12
Columbia Gorge News
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
www.columbiagorgenews.com
Under Canvas hearings delayed
Jacob Bertram
■ By Columbia
Gorge News
Concerned parties will
have to wait another month
to testify and learn the results
of two widely anticipated
back-to-back hearings on
separate aspects of a propos-
al to develop a luxury camp-
ing site near Husum, Wash.
A last-minute objection to
the process forced a delay in
the hearings, now resched-
uled for 9 a.m., Thursday July
29, and 9 a.m., Friday July 30.
Montana-based company
Under Canvas is seeking
permit application approv-
als to move forward with a
project proposal that would
see the development of a
seasonally operated, 95-tent
luxury camping facility
sited on Oak Ridge Road
near Husum. The plans call
for individual canvas tents,
multiple deluxe tents with
en-suite restrooms, sepa-
rate bathroom facilities, a
commercial kitchen, laundry
services, and enough gravel
parking spaces for around
125 vehicles. “Approximately
two communal fire pits start-
ed, maintained, monitored,
and extinguished by trained
Under Canvas staff set at set
times” would adorn the fa-
cility, should their individual
permits be approved.
Following the compa-
ny’s submission and later
revised submission of permit
applications and a SEPA
(State Environmental Policy
Act) checklist last year,
progress was halted after
landowners on Oak Ridge
Road appealed the county’s
reissued Determination of
Mitigated Non-Significance,
citing the county planning
department’s SEPA evalua-
tion of the project as lacking
“reasonably sufficient infor-
mation” on potential impacts
on traffic, wildfire, state and
local wildlife populations
and habitats, wetlands and
streams, and nearby land
uses — including the open
range located in the vicinity.
According to discussions
held between the county
board of commissioners and
county planning officials
in February, it was decided
among county officials that,
given the appeal, state SEPA
policy directs the county to
combine the public hearings
on the SEPA appeal as well
as the conditional use permit
application into one, with
the board of county commis-
sioners acting as the hearing
body.
Commissioner Jacob
Anderson voluntarily
recused himself from the
discussions, based on his
campaign interactions on
the proposal. The recusal left
the two remaining commis-
sioners, Commissioner Dan
Christopher and Board Chair
Dave Sauter, to decide to
bring on a hearing examiner
to preside over the hearings,
eliminating the possibility of
a tie decision.
The board brought on
Wenatchee-based attorney
Andrew L. Kottkamp to
preside over the hearings.
Fast-forward to last week —
the SEPA appeal hearing was
scheduled for Wednesday,
and the conditional use
permit application hearing
on Thursday.
A day before what was
supposed to be the hear-
ing on the SEPA appeal,
the attorneys representing
appellants Friends of Oak
Ridge and Dennis and
Bonnie White (Jennifer
Calkins) and Klickitat Land
Preservation Fund (Bryan
Telegin) wrote a joint letter to
the Klickitat County Planning
Department, objecting to
Kottkamp’s appointment as
hearing examiner.
The attorneys argued
the Klickitat County Board
of Adjustment is the body
responsible for a determina-
tion on both the appeal and
the conditional use permit
application, as opposed
to the county’s assertion
that the Board of County
Commissioners — and
thus, a hearing examiner —
would be the hearing body.
The claim comes down to
language within state and
county codes.
At Thursday’s hearing,
Kottkamp called the letter
a “motion to dismiss the
hearing examiner,” which ul-
timately led to his decision to
HR planning commission
positions open
Busy commission
needs three volunteers
Oberst
■ By For Gail
Columbia Gorge News
HOOD RIVER — Three posi-
tions on the City of Hood River’s
Planning Commission are open for
application.
The seven-member commission
is appointed by the city council to
review subdivisions, conditional
use permits, planned develop-
ments, variances, and other major
land use applications and advise
development amendments, zone
changes, and comprehensive plan
updates. It meets twice monthly.
Two planning commissioners’
terms are expiring in October —
Mark Frost and Meagan Ramey
— and Tina Lassen has resigned,
leaving three positions to be
filled. As in the past, Mayor Kate
McBride and a council member
— Tim Counihan — will interview
applicants with Planning Director
Dustin Nilsen.
The council will see all of the ap-
plications along with the interview
group’s recommendation before
choosing members of the commis-
sion. Nilsen said he would contact
former applicants as part of his
outreach.
Hood River’s Planning
Commission has been busy lately.
In addition to recommending
standards for Middle Housing
construction and considering a
30-unit development this spring,
at its meeting Monday, June 21,
the commission was scheduled to
consider a permit for a 10-lot sub-
division that could include eight
townhouses and two single-family
dwellings on .58 acres located be-
tween East Hazel Avenue and East
Eugene Street. (Meeting held after
print deadline.)
The Hazel Ridge Subdivision
land is zoned for high densi-
ty dwellings, but its neighbors
suggest that roads and other
infrastructure in the area are not
suitable for the development.
The commission will consider
a 224-page report that includes
photos, studies, surveys, find-
ings and designs prepared by the
applicant and the city’s planning
department.
Planning staff has tentatively
recommended approval of the de-
velopment, with many conditions,
including street and sidewalk
improvements.
To apply for a position on the
city’s planning commission,
visit the Planning Commission’s
website, cityofhoodriver.gov/
planning-commission, or call
541-387-5210.
postpone the hearings until
the issue has been resolved.
During the hearing,
County Prosecuting Attorney
David Quesnel called the
objection letter “litigation by
ambush” based on the late
entry of the objection letter to
the record, noting the dead-
line for pre-hearing motions
was April 1.
“There was ample time
to bring this issue to the
hearings examiner,” Quesnel
said. “This is just a strategy
to delay, to continue the
pattern of harassment and
intimidation of the planning
department and the board of
commissioners.”
“I’m not sure what in-
timidation or harassment
he’s referring to,” Telegin
responded.
Dennis White, one of the
appellants in the case, called
the prosecuting attorney’s
comments “way off-base.”
Quesnel then asserted a
motion for sanctions on the
appealing party for the delay
in the hearings, in part due
to the objection that caused
a delay.
Dan McBrearty, Chief
Development Officer for
Under Canvas, told Columbia
Gorge News via email that the
company “remains optimistic
about a positive outcome”
from the joint hearings,
“given our project suitability
for the site, low impact and
sustainable development
philosophy, and mission to
inspire connections with the
outdoors for all to enjoy.
“The completeness of the
SEPA checklist was evi-
denced by the county’s initial
issuance and subsequent
re-issuance of a mitigated
declaration of non-signif-
icance,” McBrearty said.
“Under Canvas provided
all required materials and
volunteered additional infor-
mation and public outreach
on topics that were of the
greatest importance to the
community, namely traffic,
fire and water, ensuring full
compliance with local and
state code as well as partner-
ship with the community.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
Hood River County Fair July 21-24
Yes, there will be a full Hood River County Fair this year, said Fair
Manager Clara Rice. Dates for this year’s fair are July 21-24. Rice said that
the fair will be bigger and better than ever, with carnival rides from Davis
Shows Northwest and Saturday headliner Carly Pearce. Exhibit entry
information can be found at www.hoodriverfairgrounds.com/p/getcon-
nected/open-class-list — bring your exhibit to the fairgrounds during the
entry day — and general information and updates at www.hoodriverfair-
grounds.com.
Hood River summer reading program
The Hood River County Library District kicked off its annual Summer
Reading Program June 15. This year’s program can all be done online
or patrons can visit the library for a paper form to track their Summer
Reading program.
The program is for all ages from birth to adult. Read a book, listen to
an audiobook, or complete an activity to participate. Patrons can read
or listen to anything they wish including graphic novels and magazines.
Visit hoodriverlibrary.org/summer-reading/ for details and to sign-up.
The program runs through Aug. 14.
The full event calendar can be viewed at www.hoodriverlibrary.org/
events.
Newspaper to publish foreclosure list
THE DALLES — The Columbia Gorge News was named by the board of
commissioners as the newspaper of record for the publication of the 2020
Wasco County annual foreclosure list.
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2 PEND A 1:39.65 26 1)
Theis, Kaleo 2) Johnston, Josh
3) Spratling, Tyler 4) Robinson,
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3 HOOD A 1:42.35 24 1)
Continued from page 13 Hackett, Gavin 2) Hawkins,
Kaitaro 3) Jones, Henry 4)
Southall, Luke
DiGennaro, Lydia
4 TDAL A 1:45.47 22 1)
4 HOOD B 1:58.98 22 1)
Coburn, Skyler 2) Hoover,
Sumerfield, Olivia 2) Galvez,
William 3) Randall, Carter 4)
Jessica 3) Southall, Anna 4)
Cole, Michael
Tomlinson, Abby
5 HOOD B 1:49.85 20
5 RGVW A 2:04.55 20 1)
1) Wilson, Jack 2) Bullock,
Hoblet, Alexis 2) Villagrana,
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Arthur, Gwyn
6 PEND B 2:13.12 14 1)
Event 17 Girls 100 Yard
Nelson, Kylee 2) Galloway,
Backstroke
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1 Arpag, Sarah HOOD
Bostwick, Ann
1:03.72 16
7 REDM A 2:22.60 10 1)
2 Cramp, Melinda PEND
McGowan, Kloey 2) Zampelli,
1:04.25 13
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3 Arthur, Gwyn RGVW
Kurner Ovalles, Venecia
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Event 16 Boys 200 Yard
REDM 1:15.47 11
Freestyle Relay
5 Abbas, Kennedy TDAL
1 REDM A 1:34.94 32 1)
1:15.48 10
Messner, Asa 2) McGowan,
6 Southall, Anna HOOD
Jacen 3) Haywood, Colin 4)
1:16.09 9
Konop, Ryan
RESULTS
IMC district
swim meet
7 Bostwick, Ann PEND
1:18.94 7
8 Galvez, Jessica HOOD
1:19.47 5
9 Nelson, Kylee PEND 1:22.17
4
10 Phillips, Grace PEND
1:22.77 3
11 Gradilla, Yudith REDM
1:28.71 2
12 Zampelli, Lillian REDM
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— Villagrana, Jimena RGVW
DQ
Event 18 Boys 100 Yard
Backstroke
1 Haywood, Colin REDM
58.57 16
2 Hackett, Gavin HOOD
1:04.43 13
3 Marshall, Corbin RGVW
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4 Daft, Tyler REDM 1:09.34
11
5 Miltenberger, Matthew
PEND 1:09.35 10
6 Parker, Wesley TDAL
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Event 19 Girls 100 Yard
Breaststroke
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2 McCormack, Abigail HOOD
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4 Hoblet, Alexis RGVW
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5 Kennedy, Finley PEND
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9
7 Villagrana, Melissa RGVW
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8 Spencer, Kalan PEND
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10 Hall-White, Autumn RGVW
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12 Rincon, Reta TDAL
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Arpag, Sarah
2 PEND A 4:19.53 26 1)
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