Lake Creek Lodge project put on hold

Gordon Jones defends his Lake Creek Lodge proposal before the Jefferson County Planning Commission. Photo by Conrad Weiler

After receiving a flurry of letters and email comments on the proposed expansion of Lake Creek Lodge at Camp Sherman, the six Jefferson County planning commissioners postponed a decision on the project proposal until their July 10 meeting.

The project proposed by Gordon and Jeff Jones increases the number of cabins at the historic site from 17 to 41 and adds a meeting hall and a new sewage treatment system. (See "New expansion proposal for Lake Creek Lodge," The Nugget, June 11, page 8).

The planning commission will allow an additional seven days for comment (until June 19), as required by land use law.

Butch Parker, Jefferson County Community Development Department head, and his staff have recommended approval of the project.

At the three-hour-and-twenty-minute meeting, Gordon Jones and his staff reviewed their proposal. Several people then spoke of their concerns or support for the proposal.

The planning commission could accept the proposal, reject the proposal or accept it with modifications. Acceptance by the planning commission could be followed by appeals to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners and/or to the state Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA).

About a dozen Camp Sherman residents made the 120-mile round trip to Madras for the meeting. Attorney Tom Ryan submitted his concerns as did Tom Landis, Local Advisory Council (LAC) chairperson.

Phil Fernandez, LAC member, Erhard Dortmund, LAC member and representing Metolius Meadows Property Owners Association, also weighed in along with local residents Colin Adams and Joyce Oseka.

Kent Gill, Friends of the Metolius, asked for the record to be held open until the next meeting and more time for analysis.

Tami Macleod, representing the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, voiced concerns for Native American artifacts that may be on the 41.9-acre project site. The applicants will do an artifact analysis onsite.

Major concerns were varied: the size of the proposed project; the number of units legally allowable; effects of vehicle congestion on Road 1419; noise, lights; odors from sewage; possible ground water contamination; number of parking spaces; wildlife habitat disturbance; possible contamination of Lake Creek; safety of children; and general changes this project would bring to Camp Sherman's character.

Some questioned the unique ownership proposal ideas for the 41 cabins. Jones and his group would own the land (41.9 acres ); individuals would own the cabins/condos and be able to live there six months of the year.

However, they would have to provide six months of rental time divided into four quarterly periods of roughly equal numbers of days.

Kitty Warner, Realtor and longtime Camp Sherman resident, read a letter from Margaret Lumpkin (one of multiple owners at Lake Creek Lodge) supporting the Gordon Jones proposal:

"He will bring another renaissance to the buildings and grounds at Lake Creek Lodge while retaining the historic characteristics of the property."

Jones expressed surprise at the level of opposition.

"I am surprised at the large number of concerns expressed here," said Gordon Jones.

"I thought we had met with a number of Camp Sherman residents and exchanged ideas about the proposed project. We have tried to meet as many concerns as possible in our proposal."

Tom Atkins, landscape architect, described the overall project with charts and answered questions on individual details.

Jefferson County Planning Commission members are Don Martin, chairperson, Dick Dodson, Chris Gannon, Kay Moon, Kim Seely and Evan Thomas. Their decision should be rendered at their Thursday, July 10 meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. in Madras. Comments may be emailed to Butch Parker at: [email protected]

Editor's note:

The caption accompanying The Nugget's story on the project in the July 11 issue misidentified the person pictured. The man shown explaining plans to the Camp Sherman Local Advisory Committee is Tom Atkins, Landscape Architect for the project, not applicant Gordon Jones.