Residents testify on resort question

A handful of Deschutes County residents testified at a December 9 meeting of the county planning commission — on both sides of the question of the need for more destination resorts in the region.

The commission will advise Deschutes County commissioners whether maps should be redrawn showing where destination resorts might be developed. Recent changes in state law allow some counties to review areas for destination resorts.

The planning commission made no decision on the issue, but may be ready to make a recommendation to county commissioners by the end of January, according to Peter Gutowsky of the Community Development Department staff.

Some lands in the Sisters area might be included in any revision of destination resort sites, some could be withdrawn from development, or no zoning changes may be made.

About 20 people attended the evening hearing to hear staff reports on the issue and to submit their testimony. This was the second public forum seeking public input on whether the county should proceed on reviewing destination resort sites, Gutowsky said.

Supporters of reviewing destination resort sites stated that resorts pay more taxes than current farmland and that the future demand by a growing population for second homes in Deschutes County will exceed the supply under current zoning. Opponents challenged the county planning staff for their use of unsubstantiated data supplied by current resorts. Critics also believe that destination resorts evolve into full-time residences, creating more demand for county services.

In 1992, the county developed a map of sites proposed for destination resorts totaling some 12,000 acres (about 176 square miles) of land in the county. However, county planners estimate that about 80 percent of these lands cannot be developed because the individual parcels are not large enough or because some are already proposed for subdivision.

“The 2003 State Legislature gave counties in eastern and southern Oregon the option of reviewing their destination resort siting map in-between times for their comprehensive plan review,” Gutowsky said. “Right now, the county commissioners and the planning commission are asking the public if the siting map overlay should be reviewed.

“Currently, just 14 percent or about 15,000 acres of that original acreage is on the map for potential resorts,” Gutowsky added.

For more information contact Peter Gutowsky, [email protected], at 385-1709.