Deadlock sets back DeeTour Hotel

LUBA in June remanded part of the case back the county following an appeal by Hood River Valley Residents Committee; HRVRC took issue with the county’s approval of what the group considered an urban use on a rural property.

On March 19, county commissioners approved Apollo Land Holdings LLC’s request to allow a limited “de novo” (new) hearing so the applicant could modify the proposal by reducing the hotel size from 50 rooms to 35. Seeking land use approval, the Apollo representatives ultimately proposed a further scaled down plan: a 27-room hotel.

On Monday’s follow-up meeting, based on their interpretation of land use rules, the board of commissioners couldn’t reach a majority opinion.

Planning staff recommended the board either deny the application based on insufficient findings or approve it if they can find that the proposed hotel is a rural use in compliance with County Goal 14, the hotel is consistent its M-1 industrial zoning and the Dee Mill Exception, and Goal 11 will not be violated.

Commissioners Karen Joplin and Les Perkins voted to approve the application, while Rich McBride and Ron Rivers voted to deny it.

A fifth commissioner, Bob Benton, recused himself from the deliberations because he is a member of Apollo.

Jeff Hecksel, county administrator, and Diana McDougle, county legal counsel, explained that via Hood River County’s charter, a tie vote in this situation means the application fails. Hecksel said there will be a 30-day window in which Apollo will have the option of appealing the county’s decision to LUBA.

Jason Taylor of Apollo said Tuesday they disagree with the approval process and will appeal the county’s decision. The process could lead back to LUBA, he said, but Apollo will look at various avenues in response. “This whole process is a marathon and we will absolutely appeal,” Taylor said.

He contended that the proposal was based on criteria the county set down, but was later found to be incorrect.

Taylor said he owns farms in Dee and he envisions the hotel will have “zero impact” on nearby agricultural land. There would be no addition to the venue parking lot, he said.

Heather Staten, HRVRC executive director said, “We are happy with the decision. Landowners in Dee are nearly universally opposed to the DeeTour hotel and concert venue complex because they feel it would utterly transform this quiet rural corner of the county and undermine the ag industry on Dee Flat. Area residents are terrified at a development that will attract hundreds of cars daily to travel to and from these facilities and use the problematic intersection that is the only way in or out of Dee. And then add the alcohol factor to this traffic after events and you have a recipe for accidents.”

"We want to thank the Board of Commissioners for their thoughtful analysis of the remand issues. LUBA posed some complicated legal questions and the Board clearly spent a lot of time trying to understand the issues and apply the law."

The meeting record regarding the DeeTour Hotel issue is complex and about 800 pages long, Joplin explained. Minutes and filed arguments can be seen at the county’s Community Development page: hrccd.co.hood-river.or.us.