The Oregonian’s editorial board handed some praise to Crook County citizens this morning for voting to put the brakes on more destination resorts.
The state’s biggest newspaper said “it’s a shame that the late [Gov. Tom] McCall” – principal architect of Oregon’s pioneering land-use laws – “isn’t around today to see what happened in last week’s Oregon primary. Voters in Crook County, the rugged land of rimrock and sagebrush where McCall spent much of his boyhood, overwhelmingly rebuffed the pro-development forces.”
Crook Countians, by a 2-1 ratio, approved a non-binding initiative calling on the county court to repeal the county’s destination resort “overlay map,” which would have the effect of stopping any new resort approvals.
“The lopsided vote is particularly significant because it’s an Oregon first,” the editorial continued. “Since the land-use reforms of the McCall era, challenges by environmental groups and other interests have blocked destination resorts in several corners of Oregon, but last Tuesday’s election marked the first time that county voters passed such an initiative. …”
“Crook County opponents have some justification in warning that these projects are essentially large subdivisions under the guise of destination resorts. They will, as critics complain, have a significant impact on the county’s vehicle traffic, water supply and wildlife habitat.
“Prineville boosters of the new resorts correctly point out that they will contribute heavily through property taxes and create hundreds of jobs. But opponents are equally correct in noting that the influx of homes will inflate land values, putting unwelcome pressure on farmland and making housing unaffordable for workers who will fill all those low-paying new jobs.
“It didn’t help the boosters’ case when The Bulletin of Bend reported earlier this month that central Oregon resorts are struggling to fill housekeeping jobs and other menial positions. Despite unemployment rates that are at four-year highs, the newspaper reported, resorts are turning to other countries to find such workers.”
This article appears in May 22-28, 2008.
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This is the most uninformed article I have read in a long time, undoubtedly to be refuted by the hard-charging “opinions” of some.
Facts: I lived here in the early 80’s when the only family wage paying job opportunity was to work in a mill and many homes were in foreclosure due to a lack of industry and jobs. Those workers that chose a career in millwork have largely gone through tough times and job loss.
After receiving a college degree, I was heading to Portland for an opportunity that seemingly didn’t exist here. Just weeks before I moved, I received an opportunity at a local resort, one which allowed me to enter a career at an entry level. That was 20 years ago and that company has provided endless opportunity and prosperity for myself and my family.
I have watched the community involvement both from volunteerism and from donations, I have seen many unskilled workers be trained and promoted and I have seen many people outside of the development industry prosper as a result if these resorts.
Few realize the land-use law that is in place actually causes the land values we see at these resorts. The requirement for overnight lodging when it makes no sense to have it, the requirement for 50% open space, the requirement for an investment of millions for an amenity, and the ridiculous amount of money wasted being challenged by people with an entitlement mentality that think that they have the right to tell others what they can and can’t do with THEIR land! These requirements require that you charge the land purchasers higher prices to pay for implementing the development requirements (duh!).
It’s no wonder that most think of us as tree hugging idealists.
Understand that if you want a healthy community, if you want to survive, if you want quality medical services, you have to have sustainability. There are entry level jobs in every industry so don’t kid yourself into thinking that this is all that comes with a resort. Crook County boasted over 10% unemployment in recent years, I am curious what will provide the jobs and the income once you have eliminated Resort development and Les Schwab packs up and leaves. Short sited, single minded and tunnel visioned. These are decisions made selfishly and not for the greater good as so many people hide behind.
I know that this comment is largely in vain, but people are indeed doing a great deal of damage to comapanies that could help so much. It’s a shame and a waste.
“The requirement for overnight lodging when it makes no sense to have it, the requirement for 50% open space, the requirement for an investment of millions for an amenity …”
Look, the resort developers knew what the laws were going in. If they decide they can’t make the development work, is it the government’s responsibility to bend the law because they made a bad business decision? Sorry, I don’t think so.
As for the wonderful economic benefits of destination resorts, again, I’m sorry but I just don’t see them. I’d love to see some comparison between median wages paid at destination resorts and the median wage in Central Oregon and the state. If you have that data maybe you could share it.