February 13th, 2008
Broughton speakers fill meeting
Clark County Commissioner Mark Boldt, a former state legislator representing the gorge came himself to say Clark County Commissioners “give full support to the Director’s Report.”
By RODGER NICHOLS
of The Dalles Chronicle
After dozens of hours of testimony in meetings since April 2006, hundreds of pages of written comment and more than 1,000 e-mails on the subject, proponents and opponents of the proposed Broughton Landing resort project still managed some surprises Tuesday.
More than 130 people attended Tuesday’s meeting of the Columbia River Gorge Commmission in Hood River.
More than 60 of them offered testimony in a public hearing that ran out of time before everyone who signed up could be heard. Commissioners then extended the public hearing to the beginning of the March 11 meeting in Hood River.
Tuesday’s meeting offered the first chance to comment on a report issued last month by Gorge Commission Executive Director Jill Arens.
In the report, Arens offered potential modifications to a proposed amendment to the Gorge Management Plan.
The amendment would allow the redevelopment of the former Broughton Lumber Company mill site on Highway 14 about four miles west of Bingen.
Arens’ report wouild remove a restriction on the number of accomodations on the site, though limiting development to the current footprint of the buildings on the site. The report also suggests prohibiting any permanent residency and limiting stays to no more than 30 weeks a year.
Proponents see it as an opportunity to replace the decaying mill site with an upscale destination resort to boost Skamania County’s dire economy with an increased tax base and employment.
Opponents see it as building a de facto city outside any of the current urban growth boundaries, and that the commission is only considering such a move due to the money and political muscle of developers.
One surprise was new political allies for both sides.
Multnomah County Commissioners sent a representative to report that Multnomah County Commissioners were opposed to the development.
Clark County Commissioner Mark Boldt, a former state legislator representing the gorge came himself to say Clark County Commissioners “give full support to the Director’s Report.”
But the biggest surprise of the day came from three RV park operators in the gorge.
Friends of the Gorge have touted an economic analysis by ECONorthwest which concluded that redevelopment under the current allowable uses — an RV park with 175 spaces, and up to 35 clustered cabins — is economically feasible.
“I have a problem with ECONorthwest misleading commissioners that there is a huge demand for RV sites in the gorge,” said Robin Hale of Bridge RV Park in White Salmon. “In the past four years, I have averaged 43 and 3/4 percent occupancy. Seven of my RV spaces I’ve had to turn into permanent low-income housing because I couldn’t find enough customers. I’m down to one employee, myself.”
His message was echoed by LeRoy Anderson of Timberlake Campgound.
“Last year, despite brand new facilities, desirable location and a strong advertising campaign,” Anderson said, “we averaged only 14 percent occupancy.”
And Astrid Diek of Wind Mountain Resort RV campground said windsurfing RV campers have not been a big factor.
“We have had two or three RV windsurfers in our RV park in six years,” she said.
Members of three Native American tribes testified in favor of the development, while Katie Crafts, executive director of Columbia Gorge Windsurfers Association read poll results that indicated the majority of the organization’s membership was against the proposal.
It was a busy day.
“We’ve had more testimony on this subject than any other in the 20 years I’ve been on the commission,” said Commissioner Joyce Reinig of Hood River.
There were many detailed and nuanced bits of testimony given Tuesday.
As Gorge Commission Chair Jeff Condit noted: “We’re not going on the weight of the testimony. It’s what you have to say that’s important.”
Here’s a sampling of what they had to say:
“The gorge is never going to empty itself of residents so these parties triumph.” - Leanne Haight, Carson
“If my people had some good immigration laws in 1492, maybe we wouldn’t be sitting here asking for your approval.” - Simon Sampson, Yakama Nation
“I’ve heard a lot of talk about viewshed. How the train that travels up and down the gorge 50 times a day became invisible is beyond me.” - Jim Richardson, Skamania County Commissioner
“According to their own consultants, this proposal ‘targets high-income windsurfers who are prepared to spend more on their lodging.’ Wealthy windsurfers not necessarily skilled enough to handle The Hatch.” - Sherry Meyer, The Dalles
“Your job is to permit, not to promote.” - Susan Crowley, Friends of the Gorge
“It’s a foot in the door, a slippery slope - you choose the cliché. - Nat Parker, Portland
“The $90 million buildout for Broughton would provide a significant percent of the tax base for the school district and lower the taxes for residents.” -Tom Stevenson, SDS shareholder.
“The only reason you’re here is to say no to bad things that are going to happen.” - Steve Wisenbaker, White Salmon
“Anyone remember the Trojan nuclear plant? That turned into a Trojan horse. This proposal is a Trojan horse” - Ron Carroll, Mosier
“The Friends rallied the troops to get a volume of people to come. They offered free lunch and bus rides to anyone who wanted to come out. The end result we had a large volume of people and the commission’s got a lot on its plate to consider. — Jason Spadaro, Chair, SDS and Broughten Lumber companies.
