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President’s Message for May, 2008

Where Are We?
How does Sunriver get where we are going?
A Director of the Sunriver Board accepts the responsibility of governing the Sunriver Owners Association when he/she agrees to be a candidate for a position on the Board. The Board of Directors act as the Administrator and “perform all the duties, have the responsibilities and possess the authority to carry out the business affairs of the Owners Association and the provisions in the Consolidated Plan, not otherwise reserved in or assigned to the owners.” (9.05, Consolidated Plan of Sunriver) The owners are to stay informed, to give input and to vote.

Further details in 10.03 of the Consolidated Plan of Sunriver says that SROA shall exercise and perform all of the powers, obligations and duties delegated to it pursuant to the Consolidated Plan of Sunriver and any additional or different powers and obligations necessary or desirable for the purpose of carrying out the functions of the Sunriver Owners Association pursuant to the Consolidated Plan of Sunriver or otherwise promoting the general benefit of owners within Sunriver.”
The Board must use their “best judgment” to make decisions in the long-term interest of the Sunriver Community. These are not trifling obligations to assume.

How did we get where we are?
Ever since John Salzer, SROA President, and the SROA Boards of 2003-4 and 2004-5 began critically studying the condition of Sunriver facilities, roads, recreation offerings, housing requirements, and comparing what we have to the rapidly growing competition in Central Oregon, the crying needs for updating became apparent. Then Sunriver conducted the volunteer Action Committees to follow up on the recommendations from the completed professional study. Next, the community leadership started working to make needed improvements which were communicated to the owners at the Annual Meeting and in the Scene. This leadership comes not only from SROA, but from the Resort, the Chamber of Commerce, the Vacation Rental Managers and various local businesses.

We, owners and visitors, see results: the new entry on Century Drive, the plans for the remodel of the stables by the Resort for this summer, the study of our roads by the Public Works Department, the offer to rebuild the mall area by SilverStar, the proposed plans for improvements for the parks, the aquatic study, and the Amenities Recommendations that are being developed by a consultant and should be ready to present to the owners at our Annual Meeting on the first Saturday in August.

So, where are we now?
We are working on the highest priority need that was identified by the Action Committees and that is revitalization of the village mall area. The election to approve sale of some parcels was approved by more than half of the owners, but according to the high expectations written into our Consolidated Plan did not meet the 60% approval rating. Thankfully, SilverStar has made adjustments by going back to the land that they already own. This smaller version should please many who had objections before as well as those who supported the larger plan.

Details for the newer plan are:

  1. The smaller area will mean fewer units (instead of about 570, now 375).
  2. The old Beaver Drive right-of-way will stay as it is.
  3. The buffers of land owned by SROA will camouflage the buildings.
  4. SilverStar is still committed to high quality, natural materials to enhance and highlight the Sunriver experience. To sell top quality, they will build top quality.
  5. The tired old leaky buildings can be replaced with a 2008 Cascadian style village if the text changes for the Town Center Zone are accepted by the Deschutes County Commissioners.
  6. The new village would be the “heart” of Sunriver.
  7. The additional income from maintenance fees will assist homeowners in improving our own recreational facilities and in facing increasing costs.
  8. Much awareness of Sunriver would be created by the advertisements for the new housing in the village.
  9. Graduated set-backs for the building heights away from the village borders and the governance of our Design Committee will ensure that the buildings fit into the ambiance of Sunriver.
  10. The current plans, which can change, have no garage on the entry corner.
  11. Underground parking for the new housing units is still in the plan.
  12. This current plan offers Sunriver the opportunity to continue as a self-contained community, unlike any other destination resort in Oregon.
  13. The development strategist, David C. Leland, CRE, who spoke during the presentation to the County Commissioners and at the April 8th open house, believes that the current plan is the right plan for the right place and at the right time. He stated a reservation about this project in that he fears there may not be enough units with the 22 per acre limit that SROA and SilverStar agreed to. A mixed-use village needs a balance between its various components in order to be successful. He further said that the original planners in 1968, whom he personally knows, wanted Sunriver to be a self-contained, responsible community with a village. The current plan continues this early ideal.
  14. Having residential units in the village is not new. In a December 23, 1982, letter written by Robert Royston, principal architect who worked with John Gray in the early development of Sunriver, says “9. Housing adjacent and a part of the Village is highly desirable and acceptable as a basic ingredient of the plan for the following reasons-” then listed six strong arguments for residential in the village area.
  15. The section of Sunriver to be developed is already developed with paving and buildings; it is a commercial area and would continue to serve in the same capacity.

And, where are we going?
Sunriver has other identified needs: better roads, traffic improvement at the Beaver/Abbott intersection, facilities that need up-graded or replaced, community activity center, and many more challenges. Owners will be given opportunities to give input before decisions on these goals are made.

What do we need to do today?
A huge step forward for Sunriver would be getting approval for the Town Center Zone. No matter who develops the core of our community, the new zone is needed for revitalization to ever be accomplished.

My personal thanks to each person who encourages the Deschutes County Commissioners to approve the Town Center Zone in a timely manner.

Doris
dbrannan@chamberscable.com