water wells for
irrigation. That would resolve that point.
LUKE:
You can't even get a well for cities now because of the rules and regulations that
are in effect, let alone drill a well for irrigation. I don't think you could possibly
get a permit.
Have you approached the Forest Service at all? And talked with them about an
exchange?
EBNER:
I didn't have to. I had Tom DeWolf ask the Planning Commission to contact the
Forest Service. Here is one of their quotes, from Jeff Simms of the Forest Service.
It's a telephone conversation that Deschutes County Planning staff had with him on
February 1, 2000. He said, "The U.S. Forest Service is willing to do an exchange,
but highly prefers it only include a public entity. The Forest Service would need to
find that the exchange is in the public benefit, and that the properties are of equal
value. In addition, the Forest Service prefers the City to take the initiative."
Isn't it interesting to everybody that just recently the City took the initiative to find
Forest Service lands for their largest employer, Multnomah Publishers? They
should have done this two years ago, if they had had the vision to develop
industrial land for the future, as I suggested, and pursued this exchange. Not only
to accommodate Multnomah Publishers, but to accommodate these developers and
the school district. There is something wrong with this picture.
I am a little annoyed at what the will of the people is. It is often decided by you
and others what the will of the people is, and understand the annexation vote of
November 1999 is illegal. It has been presented by you and others to be a key
basis for your decision to approve this urban growth boundary expansion and the
rezoning.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 23 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
DEWOLF:
If you understand that it was illegal, did you or anyone else try to have it
overturned through legal channels?
Yes. I received a letter from the Department of Land Conservation and
Development and the Attorney General's Office. I believe it notified Barbara
Warren about the illegality of that annexation. I'm sure people are backing off
because they feel maybe it was just a test and this kind of thing does occur.
DEWOLF:
Did you sue? If you think it was illegal, I don't know why you wouldn't file suit
against it.
EBNER:
No. I don't go around suing all illegal acts.
DEWOLF:
I'm just suggesting that if you had an avenue to stop this because it was an illegal
vote that took place, I'm just asking why that wasn't pursued.
14 301MIX
I'm not interested in going after an illegal annexation. I have no interest in that. I
see no reason to do it. The point I am making is that you have rationalized that as
the will of the people for a big part of your decision to approve this agreement.
DEWOLF:
I have virtually no evidence to the contrary, other than your opinion that it is
illegal. You haven't shown in any evidentiary way that it is, in fact, illegal. So it's
your opinion that it's illegal, but how can I use that as a basis to reject this.
EBNER:
I'll get you a copy of the letter.
DEWOLF:
A letter is not evidence. A letter again may be someone's opinion.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 24 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
EBNER:
I'm told there is a letter available from .... one moment.
LUKE:
If the Attorney General's Office has signed it, it's more than a letter. It's a legal
opinion. I would be surprised if we haven't seen such a document.
BARBARA WARREN:
The City of Sisters has not received this document.
EBNER:
I am referring to a source that provided some information here. My information
says it was addressed to Barbara Warren at the City. It doesn't necessarily say how
she was notified. This note says they found out about it and notified the City that
the vote was actually illegal. So what. I'll strike that comment whether it was
illegal or not. My point is that you say you are dealing with the will of the people.
These were County lands. I had no participation in that vote. There are thousands
of people within three to five miles of Sisters who have a big stake in this whole
thing, who had no representation from you. One hundred and fifty-nine people is
not the will of the people, to expand this urban growth boundary.
I believe fundamentally there is a public safety and welfare issue; we have traffic
congestion problems, and tremendous incompatibility problems with the
neighborhood land to the north. You know my position on this. I'm just asking
you to reconsider it and look to the west, and let's get some serious planning going
for industrial development projects out that way to eliminate these problems.
CLIFF CLEMMONS:
I represent the Sisters Airport, and am a twenty-six year resident of Sisters. I'd like
to say that a part of the development that has taken place so far on that property has
done more to save lives than what I'm hearing about today. You can cut across
down there without having to go down Cascade Avenue. Most of the problems
throughout the year are not because of Cascade; it's the fact that we can't use or
have access to roads that would take us over to the schools or the market without
having to go down Cascade.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 25 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
CLEMMONS:
ODOT is spending $100,000 to tell Sisters how to fix its streets and roadways. If
they take that same $100,000 and straighten out Pine Street, they could open about
three more access roads so that the children can get to school without having to go
down Cascade and Camp Polk Road.
Camp Polk Road hasn't changed other than having far too much traffic on it; and it
has to carry all of the traffic the way it is now. Some of the traffic on the south
side of the bed and breakfast where you can cut across and go down to town or on
over to Pine Street and out to the market, it's far safer.
This thing about being told that these developments are going to create so much of
a traffic problem, it makes me a little sick inside. When you have a group of
people who have a fine reputation throughout the years for the developments
they've made both City and industrial park developments, you don't need to worry
so much about all these mountains you are building out of molehills.
The land that is laying there now is worthless as far as farming is concerned. I
tried farming a few acres here, and the only thing I learned was that if you want to
work for thirty cents an hour, try turning this land into farmland. We don't need
farmland. We need more industrial land so that the boys and girls who graduate
from our school system will have a place to work here. If properly designed, there
will be access to it so that there will be technical training for those children as they
grow up.
I think the plusses for this development and increased industrial area are far greater
than the negatives. I hope that you'll keep on using good, common sense, which I
think you have done to keep moving along with it. And get busy on Pine Street so
that the people over on the north side of Sisters can get where they need to go
without having to go down Cascade.
We have one problem, and it's on both sides of the town. On the southeast side we
have a flood plain area. On the northwest side we have a flood plain area. I've
seen water a foot deep across the corner of industrial site that now exists. That's
one thing we need to do some thinking about, is what, our flood plain would be.
That's what you would have if you took twenty acres across Pine Street on the
north side. You shouldn't build just anything there.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 26 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
LUKE:
It seems to me about the end of 1999 is when the ODOT was looking at protecting
airports. With your cooperation, the City of Sisters and the County chose not to
protect the Sisters Airport, which means you could expand it; which means now
that you can do what you're already doing but you can't expand it.
There has been some testimony about airport safety. Of course, ODOT no longer
controls airports and it's now a separate agency. What is your view on the safety
issue of developing this property?
CLEMMONS:
I don't know how you could run an airport that would be any safer. It isn't really
for commercial use. The man who wrote the letter to the school saying that we
shouldn't build a high school on that thirty acres was fired not too long after that
letter came. He indicated that it was in the flight path. It is not; it is too close to
the airport to be in the flight path. The high school is directly under some of the
traffic that goes in and out. It isn't dangerous traffic because it is up.
One of the things about an airport is that when pilots are coming in or going out,
they are usually in control, and have no problem there. Sisters Airport is not there
for commercial use. We don't have anything commercial. One of the times that
the community likes it is when you have a forest fire and need the air support
people to come in. Personally, I think what they want to build there is as
compatible as anything could be when you do have an airport nearby.
DAVE ELLIOTT:
I don't know if the County Commissioners are aware of a transportation addition
that is going to be made by 2002. (He referred to an oversized wall map.) This
can alleviate some of these transportation problems.
(He referred to an area on the map that appeared to be located northwest of
downtown.)
This road will be connected directly to Highway 20. So traffic coming in - heavy
truck traffic - would exit here and would not have to go through the school area at
all. We are working on other transportation plans to alleviate problems in other
areas as well. This road is going to be completed. We have a $700,000 grant that
will fully pay for the road, which is inside the city limits.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 27 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
JOEL ABLER:
I've lived here for forty-eight years. I'm going to speak in support of this
development. A number of years ago I was contacted via a notice that a bypass or
loop would actually come out across Squaw Creek, next to my property, which
would alleviate the Camp Polk situation. They've worked on several different
versions of that to again get away from the problems of Camp Polk.
As Cliff said earlier, the ability to travel into the present industrial property has
been increased. We have two or three more access points over what we had a few
years ago. I might add that I participated in the development of the second portion
of the industrial property. To me, the benefits that came to people of Sisters to me
were many. There was a chance to complete the loop and water systems through
the development of the second park. That land was given to the City. That
underground looping system for fire protection, as well as the actual well itself,
greatly contributed to this community.
When I look at the services that have come about through the development out
there. There's a document that the City worked through a number of years ago
with a lot of requirements for the developer, and I'm sure the new one will be even
that much better. I've been here when there was nothing here; you went to Bend
for a package of nails. To see places like Metabolic and other businesses located
here and the things they provide to us with jobs and services in the community, I
think this will benefit a lot of us. There are a lot of conversations going on around
the community about this, and many of us are in favor of this. When you look at
the people who are involved in this project, you need to come up with something
that is going to work as far as buffers and areas to hide. I can tell you that I'm
familiar with these people, and if you sit down and work with them, they'll come
up with good ideas that will help.
LUKE:
Do you live inside the urban growth boundary?
ABLER:
Yes. Not in the City.
LUKE:
There has been a lot of testimony about the failure of Camp Polk Road. But isn't a
lot of that traffic generated by the subdivisions out that way, not City -generated
traffic?
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 28 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:
That is correct.
ROY SCHULKE:
I live in Trapper Point, the residential housing development affected by this
proposed project. I testified previously with regard to the fact that as a real estate
appraiser for forty years, I know a little bit about declining property values as a
result of improper zoning, with industrial not a compatible neighbor to residential.
This is a hallmark situation where that would apply. I have never seen, after
appraising properties all over the U.S., where a proposed industrial development
was approved to go adjacent to residential property.
I've found instances where existing industrial is already there and housing goes in
next to it, but not in reverse. The other question I would have is how many people
sitting at the table today currently live adjacent to industrial property?
LUKE:
I do.
SCHULKE:
That's a pretty small percentage. That kind of development is absolutely not
compatible to residential, and I would doubt that most people, if the situation
affected them, wouldn't be standing where I am right now trying to defend against
such a use.
SWEARINGEN:
What would you suggest as a buffer?
SCHULKE:
I think the buffer is there currently. There are alternative places for industrial
expansion to occur. In fact, this City doesn't really need industrial expansion.
S WEARINGEN:
I know the suggestion was made that a trade could occur. I've got to tell you,
though, having been involved in government for years, trades are easier said than
done. We might look at a five-year process and still not ever be able to get it done.
It's a suggestion, but I must say it's not an easy one to get through.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 29 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
SCHULKE:
I feel this problem that we're having right now is worthy of that kind of time, to do
something right. It's gong to take time. It would be difficult and there would be a
lot of work necessary. But considering the alternatives, and the resulting problems
of traffic and compatibility, it should be considered and studied. It's a very
significant problem, not only for the people who live adjacent to it but to the entire
City of Sisters. Ultimately the City will be greatly affected by the traffic.
We've heard that one of the mitigating elements is to put up traffic lights. I would
like to see the evidence of how traffic lights would mitigate traffic. You only have
to go to Redmond to see how traffic lights and heavy traffic through the middle of
town creates a big logjam. I submit to you that traffic lights would back traffic up
in either direction many miles. At least now, without lights, the traffic is flowing.
LUKE:
Since you brought up Redmond, I would point out that the new traffic light at
Sisters Avenue, which cuts traffic through the old fairgrounds, has actually
relieved Highway 97 considerably and really made better the traffic flow in the
City of Redmond. You can now go from the Sisters -Redmond Highway through
the old Fairgrounds without going through the heart of town. That light has truly
relieved traffic congestion in the City.
SCHULKE:
I'm talking about Highway 20, which is one way in and one way out. There are no
alternative routes. This is not a reasonable solution.
The other issue I'd like to discuss is that in the development plan regarding fifty -
foot setbacks, with a twenty -foot height limit. Fifty feet is not that big. Clearly,
this is no buffer at all. I can't imagine someone thinking that noise wouldn't travel
considerably greater distances. As it is right now, we are impacted by the noise of
the existing industrial park. I'm concerned that the vote that was taken to approve
these developments was done on property owned by the County -
LUKE:
The County never owned that property.
SCHULKE:
Well, under the County's jurisdiction - was not actually City property.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 30 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
LUKE:
I would point out to you that you can't annex property that is not under your
control.
SCHULKE:
I just want to get the point across that the issues I'm bringing up are significant, not
just to us living in Trapper Point in regard to our property values, but to others in
the community, too. They won't benefit from this industrial development.
PATRICIA CARNEY:
I sent you a letter, and I won't repeat all of it. We are not against industrial
development itself; it's the location of it. The trade with the Forest Service has my
support. I know that it may take a long time. There are a lot of spots in the
existing industrial park that have not been utilized. I don't think there is an
immediate need for that kind of development. I think I will be adversely affected.
I did want to address something that hasn't be said, to the County folks. You
represent me, because I am in the County. I do not have a voice in Sisters. I'm
very concerned that if you vote this in, I will no longer have any representative at
all in this whole process, as it will be handled solely by the City of Sisters. I'm still
not sure what the setbacks will be and what kinds of things might be allowed there.
I would rather it not happen at all, but if it happens I'd like to see the best quality
possible. I urge you not to get out of this now. Continue to represent the people of
Trappers Point until there are some satisfactory answers to some of these things,
rather than signed off.
LUKE:
What is your recommended setback?
CARNEY:
My first recommendation is what is there right now. I bought with the knowledge
that there was an industrial park with a wonderful agricultural area in between, so I
didn't need to worry about it. I think at least half of that amount of space.
LUKE:
What would be a logical buffer, because you could build other things in there, like
a mobile home park or a campground? That would buffer your house from the
industrial park. Would that be acceptable?
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 31 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
CARNEY:
I think anything that would not create additional noise and traffic. I have some
quiet now, and that's part of why I bought there. And as for property values, I don't
want to end up suing myself, which is what I would end up doing as a taxpayer. I
really think that half of the area that is there now should remain as some kind of
buffer. Something that was more passive and quiet would be okay. Something
residential maybe.
JERRY FORESTER:
I live in Trapper Point. I don't understand why the City of Sisters wants to push
the industrial area out further. It doesn't make any sense at all. It creates a traffic
problem. One thing about Trappers Point residents, there are fifteen homes there
and one vacant five -acre lot. We don't ask anything of the City or of the County.
We maintain our own street. We go to the post office to get our mail. We're not
asking for the County's facilities in there. We like it like that. It's one of the better
residential districts in Sisters, and we'd like to keep it that way.
There are two areas, east and south, of the crossroad from Wytech that are vacant
now. So what happens to those areas? Why push it beyond and create a problem
further out than what you have now. I think the potential for an industrial area
there would be very detrimental for the values. I have two places just outside of
Trapper Point and three inside that have been listed on the market for sale. As
soon as the people have to divulge that there was going to be an industrial area
there, the buyers walked away. I would call that a decrease in value, right off the
bat.
LUKE:
There are houses, such as the one I built, on the market since April. It's twenty
acres in the middle of prime farm ground with a very nice house on it. The market
and price range have a lot to do with the movement of real estate also.
FORESTER:
The industry permitted there should be considered light uses only. Do you classify
a wrecking yard and a concrete plant as light industry?
DEWOLF:
Those are not allowed. It's part of the agreement that these are excluded.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 32 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
LUKE:
The thing we did with our agreement is that we brought our zoning and the City's
zoning into compatibility on this piece of ground. The City has accepted the fact
that it would take a more restrictive zoning on this than they currently have.
FORESTER:
On page 36, it lists conditional uses.
LUKE:
What are you quoting from?
FORESTER:
I don't have the complete paperwork. Those are listed as subject to conditional
uses. It's here on paper.
DEWOLF:
Well, it's the wrong paper. The right paper is the development agreement, which
specifically excludes those uses that you've just mentioned. This is a stronger
agreement than whatever you are holding.
FORESTER:
Well, this is what I'm reading. It's from Arlu DeCo.
LUKE:
In prior testimony, these things were brought up, which is why the development
agreements are how they are.
FORESTER:
Well, this is under conditional uses.
LUKE:
We changed that.
FORESTER:
Also, industrial use is certainly not compatible with the bed and breakfast next
door. I'm not just addressing the Barclay property; I'm addressing the school
property as well. Trapper Point residents are all willing to fight this thing. If I
have to I will take it all the way to the Supreme Court of Appeals.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 33 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
CARRIE EBNER:
My greatest concern is for the school children. I went to school here. There will
be a huge impact, even with additional access away from the schools. The quality
of life is changing, possibly deteriorating, too fast.
GENE MILLER:
I live in Trapper Point. I've been trying to sell over the past year. It's a nice place
but any offers have been stifled by proposed development. I never got one offer on
my place once the prospective buyers learned there would be an industrial site next
to it.
DEWOLF:
Were there any potential offers? Did anyone say specifically they wouldn't make
an offer because of the adjacent land? Do you think the higher interest rates have
anything to do with it?
MILLER:
Interest rates don't affect these buyers. These people have enough money to buy
what they want. They just don't want the problem with the industrial next door.
TIM CLAUSEN:
Do you have any trees now between your property and the existing industrial land?
MILLER:
We do have a nice view now, and some trees in the buffer area.
TIA LEWIS:
I would like to do a little bit of rebuttal to some of the comments you've heard.
The one thing I want to bring back into focus is that the development agreements
provide the dollar contributions. They don't give approval for land uses; they don't
rezone property, and they don't amend maps or plans. They just provide the dollar
contribution for the land use decisions previously heard and decided on.
I want to address the ODOT comments. There is a letter from ODOT's aeronautics
division in the file. You are right; there have been substantial negotiations since
that letter was written.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
Page 34 of 40 Pages
LEWIS:
One thing that I should point out is that this letter contradicts ODOT's own
guidelines in regard to agricultural uses near airports. They have recommended
that some agricultural uses are incompatible; namely, grazing, and uses that attract
wildlife and birds, such as places that have water sources nearby. I would not put a
lot of stock in the aeronautics comment received over one and one-half years ago.
The other thing I wanted to address was the Forest Service quote. What's
interesting about this is that what is not explained by any kind of exchange is that
categorically they have told private parties "no", they only deal with government
entities. Secondly, it is subject to the townsite act. One of the requirements of this
is that you demonstrate that there is no alternative property available. Well, we
have alternative property so they won't even consider this.
The other thing I want to talk about is that this proposal is not new, nor was it our
idea. This is been on the books for about eight years, and it went through the
Sisters comp plan process, all of which had numerous public hearings. So any
disclosures that are being made to buyers should have been done a long time ago.
It has been readily available to them for many years. This property has been
designated as possible industrial land for a long time.
I have a couple of comments about industrial property near residential property.
There is a lot of it, some of which is in Bend and Redmond.
S WEARINGEN:
I don't think that was intentional in most of those cases. That just ended up
happening because of the lack of land use planning in prior years, because I don't
think anyone intentionally zones residential directly next to industrial unless there
is no alternative.
LEWIS:
You may believe that to be true. I think that in the past that might have been true.
Currently the thoughts regarding particularly light industrial uses and mixed use
developments, the need to reduce traffic, and to have people live closer to where
they work and where they shop is kind of changing that idea a little bit. That
seems to be the way the future is leaning; to get people closer to where they live
and shop and to get work environments and commercial developments closer. This
makes the reliance on the automobile less heavy, and people are able to work
compatibly above them, by them and around them. That's kind of the trend.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 35 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
LEWIS:
The other thing I want to talk about briefly is the whole idea about a Forest Service
trade. What LCDC commented on was the process by which annexation occurs,
when there are ordinances requiring voter approval and when a UGB amendment
has to occur for that annexation process.
My understanding of what LCDC and the Attorney General's Office says - which
may have been a letter but was not written as an opinion, but I haven't seen it - the
City cannot finalize the annexation until the UGB amendment is approved. Not
that it cannot take a vote on it; and not that there were any illegalities in either one
of the votes that occurred. Simply it's because they cannot adopt the ordinance
finalizing it until the UGB amendment occurs. That's my understanding.
There are legal minds that differ with that opinion, and it is not the Attorney
General's legitimate, formal opinion; it is simply a position. There are people who
differ with that; and rather than put money into process instead of infrastructure,
we decided to accommodate LCDC and do it that way. That's why we have a lot
of different timelines; that's why we have the land use process before you; that's
why the voter approval and the finalizing annexation occurs after the UGB
amendment.
The last thing I want to talk about is the idea that this property is open space, and
the idea that this property is a buffer. This property is not zoned open space.
There are open space designations throughout the state.
This property is private property. It's held in EFU zoning currently because in the
past it was agricultural property. It is no longer useful for agricultural property.
The City needs industrial land. We have gone through a lot of analysis to
determine there is no alternative industrial land that is viable for the economic
development of the City.
The idea that our private property should somehow become someone's open space
is kind of exactly what Measure 7 was designed to prevent. The idea that people
are going to bring Measure 7 claims if this is approved, I find kind of ironic. I
have looked enough at Measure 7 to know that what you said about it was right,
and that, good luck, I don't think it works here; particularly for people who don't
the land that is the subject of this application.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 36 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
LEWIS:
Essentially, what I want to say is that this is private property. We respect the
compatibility issues; we have worked very hard to try to develop setbacks and
prohibited uses; to try to develop contributions to the Sisters transportation system
- all of which precedes any development approval. We're just here at the planning
stages and yet we've come to the table with ideas and money to help with the
planning of this development.
When it ultimately does occur, it will be in a compatible way. There are fifty -foot
setbacks for one-story buildings, one hundred -foot setbacks for two-story
buildings, right in the agreements. Those are in addition to anything that's required
through the City's zoning. I think these developers have gone over and above what
the law requires in order to try to address all of the concerns.
We've worked very hard in bringing ODOT, the City of Sisters, the City Council,
the County, all of the parties, and the residents to the table to share concerns and to
try to address all of them. I realize not everybody is happy with what we've come
up with, but we do believe we have given 100% in making this application.
S WEARINGEN:
Tia, you may win the battle but ultimately may lose the war if this goes up all the
way to the Supreme Court. Based on the people and their testimony here today, it's
not likely that you will be able to build on this property for years.
Have you given any thought to taking at least a one hundred foot strip around the
property and zoning it multi -family in a compromise effort so that you don't have
to wade through the court system? Even if we all give you approval today, it really
means nothing other than you are on a course to a destination that may preclude a
time where money is being waste. Right now is the time to build. Two or five
years from now it may not be.
LEWIS:
We have thought a lot about what the future may hold once we get past the local
approval process. My clients are not opposed to communicating with the
neighbors and working out a solution, and continue to do so. But we have to get
through the local approval process before we know whom those parties are that we
can really negotiate with.
SWEARINGEN:
I don't think so. You've got your parties right here.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 37 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
LEWIS:
If you'll let me finish. We've got a lot of different appeal deadlines running. We
have a lot of different decisions still to go through. We are listening. We are not
stopping the planning of this project, and won't stop until we get the development
approval that we need.
If it goes to the Supreme Court, so be it. We watched PMR do the same thing. It's
kind of unfortunate that the money goes into the process rather than the
infrastructure. We don't want that to happen. Right now that is what is happening.
We have put a lot of money for the infrastructure in this development agreement
and are still willing to try to accommodate others' interests.
I don't want people to think that we are opposed to discussions. I want you to
understand that in our minds in this process we need to get through the local
approval process before we start making more concessions. We've given more
than 100% through these documents so far. We recognize that we probably won't
please everybody.
TIM CLAUSEN:
How did you come up with the concessions? Did you ever have a meeting with the
adjacent landowners?
LEWIS:
We have had a couple of meetings, a couple of township -type meetings; and we've
had at least four or five public hearings. There's a lot of written evidence in the
record.
CLAUSEN:
I mean just a meeting where you sit down at a table with them without political
oversight or involvement.
LEWIS:
I wasn't even there. It was the developers and the neighbors. I think the school
district had one, and Barclay had one. These were all kind of done back in the land
use process. The traffic numbers were developed by ODOT and the traffic
engineers. The actual setback numbers and the list of prohibited uses came from
meetings with the neighborhood and public hearings.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 38 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
SWEARINGEN:
I think you addressed the transportation issues pretty adequately in the
development agreement. But I would say that as someone who won't be involved
in this after this year that I feel it would be in your best interests to sit down with
the property owners and work out something that works for both of you.
Otherwise, you are going to sit there with that property for years.
They'll take it as far as it needs to go. I've got to say, even though I firmly believe
that transportation has been addressed and it needs to be rezoned, I think they have
a valid complaint about compatibility. I don't know that fifty feet is an adequate
buffer without rezoning a strip of that land to address their concerns.
As a former real estate broker, I'm telling you that their property will go down in
value, absolutely. I'm not going to choose to live next to an industrial park. I
suggest they take some time to work out an agreement that works for everybody,
and I think you can come up with something. Just redo that top zone for high
density, multi -family.
LEWIS:
That would require that we start this process over.
SWEARINGEN:
You'll end up starting the process over, regardless. I know exactly what you're
saying.
LEWIS:
We're not opposed to suggestions from community members. We've already taken
into account quite a few of them. We are listening, and don't believe that this
process is going to end it. We are certainly prepared to go as far as we need to go
and to recognize their concerns. We've settled everything that we could so far.
This seems to be the last part of it, and these developers are flexible. They have
done more than what I'm used to working with, and they are still willing to do
more. I take your comments to heart, and we recognize that and are willing to sit
down and discuss things further.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Page 39 of 40 Pages
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint MeetinWHearing with City of Sisters
S WEARINGEN:
We will leave the written record open until Wednesday, January 3, 2001, at 5:00
p.m. Rebuttal to any additions to the written record will be left open until
Wednesday, January 10, 2001, at 5:00 p.m. They should come to the Board of
County Commissioners' office at 1130 NW Harriman St., Bend.
DAVE ELLIOTT:
I move we close the public oral comment period for the City, and will leave the
written record open to the same dates as the County. They should be mailed to
P.O. Box 36, Sisters 97759; or if hand -carried, to 105 NW Fir Street, Sisters.
The City will continue discussions on this matter at our next scheduled City
Council meeting on Thursday, January 11, 2001.
He adjourned the meeting of the City of Sisters at this time.
S WEARINGEN:
Dave, I just want to say that I started my political career in Sisters, following you
as Mayor, and will end my political career in Sisters. This is only fitting.
(The Board of County Commissioners then completed their normal business - see
Page 8 of these Minutes.)
Dated this 27th Day of December 2000 for the Deschutes County Board of
Commissioners.
ATTEST:
Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting
Wednesday, December 27, 2000
Linda L. Sw aringe air
Dennis R. Luke, Commissioner
Tom DeWolf, Commiss' ner
Pages 1 through 10, Regular Business
Pages 11 through 40, Joint Meeting/Hearing with City of Sisters
Page 40 of 40 Pages