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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 18, 2005 Wal-Mart supercenter proposal sent back for site plan review By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Wal-Mart’s back in action, minus the wall. The Wal-Mart Supercenter application, with its new architectural design, is going back to the Site Plan and Architectural Review Commission after a 4-2 vote for a remand by the Medford City Council late Thursday. The council in May 2004 denied the commission’s approval of the 207,000-square-foot supercenter to be built along Highway 99 at the former site of Miles Field. In June 2004, Wal-Mart appealed that decision to LUBA, and in March 2005 LUBA remanded the decision back to the city. LUBA had ruled the council erred on two counts: It did not properly explain its reasoning, and it did not explain why a traffic study was not required for the application. Greg Hathaway, a Portland attorney representing Wal-Mart and John Blackhurst, a Medford attorney for the South Gateway Partners — property owners near the proposed supercenter site — spoke during the appeal hearing. Advertisement Wendy Siporen, Talent City Councilwoman, attempted to speak as one of the people who appealed the original site plan approval, but she was told by the city attorney she did not have a standing and could not address the council. Though a new, yet-unveiled design was not to be part of Thursday’s discussion, Hathaway did drop some hints about the architectural and site plan changes. "The wall is gone," he said, referring to the controversial 900-foot wall to be built along Highway 99. "If approved, it (the proposal) will be better than what the architectural review approved (last year)." Hathaway requested a remand so the new plan could come forward. Blackhurst said the South Gateway Partners have had one issue all along. "The South Gateway Partner’s sole concern has to do with traffic and what the traffic impacts will be as a result of the supercenter," he said. "The traffic impact analysis should have reviewed more than three intersections." Blackhurst also requested a remand but with the stipulation that a comprehensive traffic study be done, or that the record remain open so his clients could argue for a comprehensive traffic study. Councilman Jim Key agreed with Blackhurst. "I feel there was an error made when a traffic study was not required to go beyond a certain area," he said. The council discussed sending the application back to the review commission with the stipulation that its members only look at the architecture and design changes but not consider the footprint, size of building or orientation. But Key said he did not like limiting the scope of the commission’s review. "If they bring in a new design then all the gloves should be off," he said. Council members Skip Knight, Claudette Moore, Greg Jones and Jim Kuntz approved the remand, while Jim Key and Bob Strosser voted against it. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail Wal-Mart supercenter proposal sent back for site plan review ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Salvia Divinorum Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s