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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 10, 2005 Aggregate mine proposal disturbs Rogue River council By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — The City Council is gearing up to launch strong opposition to a proposed 40-acre mining operation at the east end of town. "If you’re not appalled at the noise, the dust and the traffic, you’ll have to be appalled at the scar it will leave," said City Administrator Mark Reagles at a council-staff workshop Thursday. "Whatever happens at an aggregate site can happen here." The Jackson County Planning Department sent application acceptance notices on Oct. 4. Recipients have until Oct. 18 to express their concerns about an aggregate mine on a county parcel located on a hillside above North River Road. The proposed site — close to the town’s shopping center, homes, apartment buildings and the Rogue River Fire District station — is zoned woodland resource. The application, presented to Jackson County on Sept. 28 by Paul and Marilyn Johnson of Grants Pass, seeks to "verify the lawful nonconforming status of an aggregate operation, in a (woodlands resource) Zoning District." Advertisement In order for the application to be approved, the notice states the applicants are required to prove that their proposal complies with several sections of the 2004 Jackson County land development ordinance. The application lists Kathryn Black as the planning department contact for the project. Black could not immediately be reached for comment. A representative of Jackson County planning said Medford attorney Dan O’Connor is representing the applicants. Neither O’Connor nor the Johnsons could be reached for comment Friday. Noise, traffic, pollution and aesthetic concerns were echoed by all council members at the workshop. Reagles said the mining operation could create an "ugly scar" on the hillside, which is visible from the Interstate 5 off-ramp to the town center. Municipal Clerk Carol Weir said anxious apartment dwellers had contacted her for information about the proposed project. Weir said notification was going out to property owners in the area, but not all impacted would necessarily be invited to comment. "He’d heard about it and talked with his neighbor and it wasn’t something (either) wanted," said Weir. "But none of (the renters in the four apartments) will get notification because they are not the property owners." Councilman John Bond was upset the county had given the city a little more than 10 days to organize its thoughts and voice its concerns. "This is not much time," said Bond. "I would have liked to have more time to research this." Councilwoman Renee Richardson joined other members in instructing Reagles to stress the council’s concerns in responding to the county. "I’d like to see a very strongly written letter," said Richardson. Reagles agreed, saying the fact the land is technically in the county does not mitigate its potential negative impact on the city. "(They) might be out of the city limits, but you might as well be in the city," said Reagles. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail Aggregate mine proposal disturbs Rogue River council ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Advertisement s