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Neighbors of proposed substation hope county alters upgrade plans Sunday Apr 30, 2017 at 6:31 PM Apr 30, 2017 at 6:31 PM Greg Stiles Mail Tribune @GregMTBusiness SAMS VALLEY — The next-door neighbors of a proposed Pacific Power substation are holding out hope Jackson County will balk when it reviews the utility's $80 million transmission line upgrade plans. Pacific Power plans to add 18 miles of high-capacity transmission line, carrying 230 kilovolts, from an existing Grants Pass substation to the new substation. The utility applied for land-use approval from the county in March, and public comment was due in early April. The review and decision process takes up to 150 days. Stuart Lahtinen, who built a home on adjacent property two years ago said he was told by a county planner in mid-April staff review hadn't begun. Pacific Power selected the 28-acre parcel, fronted by the junction of Highway 234 and Tresham Lane and backed by Lower Table Rock, over eight other potential sites in the Sams Valley area. The utility's criteria included proximity to existing 500-kilovolt and 100-kilovolt lines, impact on the neighborhood, archaeological risks, endangered plants, impact on recreational view sheds, and cost.  Construction is scheduled in 2019 with service commencing in late 2020. However, Lahtinen contends Pacific Power didn't submit proper date for placing the substation on exclusive farm use land. In a letter submitted by land use attorney E. Michael Connors of the Portland law firm Hathaway, Koback Connors, claimed Pacific Power did not make appropriate comparisons in supporting material for the application. Of the eight alternative sites included in the application, none were non-EFU. "Perhaps the most glaring flaw with Pacific Power's alternative sites analysis is that it did not include the only type of of alternative site relevant (under Oregon law) ... Non-EFU zoned properties," Connors wrote. "Pacific Power did not do the bare minimum requirement for the alternative sites analysis." The Tresham Road site includes 3.5 acres of wetlands that would require $770,000 in mitigation work. Lahtinen said property alternative property suggested to Pacific Power wouldn't require wetlands mitigation. The county has the option to approve, deny, or modify Pacific Power's request.  — Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31.