The following documents will assist you in understanding this proposal.
Bandon Dunes -OPRD exchange proposal Aug 10
OPRD Land Acq & Exchange Policy Mar 11
Hello Friends,
You need to know that Bandon Dunes Golf Course wants to take 210 acres from the Bandon State Natural Area (BSNA), not Bullard’s Beach State Park, in a “swap” for some land they own near other State Park lands. In looking at the before and after maps the golf course provided with their proposal, the only thing clearly shown is a small addition south of Bullard’s State Park land in the estuary and land to be added to BSNA south of Bradley Lake off Beach Loop. This area south of Beach Loop is not improved, or accessible by car.
There is more detailed information on the swap from ORCA with the original email that includes the agenda from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission meeting in Bandon on July 20th at 10:15 AM at the Bandon Harbortown Event Center at 325 2nd St. SE that will take public comment on this proposal.
It is on the agenda as “Bandon State Natural Area Project”.
I hope to see you at the hearing on July 20th. The State Park Managers need to know there are people in Bandon that are interested in what happens to our parks.
Thanks,
John
There is more on this issue
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is having its Commission meeting on July 20th in Bandon. There are two possible land exchange proposals on the agenda, one of which concerns Bandon. Both are very important. Please see further information below.
The two proposals for land exchange: (a) George Rhodes, Curry County Commissioner, for unspecified properties at Floras Lake down by Port Orford; and (b) the Bandon Biota proposal, are first up on the agenda at 10:15. Curry County and Bandon Biota will speak first, and then there’s public comment.
These are two efforts by private parties seeking State Park lands to benefit private development, probably resorts and/or golf courses. Here’s a summary of each proposal, so you can see how they tie together. The area considered in the Bandon Biota proposal is near the Devil’s Kitchen and China Creek park entrances south of the City of Bandon, on Beach Loop Drive.
Floras Lake State Park: Curry County has been speaking with one or more developers about a possible project of some kind, and has held at least two executive sessions to discuss details. As part of this proposal, the County has initiated efforts to gain ownership of Cape Blanco State Airport in the Port Orford area. This airport is directly adjacent to Floras Lake State Park. Curry County has also approached Parks about a land exchange that would give the County unspecified (possibly oceanfront) acreage in exchange for County-owned properties in the Floras Lake area. In addition, there is controversy over sixteen pits dug recently with mechanical equipment in Floras Lake State Park. They are now filled in, but Parks is seeking information about them, as it may constitute criminal trespass. It is unknown whether the pits are connected to the County’s collaboration with unspecified developers for a proposal in the Floras Lake area, but it is possible.
Bandon State Natural Area: Bandon Biota (a company related to Bandon Dunes LLC) proposed to State Parks in November 2010 that there be a land exchange that would give Bandon Biota 208 acres of Bandon SNA, on its back side, in the dunes. Bandon Dunes would then build a 27-hole golf course directly adjacent to Bandon SNA on its eastern border, south of the City of Bandon. In exchange, Parks would receive a small property at Bullards Beach and some other acreage at BSNA.The new OPRD Land Acquisition and Exchange Policy (adopted earlier in 2011) requires that any exchange proposed by others must show an overwhelming public benefit to the State Park system to be considered. In ORCA’s opinion, neither of these proposals do provide such overwhelming public benefit that they are in the public interest. Even with incomplete details, especially in the Curry County matter, it is clear that both proposals seek to turn valuable, important public park land over to private developers for a much narrower public benefit than they have as parkland. This is not the purpose of state parks.
It is important that the debate over both these proposals be together (since they are similar), and public, as they involve the public’s land. Oregon Coast Alliance hopes that Bandon-area residents will come to the Parks Commission meeting and begin the debate on this very important question. People are welcome to contact me for further information.
Sincerely,
Cameron
—
Cameron La Follette
Oregon Coast Alliance
Land Use Director
P.O. Box 5464
Charleston, OR 97420
The latest Tsunami warning happened and came off as a non-warning. In any event, not a word was broadcast out to the public via Bandon’s world class warning system. It was an advisory warning only. However, given that the system is operational, and was funded by the taxpayer, why no announcement giving people in the Tusnami zone some up to date information? I thought that was the reason behind the warning system in the first place.
Interesting when you consider one of the city councilors lives right on the beach
Very interesting. We knew a tsunami was not occurring, it would have been nice if the City has seen fit to broadcast the correct information.
The Cliff Notes Version-
Flores Lake proposal by Curry County.
No information provided to help determine if the “unspecified” land exchange will be “overwhelmingly” in the public interest as required by law.
You’ll have to go and hear what is being said at the meeting.
However, this doesn’t show a lot of trust in the public by Curry County.
The “Cliff Notes” version-
Bandon Dunes wants an acre for acre land swap. They are offering acreage behind the dune along the road to the Lighthouse and some mud flats by Bullard’s plus additional acreage south of the present natural area south of town west of Four Mile. Their intention is to develop another golf course.
They want about the same acreage from The State Parks Natural Area south of Bradley Lake. The land they want is prime, top of the dune, with a good ocean view.
Looking at this as just a business land swap it is difficult to say they are even when you consider the future potential uses of each parcel. Looking at this as a dirt for dirt, without other considerations, it could be even.
Then the question comes up for you to decide if you really want your state parks people to be approached by all sorts of private developers that have a plan to use the publicly owned state park lands for their own profit.
You might also ask yourself what state lands you would not want to be taken by developers. This natural area might not be that important to you but, once the precedent is set, all state park lands may be up for grabs.
Do we really want private developers to be able to take the finest public lands away from us and turn it into a profit center for their undertaking?
Got an opinion? Attend the meeting and share it with the folks from State Parks.