Updated 5-29-26
PROJECT UPDATES
UGB Amendment Application: Land use approvals are necessary to formally adopt the UGB expansion through the Sisters Planning Commission and City Council and the Deschutes County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners. The application to Deschutes County was submitted on February 20, 2026. If approved by both jurisdictions, review and acknowledgement by the State of Oregon will follow. At a public hearing on May 21, 2026, the Sisters Planning Commission recommended that City Council approve the request. On May 28, 2026, the Deschutes County Planning Commission held a public hearing on the UGB request and voted to close the hearing but keep the written record open for one week and continued their deliberations until June 25, 2026. For more information, see Agendas and Meetings for city packet and agenda resources, the County website for County process information and under "Documents" below.
Annexation Policy: As the city moves towards adoption of its UGB expansion, it is evaluating its annexation policy and making necessary changes to ensure that it meets the future needs and goals of the community. Once the UGB amendment is formally adopted and acknowledged by the State, property owners in the expanded UGB that are contiguous to the existing city boundary will be able to petition the city for annexation and would be subject to the city’s annexation policies. It is anticipated that through a series of workshop with the Planning Commission and City Council that updates to the policy will be identified and will result in amendments to the Sisters Development Code (SDC). The Planning Commission will review and provide a recommendation to Council. Workshops with the City Council regarding the annexation policy occured on February 25, March 11 and April 15 and on May 27 of 2026 (see Agendas and Meetings for packet and agenda information and correspondence). Next meeting date is TBD.
Area Plan: Project has not yet commenced. More information to come.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
In late 2023, the City Council directed city staff to pursue an Amendment to the city's Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) to expand the UGB. According to the UGB Sufficiency Report the approximate needed acreage in a UGB expansion of approximately 250 acres. On June 12, 2024, the Mayor appointed the members of the UGB Steering Committee. Six at-large citizen positions were appointed in addition to elected and appointed city officials, city staff, farm and forest interests, and landowners in the UGB Study Area. The Committee reviewed draft materials, assist with public engagement efforts, and made key recommendations to City Council, including a recommended UGB Boundary. The City Council approved Resolution 2025-14 at its regular meeting on November 5, 2025, which directed city staff to initiate submittal of land use applications for formal adoption of an Urban Growth Boundary Amendment based upon the alternative UGB map recommended by the Sisters Urban Growth Boundary Steering Committee.
QUICK LINKS
- Deschutes County - Project Webpage for City of Sisters Land Use Submittal for Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan Zone Map Amendment
- Project Schedule
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Story Map of the UGB Amendment Process
- Sign Up for Project Emails to Stay Involved
- UGB Alternative Concepts Dashboard Tool
- UGB Alternative Concepts Dashboard Tool Tutorial
DOCUMENTS
Comprehensive Plan Amendment City File #CP 26-01, Applicant: City of Sisters; Request: Comprehensive Plan Amendment to expand the Sisters Urban Growth Boundary; Application Materials:
- Project Narrative/Findings
- Exhibit A - Land Need Report
- Exhibit B - UGB Study Area
- Exhibit C - UGB Alternatives Evaluation Report
- Exhibit D - Record of Community Engagement Activities
- Exhibit E - Deschutes County - Sisters Joint Urban Area Management Agreement
- Exhibit F - Map and Legal Description of Proposed UGB Amendment
- Exhibit G - Transportation Memo (Transight Consulting, dated April 27, 2026)
- Exhibit H - Analysis of Right of Way and Other Land Uses in Existing Sisters Neighborhoods (MIG, dated April 8, 2026)
Deschutes County Plan Amendment (26-105-PA) and Zone Change )26-106-ZC) - see project webpage for application materials and other information.
Public Meetings: All of the packets and video recordings of the meetings where the UGB Amendment was discussed (see list below) can be accessed in the Meetings and Agendas page on the city website via this link.
- May 21, 2026 Planning Commission Public Hearing (Meeting Packet, Agenda, and Recording)
- May 7, 2026 Planning Commission and City Council Joint Workshop (Meeting Packet, Agenda and Recording)
- November 5, 2025 City Council Meeting (Meeting Packet, Agenda and Recording)
- October 22, 2025 City Council Workshop (Meeting Packet, Minutes, Recording)
- September 24, 2025 City Council Meeting (Meeting Packet, Minutes, Recording)
- August 21, 2025 Planning Commission Workshop (Meeting Summary)
- July 29, 2025 Steering Committee Meeting #6 (Meeting Summary)
- May 15, 2025 Joint City Council and Planning Commission Meeting (Meeting Summary)
- April 24, 2025 Steering Committee Meeting #5 (Meeting Summary)
- February 12, 2025 City Council Workshop
- February 6, 2025 Planning Commission Workshop
- January 30, 2025 Steering Committee Meeting #4 (Meeting Summary)
- December 4, 2024 Joint City Council and Board of County Commissioners Workshop
- October 23, 2024 City Council Workshop
- October 17, 2024 Planning Commission Workshop
- October 3, 2024 Steering Committee Meeting #3 (Meeting Notes)
- August 14, 2024 City Council Workshop
- August 1, 2024 Planning Commission Workshop
- July 25, 2024 Steering Committee Meeting #2 (Meeting Notes)
- June 27, 2024 Steering Committee Meeting #1 (Meeting Notes)
- June 26, 2024 City Council Workshop Packet
- June 6, 2024 Planning Commission Workshop
PROJECT REPORTS
- Update to the 2021 Housing Needs Analysis (HNA) and Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA)
- Draft Land Needs Report
- Draft Study Area Report 7-12-24
- Draft Study Area Report 9-25-24
- Open House Summary (In Person and Online)
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
In reference to CP 26-01 (Amendment to the Sisters Comprehensive Plan to adopt the UGB Amendment):
- 5-10-26 Somers
- 5-11-26 Vaughan
- 5-13-26 Geis
- 5-17-26 Deggendorfer
- 5-18-26 Tomosy
- 5-19-26 COBA
- 5-19-26 Huni
- 5-19-26 Stephens
- 5-20-26 Grabe
- 5-20-26 Fair Housing Council
- 5-20-26 Central Oregon LandWatch
- 5-20-26 Koback
- 5-20-26 Mason
- 5-20-26 Pepin
- 5-21-26 Central Oregon LandWatch
- 5-21-26 Dorst
- 5-21-26 Scholl
- 5-21-26 Walsh
- 5-22-26 Brey
- 5-26-27 Givot
- 5-26-27 Tosello
- 5-26-27 Kuzma
- 5-27-26 Oregon Land and Water Alliance
During the UGB Alternative Phase:
- 7-23-24 David Asson Email
- 8-16-24 Greg Blackmore Letter
- 10-1-24 Ian Tomlinson Email
- 12-6-24 Chase Email
- 12-11-24 Central Oregon LandWatch Letter
- 12-13-24 Gardner Email
- 12-17-24 Koback Letter
- 12-18-24 Gilbert Letter
- 12-27-24 Eisenbeis Email
- 1-7-25 Tomosy Email
- 1-9-25 Barnett Email with map
- 1-11-25 Simms Email
- 1-14-25 Lajko Email
- 1-15-25 Dahlberg
- 1-16-25 Willits Letter
- 1-22-25 Schulke
- 1-22-25 Barclay Place Property Owners Association
- 1-22-25 Trappers Point Subdivision
- 1-24-25 Graham
- 1-24-25 Schroeder
- 1-25-25 Eder
- 1-27-25 Marden
- 1-27-25 Wells
- 1-29-25 Tewksbury
- 1-30-25 Grabe
- 1-31-25 Landers (attachments 1 and 2)
- 2-14-25 Stephens
- 2-18-25 Kanzig
- 2-19-25 Gadd
- 3-7-25 Booth
- 3-13-25 Gilbert
- 4-24-25 Bronstein
- 4-24-25 Simms
- 4-24-25 Walsh
- 4-24-25 Tomosy
- 5-3-25 Booth
- 5-5-25 Givot
- 5-7-25 Lussenhop
- 5-12-25 Central Oregon LandWatch
- 5-14-25 Heiden
- 5-15-25 Dorst
- 5-17-25 Tiersma
- 6-16-25 Tosello
- 6-20-25 Kaye
- 7-1-25 Stephens
- 7-28-25 Asson
- 7-28-25 Brooks Resources & CS Construction
- 7-30-25 Kovitz (Hayden Homes)
- 8-13-25 Grabe
- 8-16-25 Leavitt
- 8-19-25 Oregon Property Owners Association
- 8-19-25 Rognlien
- 8-21-25 Maier
- 8-21-25 Tomosy
- 8-22-25 Dorst
- 9-4-25 Palanuk
- 9-17-25 Koback
- 9-23-25 Wills
- 9-23-25 Central Oregon LandWatch
- 9-23-25 Koback - MMV
- 9-23-25 Sisters Habitat for Humanity
- 9-24-25 CS Construction & Brooks Resources
- 9-24-25 Russell
- 10-3-25 Lemos
- 10-14-25 Grabe
- 10-20-25 Brooks Resources & CS Construction
- 10-22-25 Hayden Homes
- 10-24-25 DeFazio
- 10-24-25 Givot
- 10-24-25 Hare
- 10-24-25 Harrison
- 10-24-25 Kuzma
- 10-27-25 Dorst
- 10-28-25 Skinner
- 11-1-25 Russell
- 11-1-25 Marshall
- 11-3-25 Hayden Homes
- 11-4-25 Central Oregon LandWatch
- 11-4-25 & 11-5-25 Other Correspondence Received (bundled)
- 11-5-25 Willits (1)
- 11-5-25 Willits (2)
- 11-5-25 MMV, LLC
- 11-5-25 Bridge Meadows
- 11-5-25 Hayden Homes
- 11-5-25 Habitat for Humanity
- 1-7-26 Willits
- 1-12-26 MMV Attorneys
- 1-14-26 Tomosy
- 1-14-26 Kollerer
- 5-4-26 Central Oregon LandWatch - Annexation Policy
- Oral Comment Log from UGB Steering Committee Mtgs
MEDIA COVERAGE
https://www.nuggetnews.com/story/2023/11/08/news/how-will-sisters-grow/35791.html
https://www.nuggetnews.com/story/2024/05/15/news/where-and-how-will-sisters-grow/36452.html
https://www.nuggetnews.com/story/2023/11/15/news/city-looks-toward-ugb-expansion/35860.html
QUESTIONS
Contact Scott Woodford, Community Development Director, at 541-323-5211 or swoodford [at] ci.sisters.or.us (swoodford[at]ci[dot]sisters[dot]or[dot]us)