Long-debated resort near Redmond back for another try

The decade-plus debate over a massive destination resort proposed west of Redmond entered a new chapter Tuesday night, with a packed house at a Deschutes County hearing for the initial phase of the long-debated Thornburgh Resort.

Dozens were on hand to voice their concerns to a hearings officer about the proposed first phase of the nearly 2,000-acre project on Cline Buttes, west of Eagle Crest.

The proposed initial phase would include 192 homes, space for overnight lodging and resort facilities, open space and private and emergency access roads. At full build-out, over several phases, the master plan calls for 1,000 homes, 475 overnight units and three golf courses.

The area is surrounded by public, primarily BLM Land, and Eagle Crest Resort is near the north part of the property, which covers the south and west portion of Cline Buttes.

The resort was first proposed in the mid-2000s, but a hearing officer denied the application, leading to numerous rounds of appeals that went as high as the Oregon Supreme Court.

At the meeting, the resort’s attorney, Liz Fancher, representing developer Kameron DeLashmutt’s Central Land and Cattle Company LLC, said they believe they’ve resolved several issues regarding the impacts on the area’s water and traffic.

But that has done little to alleviate concerns from some neighbors, especially about their water supply from wells in the area.

“The concern and issue is that having our water above where they are going to draw water from for all these golf courses and so on is a real concern, and we can’t afford to drill our wells deeper,” Bend resident Mel Stout said.

Stout also suggested if the resort developers are so confident there’s enough water, they should promise to pay for deeper wells for the neighbors, if it becomes a problem.

A county planner has recommended approval of Phase A-1 of the resort, with a host of conditions. The record will stay open for a few weeks for more comment.

The hearings officer is expected to make his decision in 2-3 months, but that could still be appealed to county commissioners (and beyond) by parties dissatisfied with the decision.

You can read the staff report online.