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--> --> Developer appeals decision to reject `Montecito' homes By Troy Heie Ashland Daily Tidings An Ashland developer is fighting a decision by planning commissioners who rejected his proposed "Montecito" neighborhood in South Talent. Gregg Adams, along with his attorney Chris Hearn, will go before the Talent City Council on Wednesday to plead their case in an appeals hearing. Hearn, an Ashland City Councilor and former Ashland Planning Commission member, said he hopes Talent leaders will give the proposed planned unit development (PUD) near Lithia Way and Alpine Way a second chance. Hearn contends neighbors surrounding the project were opposed to Montecito when it was debated in February and March "mostly because it's new and different." "I think the full impact of what he (Adams) was trying to achieve here wasn't understood," Hearn said. Concerned residents, however, have already sent in a multi-page rebuttal to Adams' appeal documents, urging the council to uphold a March 28 Talent Planning Commission vote to deny the project. The council meeting begins at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at Talent Community Hall, 204 East Main St. The appeals hearing is scheduled on the agenda. Planning commissioners in March voted 6-1 against the proposal, with Commissioner William Cecil saying at the time, "I don't think this is something that can't happen, but I don't think this development meets the standards" set in the PUD ordinance Several Lithia Way residents - along with others from surrounding streets like Faith Circle, Alpine Way and Pheasant Run - were on hand for the March 28 discussion and vote, which followed a marathon public hearing in February that forced the commission to table its decision when the meeting neared midnight. At the meeting Feb. 28, a packed house of residents spoke out against the proposal, calling its density projection incongruous with their neighborhood and raising concerns about traffic congestion and a lack of usable open space Adams had included in his proposal. They also submitted a petition signed by 48 residents in opposition to Montecito. Hearn said Adams feels the proposal "meets the letter and spirit of the ordinance for PUDs." The council has set a special meeting at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday to train in handling appeals. Like other cities, including Ashland, the Talent City Council is the appeals board for planning commission decisions. It will be up to the council's discretion at its Wednesday appeals hearing whether to take new input from all sides, or to simply rely on the record from planning commission meetings where Montecito was discussed. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing