Please Act Boldly - Dick Kellogg, Camp Sherman

Dear Members of the Senate Rules Committee,

I encourage your strong support of SB 30 in its original form. The state should not let this jewel of an area be compromised by urbanization. Let Jefferson Co. place destination resorts in more appropriate, isolated locations as other counties in the region are doing. After all, destination resorts are supposed to be self contained, not overwhelm existing natural resources and recreation areas.

Jefferson County’s decision to increase by a factor of ten the residential density in and adjacent to the Metolius Basin is short sighted . The state needs to step in and correct this egregious county decision which was based predominantly on the need for economic growth? The County has abrogated its responsibility to make balanced land use decisions.

It is disingenuous to hold that the state has no right to override a local government’s land use decision, when recently Jefferson County itself was quick to ask the state to step in and override a local decision that would not allow the new jail in Madras.

The Basin will naturally see ever increasing use and pressures due simply to the general population growth and regional tourism and recreation interests praising its virtues. It is challenging enough to minimize those impacts for everyone’s benefit - and for future generations of Oregonians to enjoy its serene beauty as we have.

Please act boldly to protect The Metolius Basin, a unique natural resource that makes Oregon what it is - with characteristics that your predecessors have fought so diligently to preserve.

Sincerely,

Dick Kellogg
Camp Sherman, OR