A 99-unit RV park in Brightwood is on the county docket for a hearing to
approve on April 7. But there is a concerted effort by local residents to foil
that plan.

Kashmir Dhadwal, of Sandy, is the applicant for the proposed park. A
conditional use permit application went out Feb. 29 to agencies, community
planning organizations (CPO) and property owners within 500 feet of the
subject property, located at 61999 Hwy. 26 in Brightwood.

Besides 99 campsites, the proposal includes an office, clubhouse, laundry
facility, restrooms, showers, a circulation system, utilities for each campsite,
horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, picnic areas, walking paths, water well,
septic system, septic dump site and detention ponds.

However, the Mt. Hood Corridor CPO, which would have held sway over the
planned property as an advisor to the county while representing the
community’s point of view, has been inactive for the past two years. Janine
Bertram, a former MHC CPO director, told The Mountain Times that an active
CPO could have had a positive effect on the land use issue.

“It would be a strong tool for our community,” Bertram said. “Personally, I
feel that Clackamas County often treats the MHC like a colony, ignoring our
needs and using our natural resources to fund urban projects. When county
staff have relationships and regular communication with a solid CPO, it softens
that ‘us and them’ view.”

Rallying in lieu of a functioning CPO, nearly 100 residents showed up March
13 at the Dragonfly Cafe & Bakery in Welches to gather more information
from county officials about the proposal.

Concerns ranged from traffic impact, environmental issues, residential homes
nearby, and the possible effects of a community well.

Welches resident and Realtor Dave Lythgoe shared his concerns with The
Mountain Times from the letter he sent to the county stating his opposition to
the RV park.

He pointed out that the property was purchased by Morris Engineering in 2000
and the timber was logged and immediately replanted as required by the state
forestry department.

“The new plantings were growing well and just beginning to dominate the
property ... About six months ago the (new) owner eliminated all of the trees
and natural plants by scraping and denuding the property,” Lythgoe wrote. “It
is quite an eyesore along Hwy. 26 which I believe is designated a scenic
highway.

“An RV park this close to a residential area would be detrimental to the
neighbors,” Lythgoe continued. “As a local realtor, I can attest that those
concerns would be detrimental to property values.”

Lythgoe also pointed to the environmental issue of the volume of water runoff
along with vehicle oils so near to the drainage leading to the Salmon River.
“There is no sewer system in the area,” Lythgoe wrote. “The septic system
that will be necessary will be massive with the potential of polluting the river
and the water table.”

Margaret and Bob Thurman, local residents and property owners, have issues
with the proposed park as well.

“We are most concerned about them drilling a well and how that will impact
the two Country Club Water System’s wells as well as all of the local wells on
the property on Cottonwood Road that back up to the proposed development,”
Margaret Thurman said. “We are already having well issues.”

Dhadwal, in a truncated phone call, indicated his decision to build the RV park
came about after buying the property he discovered that the property could
only be used for tourism.

“We find out RV park is tourism,” he said. “Summer, there is no parking spot.
So we thought if the county agrees with that, then why don’t we do that.”
The April 7 land use hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the Clackamas
County Development Services Auditorium, 150 Beavercreek Road, Oregon
City.

Local residents can voice their concerns at the hearing.