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64 °F 5 Day Forecast Tuesday, October 14, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental 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 Email Story to a Friend October 1, 2003 Former orchard land slated for urban growth By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Former orchard land south of Medford is among the parcels the Planning Commission would like to see included in future growth areas around the city. The commission met Monday night to review the 18 remaining parcels that are part of approximately 50 parcels being considered as potential growth areas for Medford. Nine parcels were added, six were excluded and three were tabled until the next commission meeting scheduled for 5:15 p.m. today in Lausmann Annex room 157, 200 S. Ivy St. in Medford. The commission is looking at adding 3,000 to 5,000 acres to its urban growth boundary to accommodate growth in the next 10 to 50 years, as determined by residential density and population projections. As of Monday night, the planning commission is looking at adding 4,077 acres, said Medford Planning Director Rob Scott. Advertisement Among those is Naumes Inc. property that was formerly an orchard on South Stage Road and Kings Highway. In spite of the Resource Land Review Committee determining the land was valuable agricultural resource land, the city sees it as adding a benefit if included in its buildable land inventory. Robert Boggess, manager of Naumes Properties LLC, declined comment on the matter or on plans for the parcel. The three parcels still under discussion are in the buffer areas between Medford and Central Point and Medford and Jacksonville. Buffer areas have been penciled in between Rogue Valley cities in an attempt to keep the valley from becoming one giant undefined city running from Eagle Point to Ashland. Although the city’s plan for its urban growth boundary is becoming clearer, Scott said nothing’s set in stone. "The planning commission hasn’t made their final recommendation yet, so who knows how that will all shake out," he said. Scott said part of the city’s growth plan includes increasing housing density, which has already been happening with new development. "Potentially the more dense you are, the less land you’ll need for this process," he said. Michael Cavallaro, Rogue Valley Council of Governments’ executive director, said the planning commission’s charge is to look at what’s good for the city overall, and what areas are easy for city services to reach. He said other committees can take up issues, such as whether the land should be protected for the region’s farming. Among the committees that will consider the proposal is the policy committee, said Cavallaro, which is made up of elected officials from throughout the Rogue Valley, as well as state officials. The planning commission will make a recommendation to the Medford City Council, and then the draft will go to the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. Cavallaro said it’s probably still two years out before a regional growth plan, including Medford’s, is complete. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 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 © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times