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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2016)
Wednesday, December 7, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 27 The Nugget Newspaper Crossword By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service PHOTO PROVIDED The airport zone (in gray above) delineates the current boundary. AIRPORT: Hearing on listing will be held in early 2017 Continued from page 1 Owned Public-Use Airports if it meets the criteria described in the statute ORS 836.610(1b): 1. Provides important links in air traffic in the state; 2. Provides essential safety or emergency services; or 3. Are of economic impor- tance to the county where the airport is located. The airport apparently qualified for such listing years ago, but the original owners did not complete the process for listing. ODA expects to hold a hearing on the listing — and only on that mat- ter — some time around the end of January or beginning of February 2017. The own- ers of the Sisters airport note that they have requested the hearing be in Sisters, so that the local community can participate. According to a statement from Sisters Eagle Airport, “the purpose and benefit of being added to the State Aviation Plan Appendix M is the airport will be eligible to receive funding for the main- tenance and repairs to the public transportation infra- structure (runway, taxiways, safety areas). Being added to the listing does not change the zoning or ownership of the airport property, or the uses or activities already allowed at the airport.” Sisters interim City Manager Rick Allen issued a summary statement regarding various issues surrounding the airport last week. “At this time the City of Sisters has no pending appli- cations to change or expand the current airport boundary,” Allen wrote. “Any appli- cation would require a full public process that would include notice to the public, planning commission and/ or city council public hear- ings. Any decision made could be appealed to the Land Use Board of Appeals, the Court of Appeals and finally the Oregon Supreme Court, by any member of the public with standing.” The possibility of a bound- ary expansion had raised con- cerns for some local residents who say that they have been negatively impacted by noise from aircraft, particularly from skydiving operations that ran through summer and early fall out of the airport. Skydiving is an allowed use at the airport, but the land- ing zones that were in use last summer lie outside the current airport boundary and require conditional-use permits. Allen noted that “at this time there is no landing zone within the city of Sisters (where) landing skydivers is allowed other than within the airport boundary... At this time there are no applications pending that would allow any new landing zones. If an application was received it would go through the same process outlined above, you can expect advanced notice, public hearings and appeal rights available for any party with standing.” There are potential benefits for a property being included within an airport boundary and being recognized as part of an “aviation community.” “We get inquiries almost every week from people look- ing for a hangar home with airport access,” said airport manager Dave Campbell. “Being inside the boundary will protect their properties’ aviation use, which is why pilots buy a home at the air- port in the first place.” Based on the ODA deci- sion, for any additional prop- erties to be included inside a new airport boundary and to reap such benefits would require application to the city (and/or county) and a full land-use process. — Last Week’s Puzzle Solved — This Week’s Crossword Sponsors Diva for a Day! Essentials Skincare Stress Relief Mini Facial — Just $35 in December! — Organic Light Peel • Hydrating Mask • Relaxing Massage Gift certifi cates & baskets, wrapped and ready for giving! 541-480-1412 5 41 480 1412 | 541-588-6271 541 588 6271 | 492 E. E M Main i A Ave. | M Mon-Sat S t Flexible Fl ib bl H Hours | www.SistersEssentials.com PUMP & ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR “If you want the job done, give them a call. Their work ethic was beyond impressive.” — Marcia Tripiano A Division of Sisters Owned CCB#178543 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE Curt 541-480-1404 • Zach 541-420-8170 NEWLY RENOVATED BAR! PLUS NEW BAR MENU & 60” SPORT TVs! WINGS • ONION RINGS •MINI MINI CORN DOGS GARLIC/PARMESAN POTATO JO-JO’s CALAMARI •JALAPEÑO POPPERS HAPPY HOUR 3-6 PM 541-549-8620 • 425 Hwy. 20 W. (Next to Bi-Mart) Mon-Thurs 11 am-8 pm, Fri 11 am-9 pm, Sat 8 am-9 pm, Sun 8 am-8 pm • Lounge Open Later