News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Over the objections of citizens and two city councilors, the Sisters City Council on Thursday passed a resolution declaring its support of "locally controlled land use planning" in regard to resort development in the Metolius Basin.
Resolution 2009-04, which replaces a 2007 resolution supporting legislation to ban resort development in the basin entirely, acknowledges that "the Metolius River is a precious asset to the state of Oregon" and notes that "the City continues to be concerned about the impact of destination resorts on the City of Sisters and that the City looks forward to working with Jefferson and Deschutes County to mitigate those impacts."
More than a dozen Sisters Country residents testified against the resolution, arguing that the impacts of development would harm the Sisters area while tax revenues go to Jefferson County.
"Development in the Metolius Basin will be a tragedy," said Eva Eagle, who said she moved to the Sisters area to enjoy the connection with nature. She believes many people return to the Sisters Country from that experience and development will spoil that effect.
"I think you will find that you have killed the goose that laid the golden egg," she said. "We're going to be the kind of town that people think has sold out to developers and they don't want to move here anymore."
That point of view was reinforced by Sisters homeowner Jim Blumquist.
"My wife and I bought a home in Sisters simply because of the Metolius River," he said, noting that he comes to Sisters regularly and contributes to the economy. "I don't think I'm the golden egg, but I'm part of the golden egg," he said.
The City Council's Committee for Citizen Involvement weighed in against the resolution. Committee representative Wendy Holzman told the council that "the pulse of the citizens of Sisters opposes further development of the Metolius Basin."
There were voices in support of the resolution. Curt Kallberg spoke in favor - and tried to differentiate between the two proposed resorts. The Ponderosa along Green Ridge has been described as planning a 3,500-acre, 2,500-home development with at least one golf course. The Metolian, planed by Camp Sherman resident Shane Lundgren and a group of partners, is proposed as an "eco-community" with 180 overnight lodging units and 450 small homes, built on a sustainable model.
Kallberg noted that the resolution expresses concern for the impacts of development on the Metolius.
"I think we all say that (the Metolius) is a gem," Kallberg said. "It needs to be protected."
Kallberg said there is a vast difference between the two proposed resorts. He said The Ponderosa "is like putting Disneyland on Green Ridge."
"Comparing Shane Lundgren's development to the Green Ridge development is not a fair comparison," Kallberg said. "It's not apples to apples."
Lundgren himself testified that the council should support private property rights and the integrity of the land use process and he bridled at the apparent attitude that he is simply putting an ecological face on his project, a phenomenon often called "greenwashing."
"What do they have to offer besides destruction of others' well-intentioned efforts?" he said.
Lundgren said the Sisters economy would benefit from an influx of green technology and jobs to the area and he challenged those who accuse him of greenwashing to debate environmental policy in the 21st Century.
Many in the audience did not buy the argument that the proposed designation of the Metolius Basin as an Area of Critical State Concern (ACSC) represents undue state intrusion into local land-use planning.
John Hornbeck, an attorney and owner of Metolius River Lodges said that "the state has a legitimate interest, as all the citizens do" in preserving the Metolius.
H. Tom Davis of the Native Fish Society argued that property rights are, in fact, on the side of a development ban.
"All of us in this room, all of us in this state, own the water and the fish and the wildlife," he said.
Davis argued that the state is obligated to act to protect those property rights.
Councilor Bill Merrill voted against the resolution, on the belief that impacts of development, particularly on water, cannot be mitigated. He does not believe that Jefferson County is willing to discuss mitigation in any real terms.
However, Merrill said that he was supportive of The Metolian, which he sees as very different from The Ponderosa. He believes that the water requirements of that resort could have "significant impact on Whychus Creek (and) we cannot stand that."
Councilor Sharlene Weed sought to have the resolution withdrawn and "retooled" to more accurately reflect the attitude of the citizens, but she did not win support for that move. In part, that is because the city must have a resolution approved in time for a March 11 public hearing on the ACSC designation in Madras for it to be entered into the record.
The council majority of Lon Kellstrom, Pat Thompson and Jerry Bogart argued that the resolution is neutral in tone and addresses concerns about impacts.
"It says up front that the Metolius is precious," Thompson said. "I support this resolution. I don't really believe it is pro or con (on specific development plans)."
For Thompson and Bogart, the impact of the ACSC designation on local land-use planning remains a critical issue. Bogart said he is troubled by what he considers a threat to property rights, especially in a stated unwillingness to consider compensation if state action bans development.
And he worries that state encroachment will grow.
"When do they start stepping in all of our business at the city and county level?" he said.
Resolution 2009-04 passed on a 3-2 vote, with Mayor Lon Kellstrom breaking a tie. The vote, including the dissent, will be entered into the record of the hearing on the ACSC designation.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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