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55 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, April 5, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend March 29, 2004 Wal-Mart decision due Tuesday Central Point planners will render a final vote on Supercenter project By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — City officials are expecting a full house Tuesday night when planning commission members give their final decision on a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter. The controversial project, which is set for automatic review by the City Council on April 15, was put on an expedited schedule last month when Wal-Mart representatives refused to grant requested extensions in the city planning process. The planning commission meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Crater High School student center. The deadline for a final decision to be rendered on the project is April 16. Despite three months of meetings and untold submissions of public testimony, residents and city officials remain divided over whether or not the store is a good match for the community. Citizens Advisory Committee members on March 17 rejected the project based on citizen concerns over traffic and environmental and economic impacts. Advertisement The following day, Planning Commission members deemed that the 207,000-square-foot store should be considered a permitted use for the East Pine Street/Hamrick Road site, zoned for use as a community shopping center. Commission members will not make a final decision on the project until Tuesday, however. Community Development Director Tom Humphrey said he would not continue to debate whether the project fit within city planning goals. "I still don’t think that’s what was envisioned," said Humphrey. "But the planning commission has been persuaded to believe it’s a shopping center, just all under one roof. It is the job of the planning commission to interpret the city code so I’m going to have to live with their decision. � If that’s still how they believe on Thursday night, that’s probably how they’ll vote." Humphrey said regardless of the commission’s decision, the City Council "could raise compelling arguments" as to why the project did not fit within city planning goals for the site and could still "act to deny the project." Wal-Mart spokesperson Amy Hill was pleased with the planning commission’s ruling that the project was considered a permitted use within the city’s C4 zoning. "We certainly were happy the direction the planning commission took by saying that this was, in fact, proper use for this zoning and that the application did not require a special-use permit," Hill said. "We are looking forward to the hearing on the 30th to actually present the project site plan. "Despite the issues that are being raised, there is still overwhelming support for the store to be built." Central Point resident Becca Croft, spokesperson for Central Point First, a group concerned about the impacts the store would have on the area, called the planning commission’s decision "troublesome." "At this point, they could make findings either way, but I think it would be really hard for them to defend a decision that would allow the store without extreme modifications," said Croft. "We plan to demonstrate (Tuesday night) that those aren’t permitted uses and explain to them why they would be putting the city in a bad position if they approve this store the way it has been presented." Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford.E-mail her at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times