Sisters Eagle Airport spars with neighbors over taxiway

The Sisters Eagle Airport and Eagle Air Estates Homeowners Association disagree over an existing taxiway leading from the estates to the airport, and that led to a public hearing Tuesday night.

At the Deschutes County hearing, homeowners association members said they want the taxiway to stay in place. The owner of the airport, Benny Benson, said it should be removed.

Airport officials were trying to prove, among other things, that the taxiway violates an open space rule.

The subdivision is required to have 65 percent open space, in relation to the size of the estates, and it’s to remain undeveloped.

Airport officials argued the taxiway was not approved or shown in the final layout of the airport design 30 years ago.

Airport officials also claimed the taxiway has proven to be a safety hazard, but said they’re not trying to deny access to the estates residents.

Benson said the current taxiway creates a public safety issue and flooding concern for the nearby natural habitat. He also said the shape of the taxiway is non-standard.

“You can look at that and realize the process that took place in 1989 to slip in the taxiway because there was a difficulty in getting an agreement between the runway and that property developer at the time,” Benson said. “The Sisters airport does not and will not support this Eagle Air Estates taxiway location and current configuration.”

NewsChannel 21 asked people from the homeowners association who live in Eagle Air Estates to speak about their side of the issues. All declined to speak on camera.

The official staff report submitted to the County states the Eagle Air Estates Homeowners Association is “requesting a ruling to determine the taxiway does not violate the open space requirement.”

The group requested the record remain open to submit written testimony until May 29. The record will then close and open to rebuttal from the airport. The hearings officer will issue a decision at a later date.