Deliberations continue on Lake Creek Lodge appeal

Despite anticipation by both proponents and foes, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners made no decision last week on the appeal brought by The Friends of the Metolius (FOM) against the proposed Lake Creek Lodge expansion proposal.

Commissioners Mary Lemke, Bill Bellamy and Chairperson Walt Ponsford continued deliberations on Thursday afternoon, October 9, at their regular meeting in Madras. There had been two previous meetings for input by both sides.

Brothers Gordon and Jeff Jones are proposing the addition of 23 new cabin-condominiums plus other amenities at Camp Sherman's Lake Creek Lodge located on Road 1419. These would join 17 existing, older cabins on the 41.9-acre property.

The contention over the proposed expansion has largely boiled down to whether the new units are tourist cabins or condos and what definition is acceptable to the commissioners.

The challenge of alleged procedural irregularities including notification timing and project study time allowed Camp Sherman's Local Area Council (LAC) does not appear to have swayed the commissioners.

Plans call for individual ownership of the 40 cabins (new and old) but the total property would be owned by the property management team. Owners could use the cabins six months out of the year and they would be in a rental pool the other six months.

It appears the commissioners are favoring denial of the FOM appeal and approval for the project -- despite some concerns and reservations.

"A whole lot of things will be made better for the Camp Sherman community with this project," Bellamy said. "The new state-of-the-art septic/sewage system will replace aging septic systems now in use. The project meets current land use definitions more than halfway."

Ponsford said, "I feel positive about it (the proposed expansion). I feel a little like I'm visiting a church when in Camp Sherman. I don't want to hurt the area."

Commissioner Ponsford asked the planning staff to make several changes in language clarifying the commissioners' concerns.

Bellamy expressed particular concern about the possibility of converting an existing structure into a commercial gift shop at some time in the future. He wanted staff to prepare language in the approval of the expansion project that would not allow this. These changes will be reviewed at the next meeting and the commissioners will probably render a final decision.

"Camp Sherman could use a member on the county planning commission," Lemke noted.

Presently, there is no representative from Camp Sherman although a position is open. The 120-mile round trip from Camp Sherman to Madras for weekly meetings, winter driving conditions and night driving are generally rolled out to explain this lack of participation.

The next commissioners' meeting on this subject is scheduled in Madras on Thursday, October 16, at 11:15 a.m. A vote is expected at that time.