75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 706
 
                         Minority Report
 
                           B-Engrossed
 
                         House Bill 2227
                  Ordered by the Senate June 12
  Including House Amendments dated April 6 and Senate Minority
                 Report Amendments dated June 12
 
Sponsored by nonconcurring members of the Senate Committee on
  Environment and Natural Resources: Senators BOQUIST, ATKINSON
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
    { - Modifies provisions for siting destination resorts. - }
    { - Authorizes Land Conservation and Development Commission
to evaluate destination resort policies and update key
requirements. - }
   { +  Authorizes county to site destination resort within
boundaries of county. Provides that county may approve siting
destination resort on land within area designated as area of
critical state concern if county meets specified criterion. + }
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to destination resorts.
  Whereas in January 2006, a Jefferson County advisory group
formed to discuss destination resort mapping and began their
local county process; and
  Whereas the public process commenced in March 2006, when
numerous public meetings were held in Madras, Crooked River Ranch
and Camp Sherman to discuss the siting of destination resorts
within the county; and
  Whereas the Jefferson County Commissioners approved a map of
eligible lands for destination resort siting on December 21,
2006; and
  Whereas on January 17, 2007, Jefferson County's decision was
appealed to the Land Use Board of Appeals; and
  Whereas on December 19, 2008, Governor Kulongoski submitted a
letter to the Land Conservation and Development Commission
requesting that the commission work toward designating the
Metolius River Basin as an area of critical state concern; and
  Whereas on February 11 and 12, 2009, public hearings were held
in Deschutes County and in Jefferson County to discuss the
process for designating an area of critical state concern; and
  Whereas on March 11, 2009, the Land Conservation and
Development Commission held a public hearing in Madras; and
  Whereas on March 24, 2009, the Land Conservation and
Development Commission approved a recommendation that the
Legislative Assembly establish an area of critical state concern;
and
  Whereas on April 1, 2009, Jefferson County voted to initiate a
lawsuit against the Land Conservation and Development Commission,
requesting a judicial review of the area of critical state
concern process; and
  Whereas Jefferson County has been battling the State of Oregon
in defending the mapping of land as eligible for destination
resorts; and
  Whereas as of May 2009, the Jefferson County unemployment rate
is 16.6 percent; and
  Whereas destination resorts encourage and promote tourism,
create jobs and provide economic growth and stability across
local regions and the state; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1.  { + Section 2 of this 2009 Act is added to and made
a part of ORS 197.435 to 197.467. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + (1) The Legislative Assembly finds:
  (a) It is the policy of this state to promote Oregon as a
vacation destination and to encourage tourism as a valuable
segment of our state's economy and our communities' local
economies.
  (b) There is an economic benefit for counties that provide
year-round destination resort accommodations to attract visitors
and encourage them to stay longer.
  (c) Destination resorts are a critical planning tool to assist
local communities in addressing high rates of unemployment.
  (2) Subject to the requirements of ORS 197.435 to 197.467, a
county has authority to site destination resorts within the
boundaries of the county.
  (3) A county may approve siting a destination resort on land
within an area designated as an area of critical state concern if
the county included the land on a map of eligible lands before
the Legislative Assembly designated the area of critical state
concern. + }
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