(MT) – What started as an attempt to build an RV park in Brightwood, has
been dashed by a land-use decision in a 16-page denial by hearings officer
Fred Wilson.

Kashmir Dhadwal, of Sandy, was the applicant for the proposed park on Hwy.
26 that would have included 99 campsites, 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.

A conditional use permit application went out Feb. 29 to agencies, community
planning organizations and property owners within 500 feet of the property on
Hwy. 26 in Brightwood.

The land-use hearing took place April 7 in Oregon City, after nearly 100 local
residents showed up in March at the Dragonfly Café & Bakery in Welches for a
meeting with county officials regarding the RV park proposal.

At that meeting many local concerns were raised. Among them were Welches
resident and Realtor Dave Lythgoe and local property owner Margaret
Thurman.

At the time, Lythgoe pointed out that the new owner (Dhadwal) had
eliminated all of the trees and natural plants by scraping and denuding the
property, saying “it is quite an eyesore along Hwy. 26 which I believe is
designated scenic highway.”

Lythgoe’s concerns went beyond the scenic nature of the site.
“There is no sewer system in the area,” he said. “The septic system that will
be necessary will be massive with the potential of polluting the river and the
water table.”

Thurman also cited water concerns.

“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,”
she said. “We are already having well issues.”

Wilson’s statement mirrored local concerns, and he piled on citing the effect
on wildlife, noise pollution and traffic concerns, concluding:
“The opponents’ evidence and testimony is much more compelling than the
limited evidence and testimony from the applicant,” Wilson wrote in his
decision.

Dhadwal is allowed to appeal the decision to the Land Use Board of Appeals.