Sisters considers downtown gas station rule changes

The Sisters Planning Commission wants to make changes to the city’s policies regarding downtown gas stations.

Right now, gas stations in downtown Sisters are not considered an allowed use. That means no gas stations are allowed to be built, remodeled or relocated.

Committee members said the only reason there are five gas stations downtown now is because they were there before the current code was written.

So the planning commission wants to update that code.

“One of the owners of one of (the gas stations) came in to talk about us about wanting to remodel it, and it’s somewhat outdated,” said Cris Converse, a Sisters Planning Commission member. “It could use a fresh look, and so that was a reason. The ground needs to be repaved and stuff, so it would enhance the appearance.”

Converse is referring to the Space Age gas station at the intersection of West Cascade Avenue and South Pine Street.

Committee members said the owner wants to do a $750,000 renovation to the gas station. They said the project proposal looked good, but they had to turn the owner down. Under current code, that’s not allowed.

The committee will present that and other development code revisions to the city council next week. Then there will be one more workshop regarding the proposed changes in May, with a final hearing likely in June.