Dunes City tables building suspension.

Byline: Winston Ross The Register-Guard

DUNES CITY - After 3 1/2 hours of emotional testimony from dozens of residents, the Dunes City Council on Tuesday tabled its decision on a 120-day moratorium on new develop- ments.

At its next meeting, the city will consider what Councilor Peter Howison offered as a compromise between those who want a halt on growth and those who say a moratorium would spawn costly legal challenges.

Howison suggested that the council consider a "development exemption" that would allow for new development if the state approves, and if the city installs an alternative septic system and has adopted "best management practices" to ensure that future developments don't harm its lakes.

The city has been embroiled in a controversy over growth for much of the past year, after six development proposals landed at City Hall's doorstep in the span of a single summer.

Residents are concerned about the impact of development on the water quality of area lakes, especially Woahink. Since many of the city's 1,300 residents draw drinking water from the lake and their houses are on aging septic systems, several community members testified at the hearing that they believe the lake's water quality is threatened.

Speakers quoted Mother Teresa, cited old court cases and problems in other cities. They threatened lawsuits and unveiled a banner with the signatures of 325 residents in support of the moratorium. An attorney from Boring claims she was infected with the crypto- sporidium parasite after drinking water from Woahink. Others passed around pictures of algal blooms that have surfaced recently in the lake. There were rebuttals of testimony and rebuttals of the rebuttals.

"We live here in a paradise on what has historically been one of the cleanest lakes in Oregon," resident Susie Navetta said. "It is our responsibility to keep these lakes healthy."

Winston Ross can be reached at [phone] or rgcoast@ oregonfast.net.