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L/FOG Temp: 45 °F Wind: SSE at 3 mph Saturday, November 23, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 28, 2002 Tension mounts on Twin Creeks plan Parkview residents voice concerns about traffic, water, scenery and noise By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — Plans to begin a part of the city's Twin Creeks development plan hit a roadblock last week when neighbors of the 40-year-old Parkview subdivision packed the council chambers for a three-and-a-half hour sit-down regarding 12 lots they'd rather not see happen. Representatives of Twin Creeks LLC were on hand to answer questions but made little headway with the two-dozen angry neighbors. Developer Bret Moore, who purchased the 3.3 acres in question from former Parkview resident Pam Terry in October, submitted plans in accordance with the city's master plan to develop Jackson Oaks, a part of the transit-oriented development (TOD) to be adjacent to Parkview. Nearly all residents of the C-shaped subdivision (made up of Sunland, Tulane and Carlton avenues) joined in an appeal this week and appeared Thursday to voice concerns about their rural county setting being ruined by the high-density development. Among their concerns were potential damages to their water supply, loss of scenery and increased traffic and noise. According to plans approved by the planning commission in June, six residential lots, ranging in size from 8,394 to 12,753 square feet, would be placed along an open stretch on Tulane Avenue. A six-lot "cluster" would be developed inside the bend between Sunland and Tulane and an access road between two existing houses, one belonging to Willie and Andy DeKorte. "All I wanna know is where is that road gonna go?" demanded Willie DeKorte. "You can look at this little map all you want, but you can't really tell what's going to happen unless you come and see for yourself. We've lived there 40 years. This is gonna really mess us up." Another issue for the DeKortes’ property is that of a giant willow tree planted in the right of way would either be removed or, if left, damaged by development. "We planted that 40 years ago," said Andy DeKorte. Moore said concerns with the impact to Parkview neighbors has been blown out of proportion. "We're only talking about 12 houses," Moore said. "If we were talking about putting in 120 houses down there that would be different. Yeah, it's an increase, but there's also no opportunity in the future to connect onto it. "There wouldn't be anymore than we're talking about right now. That would be it. Just a driveway for six homes," he explained. "And we're only putting 12 homes on 15 units. The streets are designed for many times the traffic that will be on them. There is obviously some miscommunication going on here." Moore was frustrated when a number of residents claimed to have been left out of the planning process. "The design we have now has been discussed for a year," said Moore. "I'm amazed they showed up at the open houses we held if they didn't know about them," said planning director Tom Humphrey, pointing out the long series of meetings coordinated by city staff. Tulane resident Denise Marshall challenged Moore on what she said called "lies" about a privacy wall. "From the very beginning we were always told that the new houses would face the other way and a privacy wall would go up," she insisted. "It's a legal issue. Plans never showed an entrance through our neighborhood, and that's one reason why none of us paid too much attention because we knew we couldn't stop the progress, and they assured us there would not be a street into our neighborhood." Sunland resident Debbie Ratty discussed her concerns about water — or lack thereof. "People are losing the usability of their wells. Some neighbors down the road from me have lost their well completely. We haven't lost ours yet, but we're noticing a significant decrease in water volume. I was trying to water the lawn and wash clothes today and couldn't do both at the same time." Mayor Bill Walton was sympathetic to traffic and water issues but called other issues "subjective." "We want everyone to be good neighbors. The water is an issue we must address, but all the other issues (such as noise and loss of scenic views) are subjective. "Laws do restrict what we can and can't address. They're building a new school across the street from my home, and I've lost my view of Mount McLoughlin and the bell tower (Central Point East), but I have no complaint whatsoever because the land across the street is not owned by myself." City Administrator Brian Almquist suggested that the planning staff review alternatives to the road next to the DeKorte property and table the issue until the Aug. 8 council meeting. Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S