Next Step Taken for Sisters UGB Plan
Sisters City Council has voted to move forward with Concept Aa as the preferred direction for expanding the city’s Urban Growth Boundary. The decision came after months of public hearings and workshops. While this sets the outline for where future growth may occur, there is still about a year of work ahead before annexation can even be considered.
The UGB Steering Committee spent 18 months reviewing expansion options before recommending Concept Aa. The Planning Commission backed that recommendation. The concept places the expansion area to the northeast and does not include the 58 acres owned by McKenzie Meadow Village near Sisters High School, even though the property was evaluated in case its rezone moved forward.
The council had two choices. They could advance the preferred plan or delay the process again to create a revised version that reduced acreage and added the MMV property. MMV had offered significant commitments if their land were included, including discounted or donated parcels for affordable and workforce housing partners, as well as environmental protections for Trout Creek and nearby native plants.
Although the county approved the MMV rezone, an appeal was filed shortly after. State rules do not allow property under appeal to be added to a UGB, which added another hurdle. To avoid falling behind, Council chose to stick with Concept Aa and keep the process moving.
Sisters faces a firm 2027 deadline for completing its UGB work. Missing it would require new population forecasts, updated density assumptions and revised master plans before starting over. Staying on schedule became a key factor in the final vote.
With Concept Aa approved, the next phases begin. The city and its consultants will prepare findings and a proposed amendment for review by both the City Council and the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners. If both agree, the proposal moves on to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development for final review. Once approved, the city can begin detailed planning for the areas added to the UGB.
This decision marks an important step in shaping how Sisters will grow in the years ahead. With that in mind, if you are watching the Central Oregon market or planning a future move or investment, reach out anytime! Understanding how boundary updates influence growth, housing supply and long-term demand can help you make the wisest decisions with any future investments!
