2006-387L-Minutes for Meeting December 20,2005 Recorded 4/7/2006Page 1 of 2
Connie Thomas
From: Katy Yoder [ktyoder@coinet.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 12:08 PM
To: Board
Subject: Thornburgh Resort Approval Process
I attended the meeting for an hour today before having to leave due to family obligations. I planned on speaking
but ran out of time. Here is the gist of what I planned to say.
After hearing the Thornburgh people speak it became clear they had done their homework and are on the way to
some kind of an approval. But I am still saddened to see the steamrolling of our open space from people who
chose to ignore the long-term repercussions of the over development of our land. Central Oregon is fast
becoming the antithesis of the reason most people came here in the first place. Listening to Dick "Rhino" recall his
and others joyous experience working with Cameron and Thornburgh Resort LLC it is easy to see he smells the:
strong scent of money and doesn't care about the future backlash of too much growth and not enough room for
those who use the remaining land.
The rhetoric used by the Thornburgh lawyers and experts have answered questions using slick words and
questionable data. I still contend the Thornburgh Resort is bad for Central Oregon and even worse for our wildlife.
I hope there is severe limitations on what Thornburgh is allowed to do. The water they remove from the Cline
Butte area will not be replaced by a ranch somewhere else. Water is a finite resource and should be used
carefully.
12/20/05
Dear Commissioners:
I am a member of a grass roots organization called Cline Butte Recreation Association. We were formed
several years ago to dispute ODOT's push to put aggregate mines in the Cline Butte area. Cline Butte
has been pulled in so many directions by so many different interests that it is often easy to forget what
the area is like now and why it should be protected. Both the Thornburgh's private land and the
adjoining BLM land has been a sanctuary for countless numbers of animals. As the area is carved into
smaller and smaller pieces there is no one speaking out for the animals that are constantly being
displaced by growth.
With the BLM land next to the proposed resort on the chopping block too we will see a surge of wildlife
living closer to people. That will result in more cougar attacks, coyotes taking more cats and dogs, rattle
snakes finding shade in garages etc. We need to remember these creatures need our protection too.
Someone must look at the big picture; beyond the short-term monetary gains and remember what gives
Central Oregon its charm in the first place. It's the open-space; land that doesn't have to have an agenda
beyond being home to our wild creatures. We are lucky to have the ability to go out and enjoy these wild
places. Once they are gone, only the rich and underpaid employees will be able to set foot on these
places.
There are so many other issues that have not been looked at closely enough:
1. Traffic
2. Impact to Deschutes County Roads
3/6/2006
Exhibit_
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Page 2 of 2
3. Water use and abuse
4. Sewer treatment and management
5. Compatibility with surrounding lands: BLM, wildlife, mitigation
6. Fire management
7. Noise
8. Lighting problems from a compatibility perspective
9. Removal of old growth juniper
Please take the time and find the courage to say "NO" to growth in the Cline Butte open space area.
Let's preserve this piece of high desert beauty centrally located between Bend, Redmond and Sisters.
Future generations will thank you and respect you for your vision and courage to do what's best for
those who follow you.
Katy Yoder
3/6/2006
Exhibit L....
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