That clop-clop you hear may be brought to you by a pair of Percheron
geldings, or it just may be the gleeful beating of Kory Reese’s heart.

An ordeal that has been a year in the making — due to a neighbor’s complaint
about Whiskey Creek Outfitters — has ended well for Reese’s business.

“This has been a very long year dealing with this permit process,” Reese said.

“We have had a lot of ups and downs along the way ... (but) the verdict is in
and we have gotten the green light.”

Whiskey Creek Outfitters, located on Welches Road, became the center of a
maelstrom when Reese’s neighbor, Sam Nagy, complained to the county
about the business — generally that the business was too close to his house,
and more specifically the manure piles.

“They moved into our neighborhood and there was immediately a problem
with their dogs running loose,” Nagy said. “I’m the kind of guy that stands up
for his neighborhood, so I called animal control.”

Subsequently, the Reese’s fenced in their dogs.

“But the big thing was their manure piles,” Nagy said. “They dumped manure
next to my property. This was intentional. So I filed a complaint with the
county.”

Outfitters provides horse-drawn carriage rides – sleigh rides in the winter – to
the Mountain community, including plus rides for special events at The Resort
on the Mountain.

The complaint arrived at the Clackamas County Court and hearings were
held June 25, and the final one on Oct. 1. At the final hearing the court
concluded “that the applicant sustained the burden of proof that the proposed
use does or can comply with the relevant approval standards of the
Clackamas County Zoning and Development Ordinance ... therefore the
hearings officer approves the application subject to the conditions at the end
of this final order based on the findings and conclusions in this final order.”

At the initial hearing there were piles of compliance criteria that took a year to
work through, according to Reese.

“They were requiring that I clear 300 feet line-of-sight in both directions from
my driveway,” Reese said. “There was no way I could do that. That meant no
business.”

But Reese kept working on the process, getting a lift from members of the
community that wrote letters of support, and soliciting and receiving help
from Sen. Rick Metsger (D-Welches).

“There was nothing civil about the problem with my neighbor,” Reese said.
“But the process was quite civil with the county. I worked with the planning
department, and with the help from friends and the senator, all of a sudden
the conditions began to change.”

The rancor between the parties was evident.

“If they had practiced being good neighbors, none of this would have
happened,” Nagy said. “But they don’t care. Besides, I think, eventually,
someone is going to get hurt on those wagons.”

The county determined the driveway was fine the way it was, and since she
only turned right with her wagons the line of site was reduced to 250 feet in
one direction.

The bottom line was “I’ll have no problem complying,” Reese said.
Nagy respects the opinion of the county.

“I know where they’re coming from,” he said. “The hearings officer based his
ruling on existing laws. It was the finest he could do.”

Outfitters features a pioneer style covered wagon, a sleigh, and a vis-à-vis
carriage pulled by Percheron draft horses – Duke, 8, and Bob, 11.

Last year, Reese left behind her mortgage business and started up Outfitters
when Duke and Bob were put up for sale. The Percheron pair had enjoyed a
life of show hitches and parades in Battle Ground, Wash. and moved to the
Mountain Aug. 2, 2008.

“I cannot express how much the community’s support means to me, my
family and this business,” Reese said. “Thank you for all your letters and
listening to my cause. I know I can ramble on.”

Nagy was more cautious.

“How we proceed will be up to the Reese’s,” he said. “I will hold them to being
good neighbors.”

Supporters are invited to a Victory Party/Open House at Whiskey Creek
Outfitters to be held from 3 to 8 p.m., Nov. 20, at 27378 Welches Road.

“Come down and meet the horses and hang out for a while,” Reese said.