More than 100 Widgi Creek homeowners have signed a letter objecting to Deschutes County’s handling of proposed housing developments in their community.

A county hearings officer approved a 4.2-acre development near Seventh Mountain Resort in September and is reviewing another proposal for nine townhomes on the first fairway of the Widgi Creek Golf Course.

The proposed construction, about 5 miles west of Bend, has galvanized homeowners who are worried about future developments carving out more land near the golf course as a result of county decisions.

“Widgi Creek is losing its neighborhood,” the letter states. “ … We bought here because this is a small, close-knit community with amenities including the pool and golf course.”

Homeowners are concerned, among other issues, that the hearings officer’s ruling in September set an unwanted precedent.

“It definitely opened the door,” said Barbara Munster, president of the Widgi Creek homeowners association. “… Once you open that door, what’s the next door? We like this golf course and we’d like to see it maintained.”

In 1983, a master plan was developed and adopted land use requirements for Seventh Mountain and Widgi Creek resorts.

The hearings officer decided in September to instead apply a resort community zone when considering the 4.2-acre property. The zone was adopted into the county’s comprehensive plan in 2001 to comply with a state requirement for future residential development of undeveloped land within the resorts.

The ruling gave Arrowood Development LLC, a Bend company, the go-ahead to build on the lot, which residents believe is subject to an open space requirement in the master plan.

Deschutes County commissioners did not have time to review an appeal from the group of homeowners and felt the appeal should go to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.

The decision is being appealed to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals. A brief outlining the group’s objections is expected to be filed with the state board sometime next month.

Homeowners argue the county should wait for the appeal before agreeing to other proposed developments in the community, which also fall under the 1983 master plan.

Kine and Kine Properties applied with the county Nov. 17 to build nine townhomes between the first fairway of the Widgi Creek golf course and Seventh Mountain Drive. The site consists of two tax lots adjacent to the golf course, clubhouse, restaurant, golf maintenance facilities and a sewer pump station.

A public hearing for the proposed development was held Jan. 6. Homeowners have submitted public comments expressing concern about the effect the change would have on the golf course, potential safety and liability issues and whether the townhomes would take away from the landscape’s beauty.

Dave Black, a Widgi Creek resident, golfer and event organizer, said the 0.9 acres for the townhomes was once part of the golf course. It was changed to an out-of-bounds area to cut down on maintenance costs. Golf balls are often accidentally hit into the section.

“It’s in the line of flight,” Black said. “An awful lot of people hit into there. It just changes the look and whole feel of the first hole.”

The site has Juniper and Ponderosa pines as well as other trees and unmaintained grass. Across from the main entrance of Widgi Creek, on Cascade Lakes Highway, is the Deschutes National Forest.

“It’s going to change the feeling you get when you enter the place,” said Black, about the proposed townhomes.

Homeowners wrote in their letter to the county that the change could potentially affect home values.

“The doubt that this has created affects not just the value of our homes, but the ability to sell at all,” the letter states.

A decision regarding development adjacent to the golf course is expected in the coming months.

— Reporter: 541-617-7820,

tshorack@bendbulletin.com

Editor’s note: This article has been clarified. In the original version, the Deschutes County commissioners’ position was misstated. The board did not express agreement with the hearings officer’s approval, but simply did not have time to review an appeal by neighbors and felt it should go to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.

The Bulletin regrets the error.