pkh
Since 27 Feb 2005
6548 Posts
Couve / Hood
Site Lackey
|
 Fri Jun 15, 07 6:44 am Broughton Landing |
 |
|
http://www.broughtonlanding.com/Overview/
Got this from the Gorge Commission:
| Quote: | The Broughton Landing/Gorge Commission Workshop held June 13th in White Salmon allowed the public, the developers and Gorge Commission Staff to speak freely. The site, adjacent to the Hatchery State Park is presently approved for limited development, however BL is seeking an amendment to the Scenic Act to allow a much larger destination resort. An amendment requires a finding of significant change to the Scenic Area, and a finding that the new larger proposed development will address those changes in way that will not detract from all of the resources in the Gorge.
The biggest issue for the pro-development side turned out to be the present economic plight of Skamania County where the resort will be located, the county is slated to lose half its yearly budget from the loss of timber payment subsidies from the Federal Government. Close neighbor Klickitat County is also pitching for the resort because officials and landlords in the closest urban areas; Bingen and White Salmon believe that this development will bring tourism dollars and jobs to the area. BL development will result in 60 seasonal service jobs.
It was unclear at times whether the developers intend that BL be a resort for transient visitors or permanent housing. County proponents seemed to favor a community of second homes. Others expressed shock that a ‘gated community’ might be ‘growing’ in the Gorge. The Gorge Commission stated that they could not control wages. A long time resident of Underwood community on the bluff above BL, told how he had lived in the Gorge all of his life and was not aware of how magnificent it is until he went to live elsewhere. Residents who had moved here from more congested areas such as Kona Hawaii and Connecticut urged the county not to jump at the first thing, and instead to do a careful analysis of the true impact of the 250 unit development with restaurant, logging museum and a trail system in the context of the location, services, traffic congestion, parking and long term impacts such as loss of aquifers that serve the area. It was pointed out that wells in White Salmon, which were projected to last 20 years, have lasted 4 years. It was also mentioned that tourism is seasonal, may not create family wage jobs, and is unstable in times of economic downturn. Others said that the proposal for BL ‘looked lovely’ but should be located legally in an existing urban area such as Bingen Point or Home Valley. Amending the Gorge Act to permit this resort as a means of insuring meaningful economic development for the counties appears to be a giant leap of faith, and one that could result in more, not fewer, financial problems for them.
The size and character of the proposed resort and its use of the state park as a portal for its clientele was the source of much dissatisfaction voiced by many of the public present. It was pointed out that the Hatchery is fully parked out even now when the water is cold and summer school vacations have not begun and that windsurfers and kite boarders staying at B.L. will simply drive their gear vehicles across the road and fill up the Hatchery lot. State Parks said that 300 cars could squeeze in now but that if the lots were paved and lined there would be half as many spaces. Wash Dot stated that there would be no crosswalks and no stoplights on WA Route 14 and that ‘lookers’ routinely cause traffic back ups resulting in congestion and safety issues. Friends of the Gorge proposed a public- private partnership that would help pay for highway and RR underpasses and help to develop BL at a rural scale keyed toward serving the needs of existing users of the area. A member of the public stated that BL must be required to open its private beach to the public before any development is allowed. The developer questioned whether it was important that existing windsurfer/kite boarders continue to be able to use the site. A somewhat irate member of the public answered that the idea that only patrons of BL resort would be able to use the state park was offensive and wrongheaded. The development consultant hired by BL tried very hard to sell the idea of ‘enhancements’ such as paving and landscaping the existing park and adding hiking an mountain biking trails behind the resort. It was pointed out that every ‘enhancement’ means more traffic, more congestion and more crowding at one of the most used spots in the Gorge.
The dialogue was very enlightening and helpful. It seemed as though economic development of the area was beginning to be looked at as something separate from this particular resort proposal; that an analysis of what was really needed at the site will be made; that the Gorge Commission will gain more clarity about what was in its power to do or not do in this case; and that something in keeping with the area and its limitations can be achieved.
The situation seems more positive. Nothing is a done deal and citizen input is crucial. Stay tuned for the next meeting in July. Thanks to all of you that came to the meeting and participated in the discussion. It is important to
Contact Gorge Commissioners directly through the link on the website. http://www.gorgecommission.org/commissioners.cfm?CFID=1390687&CFTOKEN=87761835
Washington Residents should contact Congressman Brian Baird via his website. http://www.house.gov/baird/ |
|
|
