2006-387O-Minutes for Meeting December 20,2005 Recorded 4/7/2006Testimonial Letter on Thornburg Resort December 10, 2006
From: Jeff Meyers
8530 SW Wickiup Ave.
Redmond, OR 97756
548-4169
I have been in Central Oregon since 1952. I currently own 20 acres directly across Cline Falls
Hwy from the proposed resort. I have been paying land taxes to the county for 32 years.
This resort will have a significant adverse effect on my land use, and is in violation of the
Destination Resorts Zone regulations in many areas. The Hearing Officers decision to deny the
application for Thornburg Resort was an obviously correct one which I completely support.
Under section 18.113.070, approval criteria, section N, it states that "Site Improvements will be
located to avoid or minimize effects of the resort on the surrounding land uses". My land,
located directly across Cline Falls Hwy from the resort, is RR10. I pay over $6000 per year for
the right to have that RR 10 land.
RR 10 means Country Residential. My land use is quiet, peaceful country living with views that
don't currently include hundreds of homes in the foreground that this resort will bring. I have
enjoyed this country living since 1973.
My land use also does not include the noise from the traffic, the water ski lake, and a country
road that will be turned into another Hwy 97 that Thornburg resort will bring.
There is NO way that you can "mitigate" that change in this rural area, and therefore, this
development is in violation of section 18.113.070.
The Hearings Officer correctly identified that the helipad would "limit an allowed use of
neighboring BLM Land, namely quiet recreational activities such as hiking, and
observations of wildlife in a manner that is NOT permitted by this approval criterion."
With that being the case, then it is painfully obvious that this development, with all the
construction noise and traffic will have an even more limiting effect on the surrounding land use
than just the helipad! Twelve years of construction will be extremely limiting on my allowed
land use, which is quiet country living. This is so obvious that it's laughable that this proposal is
even being considered.
The approval criteria is NOT satisfied.
Exhibit
of
page
Why the Thornburgh Resort should NOT be approved Page 2
Water Consumption, Mitigation, and potential law suits
The water consumption alone should be enough to stop this over-development. As we all know
by now, they will use, upon buildout, 6.43 Millions Gallons Per day. They only have mitigation
rights for about 1/3 of that amount. That is currently a FACT, and the Hearings Officer's
decision was correct.
This water comes from the magic groundwater source, which is bottomless, according to their
experts. What if they're wrong. What if our existing wells go dry? That IS a significant
adverse effect. And will they, or the county, if this is approved, guarantee that if our wells go
dry they will drill them deeper or shut down the resort? That is the ONLY way to mitigate this
potential total loss of our land value. They have no right to put at risk their neighbors land.
If our wells go dry, there will be a class action law suit against the resort and the county for
approving this development. The county better keep this in mind as they consider overruling the
hearing officers correct decision to NOT approve this resort.
Here's something really funny. They have a water conservation plan for Thornburg. Among
other things, they are going to encourage low flow toilets and fixtures. They're going to build a
twenty five acre LAKE to water ski on, use 6 1/2 millions gallons of water a day, but a low flow
toilet should really help. Of the water use, over 65% is used for irriation of the golf course and
Lakes. 5.2 Millions Gallons per day for irrigation. Yes, that's good water conservation.
A few other stupid, funny things about this proposal that should make the decision easy:
1. The applicant believes and the staff agrees that the most important natural features are the
Cline Buttes, which rise 1100 feet above the valley floor, with unimpeded views of the Cascade
Mountains. The Applicant has significant incentive to preserve and create natural appearing
amenities so that the resort guests can experience and appreciate the volcanic formations and
high desert of Central Oregon. What about the local people that have live here! How about
preserving it by not tearing it apart!
2. The resort proposes 350 view oriented homes along the fairways and Lake front.
"The resort is set in and adjacent to nearly 20,000 acres of BLM land. The natural setting and
miles of surrounding open space create an opportunity to highlight native vegetation" (they're
going to take out 40 percent of that native vegetation), lava outcrops and Majestic vistas of the
Cascade Mountain Range. Yes, they're going to highlight those Majestic views by building
their resort right in front of our views - great! It gets even funnier - "The development of
three golf courses and the addition of comfortable mountain homes will preserve and enhance
the beauty of the rural setting. Really! Have you looked at Awbrey Butte or Eagle Crest lately?
Boy, that is nicer than just the natural landscape! Oh, and by the way, 1000 homes bunched
together is NOT rural. It's called a town.
Exhibit_
Page _~1 of
PAGE 3
The Big Picture
Central Oregon is one of the most beautiful natural areas in the world. I grew up here and know
just how special this place is.
To sell off huge pieces of it for money, to over-develop the land and destroy the open spaces and
beautiful views so we can increase our tax base is shortsighted and ignorant.
What will Central Oregon look like in twenty years, thirty years? If we don't stop this
shortsighted over-development, in the long run, the beauty, the life style, and the economy of this
now thriving area will be destroyed.
It's in our hands to not let this happen. The decisions we make will affect all the generations to
come. We have an obligation to those generations to preserve this incredible part of the world.
Jeff Meyers _
Land owner since 1973 6 d
Redmond, Oregon
548-4169
Exhibit_ O
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