Dear HCN,


A belated thank you for your coverage of the resort development slated for lands adjacent to our fine town of Roslyn, Wash. (HCN, 3/4/02: Development threatens historic town). Since your report, Trendwest Resorts, Inc., has been sold to the very large hotel and travel company, Cendant Corporation, for $894 million in stock. The MPR (Master Planned Resort) will go back to Jeld-Wen, who owned 80 percent of Trendwest.


Something not mentioned in your article is the concurrent, physically adjacent development of an additional 1,100 acres, also by Trendwest (and now Jeld-Wen). This part of the project is going forward as an Urban Growth area of the City of Cle Elum, with plans for its annexation. Both projects will receive water and sewer services from the City of Cle Elum, further blurring the distinction between urban and rural development.


The settlement agreement between the local activist group RIDGE and Trendwest will be passed along as part of these developments, and addresses both projects. Readers might be interested in viewing it in its entirety at www.landgrant.org/mountainstar.html. Anyone interested in contacting RIDGE can do so at P.O. Box 927, Roslyn, WA 98941.


Ellie Belew
Roslyn, Washington