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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2015)
28 Wednesday, April 1, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon CREEkSIDE: City works to make park less of a burden for neighbors Continued from page 1 that a park entrance might be eventually acquired from ODOT and to include it in an updated Transportation Systems Plan That’s a solution that most at Wednesday’s meeting seemed enthusiastic about — but it can’t happen until land is swapped and ODOT has defined its plans for that area of Highway 20. “That’s where I think you could enter the discussion,” Bertagna said. “This is down the road, guys.” An entrance/exit on the highway could also alleviate another traffic problem: the long wait and ensuing traf- fic backup as long RVs await an opportunity to turn west on Highway 20 to head back over the mountains at the end of a stay. Parks Board Chair Liam Hughes noted, “The entrance directly onto the highway has a lot of advantages, but I know that may be beyond our control.” That leaves the City and the neighbors to cope with the Locust Street entrance, for now. The entrance/exit there is problematic in part because RV drivers miss it, then head up into the adjoin- ing neighborhoods to turn around. Some of the rigs are huge, and this creates an impact on the neighborhood. RVs also “stage,” idling on Heads or Tails… You Lose the street while drivers enter the campground to secure a space. Neighbor Gary Kutz, a civil engineer by trade, testi- fied that the entrance should be closed. “We should access the campground from a commer- cial street, not a residential street,” he said. “Locust is not a good entry for the park, period.” However, Kutz and other neighbors were open to a compromise that would turn Locust Street into an exit-only portal, with signage denoting a right turn only, toward town and Highway 20. Improving signage all around, with significantly better visibility, is considered an absolute necessity, so that drivers know where they can and can’t go. Park neighbor J.J. Yakovella testified passion- ately about the impact of the park on the neighborhoods. He noted that traffic in the area is increasing for a vari- ety of reasons — people drive through the neighborhoods to bypass the highway, and new construction is on the books for the neighborhoods and at FivePine. “Please start looking at the long-term picture here,” he said. Neighbors like Yakovella acknowledge that that the park long pre-dates the neigh- borhoods that have grown up around it, but they assert that usage has changed, along with the nature of RV traf- fic. In recent years, RVs have grown into behemoths. “These are residential streets and these vehicles are just too huge to keep rumbling through,” he said. “What we have is something that is in a bad place.” He says that the park has negatively impacted quality of life — and property values. these are residential streets and these vehicles are just too huge to keep rumbling through. What we have is something that is in a bad place. — J.J. Yakovella “I’d like to move away from this; my neighbors would like to move away from this,” he said. “But we’re stuck.” The City could limit the size of RVs allowed in the park, but there seems to be little traction on the parks board for creating exclusion- ary policies. There is, however, a sense of urgency to address neigh- bors’ concerns effectively and immediately. Greg Johnson urged that as much work be done as IN A BIND? We’ve got the time! fi cient We offer fast and ef service. 24-hour emergency Next time you have a plumbing problem, call your local and reliable plumbing professional! Repairs. Replacements. Remodels. 332 W. Barclay Dr., Sisters Come In… Relax…Enjoy! Tim Westcott Ronnica Westcott Jenny Duey Mary Morgan 541-588-6611 220 W. Cascade Ave. Come in, Relax, Enjoy! Volunteers are invited to join SOLVE, Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD), Sisters schools, Sisters Trails Alliance and neighbors and friends to remove trash and litter that has accumulated over the winter. A cleanup event is set for Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers meet at 9 a.m. in the SPRD parking lot to receive garbage bags, gloves, and project assignments. After a few hours of trash collecting, volunteers will gather at SPRD for an Earth Day “thank-you” party at 1 p.m. Activities include: Lit- ter cleanup; student recycled art project; and coloring proj- ects for kids. Refreshments will be available. Visit www.solveoregon. org/volunteer-solve-it-earth- day for more details and to register for this event. Scroll to “Sisters” and add your name to the list of volunteers. GREAT Mexican Food! 541-549-3594 |150 E. Cadcade Ave., Sidterd Licensed Bonded / Insured CCB#87587 SISTERS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Thrift Store REMINDER: We will be CLOSED APRIL 5 for Easter. 541-549-1740 JOIN US FOR LUNCH SPECIALS 11 AM-3:30 PM! 7 Dayd a Week | Lunch 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Dinner ’til 9:30 p.m. 260 N. Pine St., Sisters 541-549-DENT 5 4 1 5 4 9 D E N T Volunteers will clean up sisters Country for earth day great Atmosphere! 541-549-4349 Loaner Cars Deductible Assistance Windshield Replacement quickly as possible to allevi- ate impacts. “This is an urgent situa- tion, in my mind,” he said. Executive Director of the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Judy Trego testified as to the impor- tance of the RV park to the community. “Lodging options in Sisters have not kept pace with our visitor volume,” she noted. She said she appreciates the City and the neighbors working on mitigation efforts to keep the park viable as a lodging resource for Sisters. “We really appreciate your patience with our visitors and with our events,” she said. Other issues carry weight with parks board members. Peggy Hogue noted that the campground has no ADA-compatible sites, and Bertagna agreed that that was an important consideration. Dixie Eckford is adamant that the tent-camping areas of the park be preserved, which the current proposal does. The parks board directed staff on Wednesday to develop costs and timelines for implementing the pre- ferred changes — includ- ing the feasibility of turning Locust Street into an exit- only — and bring them back to the board, which will make its recommendations to the City Council. ReStore 50% OFF ANYTHING WITH A BLUE LUE TAG ! Each item must cost at least $1. t’s a deal Now tha n’t miss! you ca 541-549-1621 141 W. Main Ave., Sisters 254 W. Adams Ave., Sisters Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 12-4 p.m. Donations accepted Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, 12-4 p.m. Donations accepted Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.