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55 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, December 9, 2004 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 Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People 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 November 4, 2004 Commissioners debate Greenway zoning-golf course issue By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Jackson County commissioners are expected to grapple today with a Bear Creek Greenway zoning oversight that could ease one obstacle to a proposed golf course near Ashland. Commissioners are set to consider the next step after a new staff report revealed that Greenway environmental restrictions believed to be binding are only guidelines, not mandates. That could pave the way for the county to lease about 6 acres of public land near the Greenway to developers of the proposed Billings Ranch Golf Course. Developers say they need the property to complete the $10 million, 18-hole championship course. The issue is on the agenda of a staff meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. today. County Planning Commission members referred the matter to the full board after reviewing an analysis by newly hired planner Veronica Smith. Advertisement Her review of county documents showed that while officials created a Greenway District zoning designation in 1988, intending to provide environmental protection to public lands, they never actually applied the zoning to any property. That means that the public land tapped for the course remains zoned EFU, exclusive farm use. Such zoning allows construction of a golf course with appropriate conditional use permits. Planning Chairman Reeve Hennion said it’s not clear how or why the Greenway District designation was not applied to county property 16 years ago. "Back then, what was the procedure used to change the map? Now they need a separate zoning change," Hennion said, noting that the old maps were drawn by hand. "No one can tell us whether they would erase the ‘EFU’ and write in ‘Greenway.’" The issue for the commissioners is whether to honor the spirit of the Greenway District designation and retain the property in question as a protected "natural area," or whether to abide by the technical zoning designation. Last week, Commissioner Jack Walker, who favors the lease agreement, said the commissioners are bound to obey the zoning code. "I go by the law," Walker said. Commissioner Dave Gilmour said it’s up to the board to consider the best use of that property. "What is in the county’s best interest?" he said. "We don’t just want to give it away." Critics of the golf course proposal have long charged that county officials are not subjecting the project to enough scrutiny. 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 © 1997-2004 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