By John Butterfield | 2-minute read
Weddings, corporate retreats, fundraisers, and other events belong in Oregon’s cities and towns—not on the state’s limited supply of farm- and forestland. Since the establishment of our state’s land use system, 1000 Friends of Oregon has been working to ensure that our resource lands are protected. This includes ensuring that commercial uses unrelated to agriculture and forestry don’t push out the farmers and forest land managers who produce the food and fiber on which the state and nation depend.
On March 31, 2026, the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) agreed with 1000 Friends, the Bull Run Community Planning Organization, and a group of farmers, forestland managers, and other neighbors in Sandy and Corbett that impacts to our resource lands from these commercial events could not be ignored.
“The proposed event center would have brought urban impacts to our rural area, without an adequate study of the burdens these weddings all summer would have imposed on our community,” said Dana and Cindy Carlson, Bull Run residents. “We were glad to partner with 1000 Friends to ensure this permit did not move forward, and we are grateful that LUBA reaffirmed the critical importance of assessing the impacts to neighboring farms and forests of commercial activities in our EFU and Timber zones.”
Last year, a landowner in the Bull Run area asked Clackamas County to approve a plan to host up to 24 weddings and other events on an 80-acre property that is zoned for timber production. 1000 Friends joined neighboring landowners in commenting on the proposed permit, noting that the cumulative impacts of so many events in a rural, agricultural area had not been properly analyzed.
Recognizing the deficiencies in the application, Clackamas County denied the requested permit. The landowner appealed the County’s decision to the LUBA. 1000 Friends and the local coalition moved to intervene in that appeal on the side of the county, to assist in defending the permit denial. In its decision upholding the County’s denial, LUBA found that the permit applicant had failed to identify accepted farm and forest practices on surrounding lands that might be impacted by the proposed events, and because of this failure, the applicant’s permit could not be approved.
Land use planning ensures that Oregon doesn’t lose what makes it special: Our unique mix of a thriving agricultural and timber economy alongside vibrant cities, towns and communities. Our small town and urban venues offer fantastic settings for weddings and other events. We don’t need to sacrifice productive farm and forest land for these urban and commercial uses. 1000 Friends is committed to working with our partners to push back on intrusions onto resource land, so that we can keep Oregon the special place we all get to call home.