Wednesday, July 29, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Continued from page 1 as the East Portal, is located across Highway 20 from the other properties, bounded by Highway 242, West Hood Avenue, and Highway 20. It is called the East Portal because it is the eastern end of scenic Highway 242 that crosses the Cascade Mountains, over the old McKenzie Pass (closed in the winter). Although the Portal has belonged to the USFS for years, the Sisters Public Works Department has main- tained the public restrooms for use by travelers during the summer. There is also an interpretive map at the Portal, as well as a walking labyrinth created by one of the Ford Family Foundation Leadership Cohorts. The City of Sisters and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) both have an interest in that trian- gle and have been in explor- atory conversations for over a year regarding a possible part- nership to acquire the land. In February of this year, the Forest Service agreed to not market the land and keep it in public ownership. The City would like to retain the Open Space designation and have some of the property provide benefit to the trans- portation system. <We are interested,= said ODOT Region 4 Chief Gary Farnsworth. <Have been for some time.= ODOT would like to acquire the land, as a signifi- cant portion of the property already has existing highway facilities at the junction of State Highways 20 and 242. ODOT would agree to main- tain the City9s multi-use trail on the west side of Highway 20. The multi-modal hub could provide more off-street parking and be an essential link in localized and regional transportation. The Forest Service would like to get the highest price possible to help fund their new ranger station. According to City Manager Cory Misley, <The City has a strategic interest in shaping the future develop- ment of the remaining parcel to meet community needs& The parcel serves as a gate- way to Sisters and Central Oregon. At the same time, it is underutilized, and ways to expand and enhance its uses in line with its current com- position should be explored.= City staff and ODOT have also been talking with Cascades East Transit, the public transportation pro- vider in Central Oregon, to explore the possibility of sit- ing a <mobility hub= on the property to serve Sisters, west Deschutes County, travel between regions, and the state highway system. Misley explained that the mobility hub would act as a focal point in the transporta- tion network serving Sisters, integrating different modes of transportation (auto, pedes- trian, public transportation, bicycles) to maximize con- nectivity in the area. <A multitude of ameni- ties could be layered into the property& Ultimately, a partnership between the City and ODOT, working closely with CET, would undertake a master planning process to best prioritize and design the facilities. Undertaking a proj- ect like this will require many years of planning and project development, funding acqui- sition, and project construc- tion,= Misley said. Council directed Misley to proceed with refining the draft intergovernmental agreement (IGA) and co-lead partner- ship with ODOT to acquire the East Portal and to use a portion of the property for development of a multi-modal transportation mobility hub. The USFS originally val- ued the triangle based on best and highest use (regardless of City zoning), which would be prime commercial zone. It is currently zoned Open Space. Any developer would have to pay top dollar and then incur considerable additional time and expense to get a zone change, which wouldn9t be guaranteed at time of pur- chase. Misley said the City plans don9t support changing the zoning to commercial. The property has been listed for a long time with no offers. The City and ODOT had an independent prop- erty appraisal done using the OS zoning designation. The appraisal came in at $7,500 per acre, lower than the Forest Service price. Now the negotiating with the FS begins. Before that can hap- pen, the City and ODOT have to reach agreement and sign an IGA for their partnership in the East Portal. Next, they have to make a formal initial offer for the property, before the Forest Service can begin negotiations. Although ODOT would only own about 5 per- cent of the property, they are willing to pay 50 percent of the eventual purchase price. Dave Brown of ODOT thinks the Forest Service will have a good discussion once the offer is made by the ODOT/ City partnership. He is hopeful the Forest Service will recognize that both par- ties, being public entities, do not have unlimited funds. Misley concluded, <Ultimately, there is an opportunity for a win/win/ win for the City, ODOT, and the Forest Service to work towards a sale of the East Portal and development along the conceptual lines outlined. This is an opportunity for the City to initiate the final piece of working to facilitate the development of the FS prop- erty, while leveraging stra- tegic partnerships and deliv- ering critical amenities to Sisters Country.= The IGA should be con- cluded and signed in the next two to four weeks, at which time an offer can be submit- ted to the Forest Service. An ODOT representative said, <This is a great oppor- tunity for everyone. It9s a super rare opportunity to pur- chase land directly from the Forest Service, which almost never makes direct land sales. This piece of land is one of only two properties nation- ally being offered for sale by them.= JOHNSEN: Portlander is headed to Sisters for SFF concert Continued from page 11 her <American Idol= days. She taught through School of Rock and they gave her the chance to give voice lessons. <Once you teach some- thing, the better you get at it and that is what I was doing with teaching vocal lessons,= she said. Johnsen works with peo- ple of all ages and abilities. Johnsen recently came out with her most recent record 4 a live-recorded album from Studio 1 in Abbey Road Studios in London. The songwriter thought she would have a three-day UK vacation, but her manager, Warren Wyatt, had what she calls a <trick up his sleeve= 4 a serendipitous single evening recording session Once you teach something, the better you get at it and that is what I was doing with teaching vocal lessons. — Hayley Johnsen PHOTO PROVIDED Portland singer-songwriter Haley Johnsen will perform at the Close to Home event on August 1 at Sisters Art Works. at the historic studio, which is now being released as Haley9s first guitar-and- vocal-only album London Sessions. The lead single, <Feel the Water,= was released March 13. Haley Johnsen will be performing a set of her origi- nal music at the Close to Home event on August 1. Other artists include, David Jacobs-Strain, Beth Wood, Ron Artis II and the Truth, and Jeffery Martin. The event is sold out, but there is a waitlist. More informa- tion can be found at www. sistersfolkfestival.org. More information on Haley Johnsen9s music can be found at www. haleyjohnsenmusic.com/ music-1. Planning a Home Construction or Renovation Project? Our team believes quality, creativity, and sustainability matter. We want your home to be a work of art worthy of containing your life. — Mike & Jill Dyer, Owners 541-420-8448 dyerconstructionrenovation.com Successfully representing buyers and sellers, both residential and commercial. J Jen McCrystal, Broker CCB#148365 EAST PORTAL: Parties are working toward financial agreement 23 THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS BOOMING…CALL ME FOR BLAZING FAST RESULTS! 5 541-420-4347 • jen@reedbros.com Reed Bros. Realty 291 W. Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-6000 | www.reedbros.com Each office independently owned and operated. Suzanne Carvlin , Broker & Realtor Licensed in the State of Oregon 818.216.8542 | Suzanne@HomeinSisters.com 1035 E. Horse Back Trail | Sisters, OR MLS#220105048 Saddlestone Beauty. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 1,707 sq. ft . Built in 2019. Upgrades include quartz countertops, designer pendant lighting, stainless-steel appliances, washer/dryer. Master on main. Covered front porch, private fenced patio. Easy-care native plant landscaping, raised planting boxes and fi re pit. Community park, playground. $510,000. Each off ice is independently owned and operated. www.1035HorseBack.com “We recently worked with Ross to sell our home in Sisters, and things couldn’t have gone better. Ross was recommended to us by his many clients in Sisters as the go-to guy. From day 1, Ross moved with speed, experience, and effi ciency. We felt his analysis and knowledge of the market in Central Oregon was spot-on, and that helped give us great comfort and hope that our sale would be completed on time and on budget. As fortune would have it, a buyer was found in short order. In negotiating with the would- be buyers, Ross gave us great advice and when it came down to brass tacks, he fought for us. We never once had the impression we were just another sale. In the end, our house sold, and we moved on, but Ross will remain a friend and trusted advocate.” Vanissa B. . - Je J Jeff ff & V anis an issa sa B As a principal broker AND loan originator, I offer a single point of contact for your real estate transaction. Ross Kennedy Principal Broker Loan Originator NMLS #1612019 541-408-1343 Serving Black Butte Ranch & The Greater Sisters Area