The Nugget Vol. XLVI No. 9
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News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
www.NuggetNews.com
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Wednesday, March 1, 2023
City Council setting goals for 2023-24
Winter Carnival...
By Ceili Gatley Correspondent
Hoodoo Ski Area hosted its annual celebration last weekend, with a torchlit descent of the slopes, live music, and fireworks — all on a spectacular bluebird day. PHOTO BY JAROD GATLEY
Anatomy of a development process By Sue Stafford Correspondent
Understanding municipal development codes and land-use regulations can be a daunting task — but the average citizen can get the work done. Everything one needs to know is spelled out in the City’s documents available at City Hall and at www. ci.sisters.or.us in Chapter 4 of the Development Code. “Growth and development” issues are currently in the forefront of public
interest here in Sisters. Three of the four front-page articles in the February 22 Nugget had to do with such issues – a new subdivision approval, a proposed new roundabout at Highway 20/Locust, and the role of short- term rentals in Sisters. Conversations at local coffee shops, watering holes, and other public gathering spots center on Sunset Meadows and the expansion of the Space Age Gas service station. See DEVELOPMENT on page 21
Black Butte School to seek bond funding The Black Butte School District has referred to voters a $2 million school bond measure that, if passed, would provide funds to repair and update aging facilities, replace the HVAC system and roof, and improve safety. The school board took the action on February 1, and voters will decide in the May 16
Inside...
election. The school has the opportunity to leverage voter-approved funding to double the impact. The District will receive a $2 million matching grant from the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching Program (OSCIM) if See SCHOOL on page 28
Sisters would pay closer attention to housing and aligning its development code with its comprehensive plan under new goals proposed for 2023-24. The Sisters City Council is entering the new year by setting goals for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Every year, the Council gathers for a public See COUNCIL on page 29
Space Age owner details expansion By Bill Bartlett Correspondent
“No, it is not a truck stop.” When asked by The Nugget what he’d like folks in Sisters to know about the expanded Space Age fueling station on West Cascade, that’s one of the things Jim Pliska emphasized. Pliska, along with his father, Harold, are the principal owners of the 21-station chain started in 1982 and headquartered near Portland. The Pliskas’ expansion plan has fueled vociferous opposition from some locals, led by a fledgling ad hoc group known as CATS — Citizens Action Team of Sisters. Six of the group made brief statements at last Wednesday’s regularly scheduled City Council meeting, each attacking the expansion from a different angle. Sharon Booth stood opposed on the basis of fumes, telling The Nugget, “I spoke about the health concerns. Given my background in medicine, I was especially interested in this aspect. I was able to find a few relevant medical journal articles and plan to continue to research this subject.” Others expressed worries about lighting, traffic, and
PHOTO BY BILL BARTLETT
Space Age Gas is slated for significant expansion — which has drawn the ire of some locals. the impact on other Sisters businesses. Mark Dickens, a CATS member, said, “Part of a reason of a company to build out at this scale is to put the competition out of business.” Pliska scoffs at this idea. He’s already historically the lowest-priced seller in town among the four fuel stations. On Saturday, February 25, Space Age was selling a gallon of regular for $3.85. Mainline Chevron was at $3.99, Sinclair — closest in distance to Space Age — was $3.89, and 76 at the east portal was $4.19. According to Pliska the main driver of the expanded station, which will increase its dispensers (hoses) from six to 16, is not what’s happening
in Sisters, but in Bend and Redmond. On Saturday you could fill up in Redmond for $3.22 a gallon. “Our station in Sisters is marginal,” Jim Pliska said. “People in Sisters who work in Bend or Redmond drive right past us, and if somebody is going to Bend or Redmond to shop, they’ll time their trip to arrive close to empty and fill up there. We lose a lot of business this way, not to the other stations in town, where we are already the lowest price.” Pete and Gloria Thompson seemed to prove Pliska’s claim when we talked with them at Space Age last Thursday. They were getting See SPACE AGE on page 22
Letters/Weather................ 2 Stars over Sisters.............. 8 Entertainment..................13 Fun & Games.................... 24 Classifieds.................. 26-27 Meetings........................... 3 Announcements................12 Nugget Flashback............ 20 Crossword . ..................... 25 Real Estate................. 28-32