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Plan tackles urban growth into hills Regional development in the Bear Creek Valley could be restricted by residents' desire to preserve the tranquility of rural surroundings By MELISSA MARTIN EAGLE POINT - The picturesque view of a white farmhouse on a hill with horses grazing on green slopes below would never change if regional planners have their way. Land surrounding Antelope Creek, between East Dutton Road and Eagle Point Golf Course development, would remain a buffer zone in a proposed plan plotting the region's growth over the next 50 years. Anyone who wants to comment about the "Greater Bear Creek Valley Regional Problem Solving: Phase One Status Report" can do so during a public hearing Tuesday in Eagle Point. It's the first of many public hearings about the growth plan scheduled around the Rogue Valley over the next nine months. Copies of the map are available at Eagle Point City Hall. In the growth/no-growth proposal, Eagle Point's future housing developments would move east of the city on hilly terrain above the cemetery, said City Administrator David Hussell. Growth would be limited north (near Barton Road) because of vernal pools containing endangered species. There would be limitations west of Eagle Point because of potential congestion on Highway 62. And growth would be limited south because of the agricultural buffer. If Eagle Point's future growth is limited to steep terrain, it would drive up housing prices. Hillside homes require costly engineering and more aggregate fill, plus their potential view of Mount McLoughlin could demand a higher price. "We have to ask the questions, is it financially feasible and would a developer buy it and be able to sell it? What's the practical engineering solution? What's the practical land use solution?" Hussell said. The team that created the growth/no-growth plan examined soil types in Jackson County to identify prime land for growing agriculture. They determined Eagle Point is not a region with rich soil; property in the agricultural buffer zone near Dutton Road is used for livestock grazing or horse training and boarding, not for growing crops. The proposed map also shows a future city boundary that includes homes in the Rolling Hills Drive area on Long Mountain. Council and planning commission members may want to leave that out of Eagle Point's future growth because of the cost to extend water, sewer, road paving projects, police protection and other city services that far away, Hussell said. Another possible map change could be with industrial or mixed-use zones. The council and planning commission members may want to focus Eagle Point's industry around the existing aggregate pits behind Hannon Road, across the highway from the shopping center, Hussell said. "Eagle Point needs more commercial property and needs to consolidate its industrial properties," Hussell said. "That's what we learned from a University of Oregon study completed during our comprehensive plan reviews earlier this year." Reach reporter Melissa Martin at 776-4497, or e-mail [email protected] Public hearing What : public hearing on planning for growth in Eagle Point. When : 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Where : Ashpole Community Center, Eagle Point City Hall, 17 Buchanan St. Copies of the map are available at City Hall. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.