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41 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds 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 Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 29, 2004 Document review gives Billings plan a boost County learns that a proposed golf course north of Ashland isn’t affected by a 1988 ‘Greenway Plan’ By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Backers of the proposed Billings Ranch Golf Course near Ashland got a boost Thursday from the news that Jackson County planners have been playing by the wrong rules regarding the Bear Creek Greenway Plan. About 6 acres of public land may be available for private lease for the proposed $10 million course — without environmental restrictions previously believed to be imposed by the plan. That’s according to a new analysis by recently hired planner Veronica Smith, whose conclusions stunned county Planning Commission members considering whether to amend the document. "This is pretty earth-shattering information, in my opinion," said commission member Don Greene. Smith’s review of county documents revealed that while officials created a Greenway District in 1988 with the intent to provide environmental protection to public lands, they never actually applied the zoning to any property. Advertisement "There’s no Greenway District mapped," Smith said. That means that a 1988 "natural area" designation aimed at shielding delicate Greenway property from development is only a guideline, not a mandate, said Planning Director Ali Turiel. "It’s not obligatory that it be strictly complied with," she said. It also means that the 6.2 acres of public land Billings Ranch developers want to complete an 18-hole, championship golf course is zoned EFU, or exclusive farm use. Such zoning allows construction of a golf course with appropriate permits. "If the county Board of Commissioners are interested in leasing tax lot 204 for the purpose of a land use allowed in the EFU district, they may do so without amending the county’s 1988 Greenway Plan," Smith concluded. Developer Mike Peru, who represents the John Billings family, expressed satisfaction at the findings. "We’re not going to go in and rip and tear, anyway," he said. "That’s not what we do." Smith’s conclusions shift the onus of interpretation from the Planning Commission to county commissioners, who are expected to consider the issue soon. Commissioner Sue Kupillas declined comment about the new findings, saying she hadn’t had time to review them. But she did note that Commissioner Jack Walker long had suggested that amending the Greenway Plan wasn’t necessary to allow a lease. "Jack told us that months ago," Kupillas said. Walker didn’t return a call seeking comment Thursday. Commissioner Dave Gilmour said he hadn’t yet reviewed the issue. However, Planning Commission Chairman Reeve Hennion worried about the impact Smith’s findings would have on the controversial golf course project. "Suddenly we’ve discovered we’ve basically been playing by the wrong rules," said Hennion. "I’m concerned there will be a perception that somehow, by a technicality, we’re doing an end run around the Greenway Plan." Gael Kubli, a critic of the golf course plan, expressed concern that county officials are trying too hard to find a way to approve the project. "All of this discussion has to do with ‘Can we do this?’ Not one question has to do with ‘Why should we?’ " Kubli said. Turiel said previous planning staff members missed Smith’s conclusions. She said Smith, who started work this month, offered "a new set of eyes." "This is very embarrassing," Turiel told the commissioners. Raul Woerner, a former county planner responsible for the Billings project, said the matter is open to interpretation. "Those facts still need to be resolved in a proper land use hearing and not in speculation," he said. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers