Sunburst Retreat wins approval

Hank Queen's application for a conditional-use permit to operate a guest lodge called Sunburst Retreat east of Sisters has been approved by the Deschutes County Planning Department, but with significant stipulations and conditions.

Hearings Officer Kenneth D. Helm issued the ruling on August 26. The decision becomes final 12 days after that date, unless appealed by a party of interest.

The decision allows only the operation of a guest lodge, with guests limited to a 30-day stay, and meals served only to registered guests, not the public at large.

The retreat facility would be located at an existing 8,909-square-foot residence at 67155 Sunburst St., owned by Hank and Kareen Queen.

The retreat proposal was submitted to the county last spring and includes numerous other activities, such as yoga, yoga instruction, golf instruction, meditation, ballroom dancing, quilting, massage, leadership training and family counseling.

The favorable decision to allow the guest lodge requires Queen to obtain a separate home occupation conditional-use permit for these activities.

This separate permit could go to a hearing, given the controversial nature of the guest lodge, according to Paul Blikstad, senior planner for the county.

Queen said, "We're both happy and relieved that we got approved. The approval requires us to meet 16 conditions... many of them proposed by us to ensure that we would minimize our impact on our surrounding neighbors...

"We know that some of our neighbors may view this outcome in a negative way, but we've also had some significant support from other neighbors."

Queen said meeting the conditions and obtaining necessary permits and approvals will delay opening the retreat until March 1, 2010.

Opponents of the proposed retreat, located nine miles east of Sisters near Highway 20, voiced their opposition at a public hearing May 26 and with several letters to the county and to local newspapers.

The August 26 decision says, "...there was substantial opposition testimony (at the May 26 hearing) and written opposition, which is in the record."

The ruling summarizes the issues as dust concerns, adjunct activities such as yoga or massage, impacts on the Sun Mountain Road District, traffic, fire danger and light pollution.

It is not known at press time whether opponents will appeal the decision. Several did not return e-mails requesting a comment.

The hearings officer's decision may be appealed to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), but carries an appeal fee of $2,703.

If the board chooses not to hear the appeal, the recourse would be an appeal to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA).