Ranch owners approve projects

Black Butte Ranch property owners approved $12 million worth of capital improvements in a month-long mailed-ballot election concluded this week. Ranch President and General Manager Loy Helmly announced that 61 percent of those voting said “yes” and 39 percent said “no.” The turnout was high, 86 percent of the 1,200-plus owners.

The large turnout was “encouraging,” Helmly told The Nugget. It showed that the owners “all care about the ranch and are concerned for its future…”

What might have been a slam-dunk proposal presented by the board of the owners’ association that owns and operates the Ranch turned into the semblance of a contest because of opposition from a group of owners who objected to one of the three major parts of the plan: redesign and reconstruction of the entry area.

The opposition was led by Patty White of Portland and several other residents of the Country House Condominiums at the Ranch. They won the support of the original Ranch landscape architect, Robert Perron.

Asked about this issue, Helmly said Monday, “I have heard discussion that since 61 percent of the voters were in favor of the projects as they were presented there will be no major changes…But the board is not insensitive and will review the comments of those who opposed the project and where possible will use that information to make improvements to the design.”

Planned Entry Area changes include a new Welcome Center, a post office building and a third structure that will house Ranch administrative offices, police offices and a conference center. The other two major segments of the overall project include a major reconstruction and expansion of the Glaze Meadow Recreation Area and a relocation of maintenance, equipment repair and storage, housekeeping and other functions to Section Five at the northwest corner of the property.

After $1.5 million in cash reserves is applied, current owners will pay a net $10.5 million bill with a one-time payment, an annual payment or a monthly payment over five years. Those choosing to pay up front will receive a 10 percent discount. The monthly assessment for those who stretch it out will be $145.

Those assessments will come on top of current monthly dues which, including water and sewage charges, come to $253 a month.

Construction of the capital improvements will begin next spring and is scheduled to be completed in 2009. Scheduling will minimize summer intrusions, when the resort receives its heaviest use by both owners and guests.