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Thu Dec 3 2009 -- Curry County Destination Resorts Hearing December 3 |  The Crook family is proposing to build a small destination resort on their land in the Pistol River watershed, directly adjacent to the Crook Point Unit of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. However, before the Crooks can apply to Curry County for a resort, the county by state law must undertake a countywide planning process.
Curry County is developing the state-required map of potential destination resort sites in the county. There are some requirements, such as the state prohibition on siting a resort within three miles of high value cropland. Resorts are also prohibited on class one and class two forestland. A county can be more restrictive than the state if it chooses. Curry County must also draft and adopt, through the Board of County Commissioners, an ordinance governing large and small destination resorts, including the siting standards. The first Curry County Planning Commission hearing about destination resort planning will be December 3, 2009. For further information, please contact the Curry County Dept. of Public Services, (541) 247-3304.
Resorts in Oregon
Most, if not all, destination resorts in Oregon are "large" resorts. These by state law must be at least 160 acres (or 40 acres, if within two miles of the ocean), spend at least $7 million in 1993 dollars on visitor accommodation, and have at least 150 units of overnight lodging. "Small" destination resorts must be twenty or more acres of non-resource land, spent at least $2 million on visitor needs, and have between 25 and 75 units of overnight lodging. State law currently makes no provision for a medium-sized resort of between 75 and 150 units of lodging.
The controversy over destination resorts in Oregon springs from some large resorts in Deschutes, Crook and Klamath Counties, which have essentially built large subdivisions around a hotel. Some of these "resorts" are mainly rural subdivisions, rather than bona fide, self-contained resorts focusing on recreational amenities.
There are two developments on the coast that would qualify as destination resorts, though neither was sited under the current destination resorts law. The older of the two is Salishan, in Lincoln County, which was developed beginning in 1965. There were no land use laws at that time, and Salishan Lodge, the houses on Salishan Spit, and later development in Salishan Hills, were all done outside of planning requirements, as there were none. Bandon Dunes in Coos County was developed beginning in 1996 through an exceptions process (since it was close to farmland), but in a manner similar to the resort process. Untypically, Bandon Dunes is a highly successful resort with no residential lots sold to individuals for private residences, though the Master Plan allows for up to 300 houses.
Destination Resort Workshops Successful
Oregon Shores and 1000 Friends of Oregon presented two workshops, one each in Gold Beach and Brookings, so that people could learn about the resort planning process, since Curry County is the first coastal county to undergo the state required mapping and ordinance process for resorts. We had a large turnout at both workshops. Greg Holmes, the southern Oregon Advocate for 1000 Friends, and Dave Pratt, Curry County Director of Public Services, explained the state requirements and the Curry County drafts to date. The audiences were especially interested in the draft map, which includes sites such as Sweet Ranch and Honey Bear Campground, as well as the Crook property, as potential destination resort sites. The map will be further refined as the process unfolds through hearings this Winter and Spring.
Workshop Handouts, written by Greg Holmes, 1000 Friends' Southern Oregon Advocate:
Destination Resorts: Some Technical Information
Siting Destination Resorts in Oregon and in Curry County
Articles on topic 'Destination Resorts':
Nov 25 2012 Crook Point Golf Resort to be Considered Again
Nov 3 2012 Curry County Delays Review of Crook Point Resort
Mar 21 2011 Oregon Shores Files Appeal on Crook Point Golf Resort
Jan 30 2011 Crook Point Resort Proposal Heads to Appeals Panel
Jan 5 2011 Crook Point Resort Approved; Oregon Shores Ponders Next Step
Nov 8 2010 Curry Commissioners Weighing Crook Point Appeal
Oct 30 2010 Appeal of Crook Destination Resort Will Be Heard Thursday
Sep 23 2010 Appeal of Crook Point Destination Resort Moves to Next Stage
Sep 15 2010 Curry County Gives Resort Tentative Approval
Aug 26 2010 Last Chance to Comment on Destination Resort Proposal
Aug 12 2010 New Hearing Scheduled on Crook Ranch Resort
Jul 8 2010 Proposal for Major Resort at Pistol River Due for Hearing
Apr 29 2010 Curry Destination Resort Ordinance Hearing April 29
Dec 3 2009 Curry County Destination Resorts Hearing December 3
Oct 10 2009 Curry County Workshops on Destination Resorts Mapping
Oct 5 2009 Tillamook County Hearing 9/24 on Port's Resort, Golf Course Project |
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