Jackson County could face a showdown with state agencies over a proposed 1,400-acre destination resort situated in sensitive wildlife habitat in a remote area southeast of Roxy Ann Peak.
The Department of Land Conservation and Development and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have opposed a move by Jackson County to take the Hartnell Ranch out of a designated winter range area for blacktailed deer.
Jackson County planning commissioners made the decision in December but warned commissioners that if they uphold the decision, the state could file an appeal.
A hearing on setting aside a large area in Jackson County for resorts including the Hartnell Ranch will come before the county board of commissioners at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Jackson County Courthouse auditorium, 10 S. Oakdale Ave.
The proposed destination resort area extends from Prospect to just outside Ashland and includes much of the land in the hills east of Interstate 5. A resort has been proposed on up to 2,000 acres on the former John Day Ranch off Highway 234 near the Table Rocks.
Advertisement | |
A letter in December from Martha Pagel, a Portland attorney representing William Hartnell of Ashland, (see correction below) claims it is within the county's discretion to revise ODFW maps to remove the Hartnell property from big game habitat.
A consulting firm, Tetra Tech EC Inc. of Fairfax, Calif., hired by Hartnell said the impacts of a destination resort on black-tailed deer could be minimized. A report prepared last year by the firm stated the resort could be a refuge from hunters.
Peter Livingston, an attorney with Pagel in the law offices of Schwabe, Williamson and Wyatt, said he couldn't comment on the Hartnell proposal.
Hartnell, who lives in Ashland, also wouldn't comment and said it's too premature to discuss details of what could be included in plans for the destination resort.
"We can only focus on what's right in front of us right now," said Hartnell.
Land consultant Linda Swearingen, who has worked on other Oregon resorts such as Sunriver and Pronghorn in Bend, is helping Hartnell with his proposal. She said interest in putting a destination resort in Jackson County is high.
"Right now I know for a fact you'd have a resort if you had the ordinance that allowed them," she said.
Jackson County will probably have at least one application for a destination resort by the end of the year, Swearingen predicted.
Even if the Hartnell Ranch is included in the designated area for destination resorts, there are still other problems that need to be resolved, said Swearingen.
"Bill (Hartnell) certainly has a lot more obstacles than some of the other projects," she said.
Because of the remoteness of his land, protecting the environment and building roads are some of the major hurdles, said Swearingen.
Swearingen, who also represents the owners of the proposed resort near Table Rocks, said she's heard about other landowners who've expressed interest in a resort in Jackson County.
This area is of particular interest because it has a larger population than Deschutes County and has a warmer climate that is more conducive to golfing.
Jackson County is close to California, which taken by itself has the fifth-largest economy in the world. The county also has a fairly high median price for homes.
A resort, Swearingen said, would be a boost to the local economy. As an example, she said the 1,700-acre Eagle Crest resort in Deschutes County contributes $4 million in additional property tax revenue annually.
If one of the resorts is built, "It'll have a huge impact on tax revenue," she said.
Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476 or dmann@mailtribune.com.
Correction: The original version of this story included an incorrect reference to William Hartnell's residence. This version has been corrected. Return to sentence that contained error
