Aspen Lakes stays on resort map

In a 3-0 vote last Wednesday the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners voted in the provisions and amendment that allow Aspen Lakes Golf Course and Lodge to remain on the county destination resort map.

This ruling on mapping should conclude the first of the two steps required for Aspen Lakes' conversion to destination resort status - an effort that has been intensely controversial. The second step, and by all accounts the far more difficult task, will be for Aspen Lakes to be "sited." The commissioners and many planners believe that it will take a change in state law before any cluster subdivision can convert to a destination resort.

At the request of Senator Jackie Dingfelder, a Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) working group of legislators, state and county officials and concerned citizens has been meeting for some time to review and fine tune the state-wide requirements for destination resorts. They are poised to make their recommendations for "more realistic" requirements this September to allow for consideration during the upcoming legislative session.

If Aspen Lakes succeeds in being sited, plans include building 150 overnight rooms and 300 to 500 new homes. They would also add nine more holes of golf, an addition already approved under current regulations.

Remaining at issue are the open space requirements originally granted and/or promised to the property owners of the The Rim and Aspen Lakes Golf Estates; the application of the CC&Rs signed by most but not all of the Golf Estates homeowners; the impact on Whychus Creek restoration; and the guidance given to the Cyrus family by the county planning department during the development of the Aspen Lakes properties over the years.

Also at issue is the state requirement that any destination resort must build $7 million of recreational amenities including 50 units of overnight housing before any permanent homes are built and sold. Opponents contend that since Aspen Lakes has already built and sold more than 100 homes, they cannot meet this requirement.

Matt Cyrus contends that the Aspen Lakes application for the construction of a destination resort will include building the required amenities, including building the required overnight lodgings before the construction of any permanent housing units included in the resort application. According to Cyrus' legal team, the current Aspen Lakes Golf Estates housing units are not counted as part of this new resort approval application.

While Matt Cyrus is pleased with the commissioners' ruling, he is quick to point out that the decision simply maintains the status quo. Aspen Lakes simply remains on the map.

As previously reported, the Cyruses have already invested in the golf course and lodge with the intention of conversion to a resort as "part of the natural evolution." According to Matt Cyrus, conversion to a destination resort is necessary to make the current level of investment viable.

A more immediate challenge for the Aspen Lakes properties is the foreclosure proceeding by Premier Bank on a roughly $4.5 million loan. The planned July 28 public auction has been postponed until September 15. Matt Cyrus reported last weekend that an agreement with the bank has been reached and is being sent around to collect final signatures this week. This agreement should allow Aspen Lakes to move forward as planned.