Washington County OKs $500,000 to settle EagleCrest lawsuit

The Washington County Quorum Court approved a $500,000 settlement with EagleCrest, an addiction recovery program, resolving a lawsuit concerning the county’s planning and land use regulations. EagleCrest had sued after the county initially granted, then revoked, a conditional use permit for its Springdale location near Beaver Lake, arguing the decision violated the Fair Housing Act as people overcoming addiction are considered handicapped. Neighbors had raised concerns about the facility’s impact on the area, including septic and fire suppression systems, trespassing, and traffic. The Quorum Court approved the settlement by a 12-2 vote.

In addition to the settlement, the Quorum Court also approved the county’s 2026 budget, totaling approximately $130 million, a 2% increase from 2025, with labor costs accounting for 53.6% of expenditures. Revenue from property and sales taxes increased by 10% and 5.8% respectively.

Finally, the court approved three conditional use permits: for a former brewery to operate as an event venue called “The Harriet,” for a Wellspring retreat project offering wilderness retreats and a hybrid school, and for Poplin Automotive to continue operating an automotive repair business.

(Source：Nwaonline)