Lauren Dake of the Bulletin reports Jefferson County commissioners will allow landowners to build 15 850-square feet fishing accommodations on the Metolius arm of Lake Billy Chinook, ignoring staff’s recommendations and affirming the planning commission’s earlier decision.

As a condition of the approval, the landowners must first demolish all illegal structures built over the years on the property without Jefferson County building permits.

Central Oregon LandWatch will appeal two Deschutes County ordinances that allow land to be added to and removed from the county’s destination resort development zone reports Hillary Borrud of the Bulletin.

Notices of intent to appeal the ordinances were filed by Central Oregon LandWatch to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.

Lauren Dake of the Bulletin reports that landowners who have built a piecemeal camp along the shore of Lake Billy Chinook are now attempting to build a permanent development with 15 accommodations on the site. Land use regulations permit fishing accommodations with guest rooms in a forest management zone.

Several structures have been built illegally through the years on the 57-acre parcel including eight camp trailers, 11 buildings, three covered patio areas, five decks, 11 docks, and five retaining walls.

Nick Grube of the Bulletin reports water rates will rise for the next several years in order to pay for a large-scale update of Bend’s municipal water system.

The cost is estimated to be higher than expected because green energy tax credits, grants, and low interest loans are no longer an option for the $13 million hydropower plant option.

Hillary Borrud of the Bulletin reports Kelly Brown has been fined $500 by Circuit Court Judge Barbara Haslinger for violating county land use laws when she rented out her Redmond property for a wedding.

Attorney Dave Hunnicutt with Oregonians In Action, entered guilty pleas for three additional cases in which Brown allegedly held weddings on her property as part of an on-going dispute.

View the full article here http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100818/NEWS01/8...

University of Oregon students from the community planning workshop will be studying the impact of destination resorts on Deschutes County reports Hillary Borrud of the Bulletin.

The student focus groups will include: tourism and resort industry representatives, environmental groups, residents who have participated in resort issues, cities, and irrigation districts.

Sheila Miller of the Bulletin reports that a Deschutes County Circuit Court judge has found a Deschutes County woman guilty of violating Deschutes County land use laws.

Circuit Court Judge Barbara Haslinger ruled against Kelly Brown, operator of The Gardens at Flying Diamond Ranch for improperly using her land as a wedding venue in June 2009.

Dave Hunnicutt, Brown’s attorney stated, “We haven’t decided whether to appeal or not, but we’re considering all our options.”

the Bulletin's Kate Ramsayer reports that restoration efforts are underway on the Rooster Rock Fire area south of Sisters.

A team of hydrologists, ecologists, and soil scientist are assessing the damage to develop a restoration plan for the area.

The Oregon Department of Forestry does not perform rehabilitation work on private land other than that damage done by the fire suppression effort. Of the 6,134 acres burned, approximately 4,800 acres burned on private lands. Fidelity National Timber Resources owned much of that land

Lauren Dake of the Bulletin reports that a new affordable housing project in Madras for agricultural workers and their families will break ground after a local non-profit receives $787,781 from the U.S. Department of Rural Development.

The $3.2 million 24-unit subdivision named Canyon East was to be built two years ago. The project can now move forward with the grant received by Housing Works.

Yelling Fire in a Crowded Forest: Rooster Rock Spares Skyline but Highlights the Danger of Homes in the Forest

Eric Flowers of The Source Weekly reports on the how the Rooster Rock fire threatened the 33,000 acre Skyline Forest, a proposed community forest just outside of Bend.

It is unknown at this time if the fire, which reportedly burned at least a portion of the Skyline property marked for development, has changed development plans.

More trouble for Pronghorn as David Holley of the Bulletin reports that the state of Oregon is attempting to foreclose on 4.6 acres at the Pronghorn golf resort. Pronghorn Investors owe $1.2 million on a loan used to build a solar electricity generation facility.

Read the entire article here http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100811/NEWS01/8...

Hillary Borrud of the Bulletin reports that a U.S. Senate subcommittee has declined to include $5.6 million in federal earmark funding for the planned 19th Street extension.

The extension, publicized to open land in Juniper Ridge and south Redmond, is estimated to cost $8.7 million to build. Without the earmark funding it is unclear how the county will pay for the construction, reports Borrud.

The project has been a fiscal priority of the County’s for two budget years with $2 million in funding set aside and $1 million in federal appropriations.

the Bulletin’s Kate Ramsayer reports that the Rooster Rock fire which started on August 2nd approximately 6 miles southwest of Sisters is now 100 percent contained.

The fire burned 6,134 acres at a cost of $5.3 million. Crews continue to work on rehabilitating the fire line to prevent erosion and restore the area.

An estimated 1,000 fire personnel worked on fighting the fire. Officials said by Tuesday only 125 people will be needed.

Deschutes County officials want to rezone farmland in the Millican Valley for surface mining, reports Hillary Borrud of the Bulletin.

The commission has considered the rezoning request on the 365-acre portion of land near U.S Highway 20 owned by 4-R Equipment Company three times. Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals found issues with the decision to rezone the farmland for surface mining on two previous occasions.

The issue on this round was whether the mining would impact neighboring ranching and cattle operations due to the noise.

The Bulletin’s Kate Ramsayer reports the Rooster Rock Fire has grown to more than 4,600 acres as it moves to the southwest.

Today’s weather forecast includes a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms possibly bringing strong winds and dangerous fire conditions.

Public information officer, Alexis West stated that today, “Will be a little more dicey.”
Wednesday evening crews worked on a 600-acre burnout on the southwestern section of the fire to create a fire line in preparation for the possible erratic weather today.