Monday, February 5, 2024
Dear County Commissioners Bell, Skaar and Olson –
I am writing to respectfully request that Tillamook County revoke the conditional use approval granted to Oregon Treehouse Partners for a recreational campground in Tierra Del Mar. As the County knows, the project is out of compliance with DEQ’s permitting rules and regulations. The County has the authority and responsibility to revoke the conditional use approval until the cited violations are satisfactorily resolved.
So what brought this on? The Oregon Treehouse Partners project was issued a DEQ 1200-C Construction Stormwater Permit. Rather than being environmentally responsible, they bulldozed an industrial haul road over an unprotected stream, they allowed a “mass discharge of sediment to the creek and associated wetlands,” and completely ignored visual monitoring requirements in at least 23 instances. This resulted in a site visit by DEQ, a pre-enforcement letter (complete with photos) issued December 21, 2023 and a list of corrective actions that need to be completed before they can proceed with construction.
The DEQ violations and corrective actions are serious. It’s not about crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s. We’re talking about requiring restoration of full ecological function to the creek and associated wetlands that were impacted by the project’s negligence.
When granting conditional use approvals, Tillamook County uses Conditions of Approval as the means for assuring compliance with Federal, State and Local agencies rules and regulations. The County needs to take assertive action to maintain the integrity of the conditional use approval process.
We greatly appreciate the responsiveness of DEQ and ask that Tillamook County take decisive action to hold Oregon Treehouse Partners accountable.
Kind regards,
Lynnae Ruttledge
Tierra Del Mar