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Sisters council holds workshop on annexation policy, wrestling with a 25% affordable housing target
Summary
Councilors, developers and housing nonprofit leaders at a June 17 workshop debated an annexation ordinance aimed at a pending UGB expansion, focusing on whether a 25% affordable/workforce housing target is feasible, how to phase delivery, and which incentives or requirements the city should use.
Mayor Jennifer Lehi opened the June 17 workshop of the Sisters City Council, saying the council is “very committed” to making an annexation ordinance that is "cleanly and user friendly" and to ensuring housing for residents across price points. Staff and a panel of developers and housing providers spent the session exploring how annexation rules could help the city meet housing needs for a planned UGB expansion.
Scott Woodford, the city’s community development director, told the meeting the council has discussed a 25% affordable/workforce housing target as a starting point. “The council has initially discussed a percentage … and that's 25%,” he said, adding the city wants an ordinance in place before the UGB is adopted. Panelists repeatedly raised feasibility concerns for smaller parcels, questioned timing for subsidy and construction, and pushed for master planning at annexation to secure site control for affordable housing.
Why it matters: the UGB amendment is moving through local review and the county planning commission, and the council wants a framework that both produces affordable housing and avoids unduly stalling development. Lynn McConnell of Housing Works said other UGB pilots have projected much higher percentages of affordable housing, but warned the competitive funding backlog and long timelines mean phasing and clear site control are critical. Developers and nonprofit builders suggested a mix of tools — deed conveyance, tax abatements, targeted density bonuses and master‑plan commitments — rather than trying to write a single prescriptive rule.
Council direction and next steps: staff said flexibility with guardrails is the likely next step: either write a less prescriptive ordinance and adopt a council resolution that sets goals, or require master plans at annexation and allow alternative compliance plans. Scott Woodford asked the council to provide general objectives the staff can translate into draft ordinance language for public review.
