Q1: What is an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) under Oregon law?
A1: An Urban Growth Boundary is a state-mandated line drawn around every Oregon city that separates urban development from protected rural, farm, and forest lands. Cities must periodically adjust the boundary to guarantee a rolling 20-year inventory of land for housing and employment.
Q2: Will the Sisters UGB amendment lower local housing prices immediately?
A2: No. Adding land to a boundary is an administrative prerequisite, not an instant build. Once the state approves the map, parcels must be annexed, rezoned, connected to municipal sewer and water, and submitted for subdivision platting. Construction typically begins two to three years after final state acknowledgment.
Q3: Why can't Sisters just build high-rise apartments downtown to avoid expanding?
A3: Sisters enforces strict municipal code design rules, including an 1880s Western architectural theme requirement and building height limits designed to protect mountain view corridors. Significant vertical construction would conflict with local zoning regulations and community character goals.
Q4: What happens if Deschutes County commissioners reject the city’s proposal?
A4: If county commissioners vote down the joint amendment, the package returns to the Sisters City Council for revision. Planners would need to shrink the acreage, alter parcel selections, or increase internal zoning densities to address county objections before resubmitting.
