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Quail Point tees up for back nine Jackson County backs expansion, but opponents may appeal By DAVID PRESZLER The proposed expansion of Quail Point Golf Course to 18 holes cleared what proponents hope is its last legal hurdle on Tuesday. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners unanimously sided with the Rogue Valley Manor on three county land-use issues following a hearing that lasted more than two-and-a-half hours. The commissioners are scheduled to review a final order on Aug. 4 that, if adopted, could clear the way for the project. However, opponents could appeal to the state Land Use Board of Appeals, prolonging a legal battle that has already lasted more than three years. "Heavens no," said Gene Martin of the Jackson County Citizens League when asked if Tuesday's hearing marked the end of opponents' efforts to block -- or at least modify -- the project. Martin said the group has not decided whether to appeal. Because the legal wrangling isn't finished, no timetable for the construction of the public course's nine new holes has been set. "Everything's been put on hold," said Manor Executive Director Tom Becker, noting that work still needs to be done on the design of the expansion. "All we've been doing is the legal stuff." The major legal issue has been whether the course could be expanded onto orchard land zoned for farm use. That issue was debated by county officials, LUBA, the state Court of Appeals and the state Supreme Court, which upheld an appeals court ruling that said golf courses could be expanded onto orchard land. Though the high court's ruling settled the central issue, it didn't address several secondary issues relating to the interpretation of county land-use guidelines. Those issues were sent back to the state land use board, which passed them back to the county because the issues center on county ordinances and the county's comprehensive plan. All three issues debated Tuesday essentially involve how the golf course would affect farmland and in all three cases the commissioners agreed with proponents that county law permitted the expansion and that effects on neighboring lands would be minimal. The expansion calls for 200- to 300-foot buffers between the course and the neighboring farmlands. Manor officials estimate the buffers would cover 95 of the 252.3 acres in the expansion. Opponents argued that the expansion would hurt farming operations. But the commissioners said the buffers were enough to minimize the effect of the course and noted that none of the neighboring farmers had voiced opposition. One neighboring landowner, Naumes Inc., is donating the land for course to the Manor and another, Bear Creek Corp., earlier testified that the development wouldn't adversely affect its operations. "The buffer really does protect the farmlands," Commissioner Sue Kupillas said. "If the farmers on surrounding lands haven't testified or have testified that it would not reduce their income or acreage, we have to take their word for it." Opponents also said the expansion would open the gates to further development on farmland just outside Medford's urban growth boundary. Martin noted that the Manor has already purchased a piece of orchard land next to the proposed golf course, and that another developer has bought another neighboring parcel. The developer, Mike Mahar of Mahar Homes, said he bought the land but has no plans to develop it for at least 15-20 years. The commissioners declined to speculate on what development might occur, saying they felt bound to base their decision on current zoning in the area. The parcels Martin mentioned are zoned for farm use. Greg Hathaway, the Manor's attorney, said the objections raised by opponents Tuesday were just an attempt to revisit the central issue of the golf course expanding onto orchards, a battle opponents already fought and lost. "We're hopeful that this won't be appealed," he said. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA