Thursday, July 13, 2006

Illahee Development Clears One Hurdle, Possibly Faces Another

By Andy Porter of the Union-Bulletin
"A citizens group that sued last year to derail a resort planned near Walla Walla says it intends to drop the action. Citizens for Good Governance also says it will not appeal a state board's ruling upholding changes to Walla Walla County's comprehensive plan. The changes helped pave the way for the project. . . . The project still faces an administrative appeal of Revell's decision not to require builders to prepare an environmental impact statement for the development. Citizens for Good Governance and Walla Walla 2020 have filed appeals of the decision to issue a mitigated determination of nonsignificance for the project. The determination will allow the project to proceed, provided developers take specific measures to address environmental impacts. The appeal will be heard by the Walla Walla County commissioners. A hearing date has not yet been set. If commissioners uphold Revell's decision, an appeal could then be filed in Superior Court. "