More notes from the August 21 meeting: It was pointed out that the turn from Hwy 35 to 281 toward Parkdale is already dangerous as it is a 40 mph zone, and people typically go 50 mph, and there is no way to cross between the Corner Loop and the Country Store or the Town Hall. Also, the stopping distance for large trucks coming around that corner is 300’ in dry conditions. That puts them right where the buses would be turning left from the corner loop, and that is if their reaction time is good, their brakes are good, and the roads are dry. It was suggested that if this project proceed, that Meadows coordinate with ODOT to slow the traffic speed to 25 mph, put in a cross walk across Cooper Spur Road, and if that is in place ODOT should be able to allow the vehicle and buses to ingress and egress on Hwy 35, which has a better line of site and would be safer. Dave Tragethon did not think that would be possible, but many residents, and the owner of the country store, favored that option and encouraged him to look into that. When asked if the adjacent businesses and general public would be able to use the parking lot in non-ski seasons, they said yes, for free. When asked who would do road maintenance, dust control, garbage collection and police loitering and camping they said they had not thought that far out. Meadows was asked if guests would be charged for the shuttle service and they responded no. There were complaints about removing any trees, unless they were found diseased by a licensed arborist. There were complaints that no sidewalks or landscaping was included in the plan to make the parking lot look decent. There was a complaint that when Meadows employees were parking behind the Town Hall and skiers were parking at the Country Store (approximately 50 cars total), the intersection was very difficult to navigate. There was a complaint that Meadows employees parking at the Town Hall tended to be loud, loiter, and leave garbage. Dave Tragethon stated that if the employee parking is moved to the open area it would be better. I believe the employees with be parking behind the ski shop and new Wake and Bake restaurant. In a related note, a resident asked if Meadows had knowledge of the Marijuana store going in. To explain, a 15 year Meadows employee recently quit and is opening a business in Randy Kiyokawa’s building adjacent to the lots Meadows wants to turn into the Park and Ride. It has been painted in the Rastafarian colors of red, green and yellow and will be called the Wake and Bake, which in the urban dictionary has the meaning of waking up and immediately getting stoned. Apparently, the proprietor has applied to be a Medical Marijuana Dispensary. When asked if they had considered parking at the Hood River Ranger Station they said no. However, Hood River District Ranger Janeen Tervo had explained the day prior to the meeting that Meadows had approached them about parking at their facility and they had turned them down due to a long list of issues including liability. Ms. Tervo has agreed to provide a statement clarifying why the Forest Service decided not to allow Meadows parking at that location. Dave Tragethon explained how extensive their communication system, via their web site, radio broadcasts and signs along the main transit routes warning that the parking lot is full and customers should park at one of the shuttled areas. However, when it was suggested they use the Hood River Event Parking lot at the waterfront in Hood River, he said they would not be able to get people to stop there. George Early asked if Meadows had considered the warming trend in the past 10 years, and the marked reduction in the size of the glaciers on Mt. Hood when making their expansion plans. Jake Bolland said that Mt. Hood Meadows had recently contributed $20,000 to Hood River County. More to follow...
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 02:34:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015