February 13th, 2008
Speakers sound off on gorge resort plan
HOOD RIVER, Ore. — An attentive crowd of more than 120 packed a meeting room here Tuesday as dozens of speakers blasted a proposal to build a 250-unit destination resort in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
By DEAN BAKER, Columbian Staff Writer
Economic, scenic interests clash at meeting
In an all-day public hearing, many other speakers — including mayors, a former county commissioner and a Cascade Indian chief — told the Columbia River Gorge Commission
they favor the Broughton Landing Resort. Developers want to place recreational condominiums and associated amenities on a 200-acre abandoned mill site west of White Salmon.
The hearing became a philosophical exchange, pitting economic development against aesthetics and love of nature.
The commission won’t begin deliberations until March 24 on a rule change that would pave the way for the resort, Chairman Jeffrey Condit said.
Many speakers said allowing the resort would open the door to other private, gated resorts along the river and degrade the scenic area.
“This proposal is a Trojan horse,” said Ron Carroll, a Mosier, Ore. businessman. “The commission director said this is not a precedent, but it is.”
Commission Executive Director Jill Arens said the rule change would serve only one unique development. Because it changes the rules only for abandoned mill sites — the Broughton site is the only one in the gorge — it doesn’t set a precedent, she said.
Carroll voiced many concerns about the resort, including the threat of light pollution. The glow from houses makes the night sky harder to see, he said.
Another issue raised was pollution. The commission staff, including planners Tom Asher and Brian Litt, argued that the resort would bring financing to clean up the old Columbia River bank site.
Commission member Jim Middaugh sharply questioned the planners’ assumption that the site is polluted and would qualify as an Environmental Protection Agency “brownfield.”
He pointed out no environmental tests have been run on the site. “It’s a leap to say it’s a ‘health hazard,’” he said.
Asher pointed out there were four underground fuel or chemical tanks on the site, and he said similar mill sites have been found to be polluted.
The planners said a resort would bring economic development and support for nearby towns including Bingen, White Salmon and Hood River. They said it would prevent other residential uses and enhance the beauty of the area.
At one point the exchange grew testy. Brent Foster, the executive director of the environmental group Columbia Riverkeeper, accused the commission of bending to ‘political pressure’ to approve the rule change. Commissioner Doug Crow shot back:
“I will follow the act,” Crow said. “The only pressure I’m feeling is from people like you.”
“I’m glad you are hearing from the public,” said Foster, with a sarcastic smile.
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of cancer cells,” said Hood River resident George Early, quoting the writer Edward Abbey.
Others favored the proposal.
“If that place is developed, it’ll be a better-looking place. I’m for development,” said Johnny Jackson, a fisherman and chief of the Cascade Indians. He said development would make the site safer for parking and fire protection.
Also speaking in favor of the proposal were two area mayors: Tom Payton of North Bonneville and Brian Prigel of Bingen.
“We originally had concerns,” said Prigel, “but the developers have met most of them.” Payton said the development would accent the native and lumbering history of the area and provide a cleaner, safer area.
Former Skamania County Commissioner Bob Talent said he favors the development. Folks once worried that Skamania Lodge would bring pollution, unbearable traffic, police and fire issues and visual destruction. That wasn’t true, he said.
“I encourage you not to listen to all the Chicken Littles who say the sky is falling,” he said.
