State Panel Sets Metolius Off-Limits To Resorts
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DownloadTwo developers in central Oregon found out Tuesday that they won’t be able to build the full-scale destination resorts they originally planned.That's because the state Land Conservation and Development Commission voted unanimously to protect the Metolius Basin as an ‘area of critical state concern.’ Central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey reports.
Some environmentalists cheered – they say the vote is a step towards preserving the Metolius.But at a conference room in Madras, the vibe in the room was mixed.Developers and Jefferson County leaders listened, by phone, to the state meeting that could determine their future.Rick Allen is a lobbyist for one of the development groups, His client wanted to build a golf course community north of Sisters -- a big resort along the lines of Sunriver.Rick Allen: “We knew all along that if we couldn’t build a large-scale resort with golf and the whole thing, we were going to have to go small. You are going to have a little restaurant, some overnights, and a 100-lot subdivision across the street.” Yet, the two development groups got some concessions to build smaller-scale developments.Shane Lundgren is one of the developers of the ‘Metolian’. He pitched it as an eco-resort with money set aside to work with the environment. Shane Lundgren: “You won’t have any of the resources available to do any of the things the environment wanted out there: for instance forest thinning and riparian repair and trail maintenance and wildlife bridges. That’s all off the table. That’s a missed opportunity in my opinion.”David Allen: “I can say that we’re frustrated by the process.”David Allen is a land use attorney working for Jefferson County. He says the planning process was deeply flawed. David Allen: “Several things that came out in today’s hearing were news to the county. There just was not enough time to have a comprehensive discussion of all the issues and discuss alternative ideas.”The vote was expected, and in a way was negotiated beforehand. But people floated several new ideas in the hearing. One was to work with the developers of the eco-resort, but at an alternate location elsewhere in the state.Developer Shane Lundgren again.Shane Lundgren: “If Oregon wants an eco-resort, they know where to find us.”Lundgren says the problem with the alternate site is that they don’t own the land, and they haven’t done the research. The recommendation from the land use commission now heads to the Legislature.© 2009 OPB
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