The concerns of many Mountain residents were heard at an April 7 land use
hearing in Oregon City for a proposed RV park on Hwy. 26 in Brightwood.
What followed was an exhaustive 45-page staff report from county planner
Sandy Ingalls to land use hearings officer Fred Wilson. In the lengthy
document, Ingalls recommended the proposal be denied.

"The applicant did not state how impacts to wildlife will be minimized and
mitigated with removal of the sites' vegetation, under Comprehensive Plan,
Chapter 3, Natural Resources and Energy, Wildlife Habitats and Distinctive
Resource Areas Policies: Minimize adverse wildlife impacts in sensitive habitat
areas, including deer and elk to winter range below 3,000 feet elevation,
riparian areas and wetlands," Ingalls wrote.

However, Ingalls added that if information is provided by the applicant the
recommendation may be revised.

The ensuing pages of the report listed multiple conditions, all of which Ingalls
was confident applicant Kashmir Dhadwal would be able to meet.

The land use permit proposal is to construct and operate an RV park with 99
campsites, office, clubhouse, laundry facility, restrooms and showers. The
proposal also includes a road through the park, utilities for each campsite and
septic system, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, picnic areas, walking paths,
grass recreation area, septic dump site, on-site water well, detention ponds
and landscaping.

The site takes access off Hwy. 26 and its neighbors would include the
community of Country Club Road and the Ark Motel.

Local residents wondered why if the owner was planning to comply with the
deer, elk and environmental issues, he had removed all the trees from the
property.

There were other issues raised as well, including:
– There is no well on the property, despite the applicant's saying there is one.
Thus, a deep well would have to be drilled, raising concerns about the impact
on existing wells in the area.
– Environmental impact due to soil erosion or water runoff to the Salmon
River.
– Impact that an RV park will have on property values.
Because of the high level of interest the proposal has attracted, an extended
period for the submission of new evidence and a period for response has been
granted.

The proceedings are expected to conclude May 5.